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[BIGDRY]

ok after finding my center mount bolt to be missing and the old captive floating nut thingy to be floating free after what ever holds it has long rusted away... im asking has anyone ever replaced this captive nut in their cj grill?

 if i cut open the housing at the bottom of the grill, can i just weld in a nut solidly or do i need to put something in that has some movement for front end alignment? or is there another better way to repair this fixing? - funny thing is i only noticed it was loose after opening the bonnet and leaning on the grill when it moved about 6" side to side!!!

thx all.

[Dave69]

nut sert if you can get in

[Dave The Sparky]

 I dont think a nutsert would be suitable or strong enough for this as the original one is a thick square nut in a cage type of affair so that it can move around for adjustment, but there isn't masses of adjustment on it. so welding the nut in may well work.

I suppose the question is where are you thinking of cutting in??? on the curved front edge which is made of thin pressed steel or in the thicker base?

[djrr6]

It might be that my grilles are old and knackered but can't you just pry the cover section up and then smash out the old captive nut and replace with a new nut?

[eastryjeep]

Remove the grille, slit the back of the enclosed plinth bit to remove the old floating plate.
Treat any rot and touch up with weld through primer.
Grind the old nut off the floating plate and replace with new full plain nut (3/8 UNC I think), paint with hammerite, INCLUDING the threads, replace nut plate in plinth.
Weld access hole closed and paint to match Jeep or local mud colour.
Reassemble and admire.
Alternatively you could remove the floating nut as above and either helicoil it or drill and tap to a larger size, (possibly metric). The advantage of a helicoil is that it won't rust, not to say the bolt won't though.

[Dave69]

if your doing the work as above change the bolt for a metric stainless steel item

[BIGDRY]

thanks all, managed to open it up and weld a nut onto large plate that allows it to move for alignment but then rotate and then hit the side so holding it - that the idea anyway, i will see when i refit!

[eastryjeep]

Ah...
A helicoil and a stainless bolt, I'm ashamed to say I hadn't thought of that. But a stainless capscrew might be even better.
I'm going to do that myself when the time comes shortly, thanks mate!

[BIGDRY]

tbh a normal steel bolt with some copper slip will be fine , i sprayed retaingin plate with zinc primer and paint, and i intend to spray also lots of waxoil into the box section. should out last me...

[Bubba]

i came across this many times i used to gently peel up the outer skin on the front of the grill  used adjustables to hold the broken free plate
then replace with a large copper slipped nut and bolt always worked for me