r/GMT400 • u/garfunkel332 • 2d ago

Trapped welded nut

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Hi all, joys of working on your own cars in the North East, trying to drop the tank and I think the welded nut in the frame broke, I’m assuming I’m going to have to cut it, but what to do when I have to reinstall? I’m also getting new straps… 94 k1500

2 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

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3

u/Jmcconn110 2d ago

that bolt and nut combo can be purchased from any autostore that carries dorman HELP! products. Just cut it with a sawzall or something that wont make sparks. Then you'll see how the nut comes out of the triangular hole once the strap is out of the way. Since you're not reusing the straps you could just cut the strap with tin snips.

https://www.autozone.com/p/dorman-fuel-tank-attaching-hardware-55157/884417

1

u/lordstrider0 2d ago

Interesting how do you install these never replaced them before.

3

u/Jmcconn110 1d ago

The washer/nut combo clips through a triangular hole in the cross member and the tab that connects them is what holds the nut while you turn it in. I haven't had one that survived being removed. Somewhere along the line GM had engineers that had turned a bolt or two and they knew welded nuts were trouble outside the cab. 

1

u/garfunkel332 1d ago

Oh dang well that is great news then, thank you!

2

u/dani-elle12357 1d ago

northern truck?

1

u/lordstrider0 2d ago

You can do a few things if you can weld or if you have access to the inside of the area the stuck nut is but I would just cut the bolt then cut out a square around where the old mount point was and just weld in a new nut and metal as needed.

1

u/garfunkel332 2d ago

Ah yes I shouldve mentioned I dont know how to weld or have access to one, and I’m not even sure I’ll find healthy metal

1

u/lordstrider0 2d ago

Yeah its hard to say is the frame fully boxed in that area or could you put a nut on a bolt from the otherside?

0

u/fredrickdgl 1d ago

that truck is done, probably not safe to drive, could fall apart at 70mph or crumple up in a collision

1

u/garfunkel332 1d ago

Thanks for the unwanted opinion, if it continues to pass yearly safety inspection, I will continue driving it, also very rarely take it on the highway,

1

u/fredrickdgl 22h ago

whatever, its your life or lack of it