I am attempting to align the fender extensions on my 72 ElCamino. The studs and the pinch nuts (or maybe pinche nuts) are both stripped. Has anyone had any luck rethreading or replacing the studs? Maybe even with a stud that takes a more conventional fastener?

I had the same problem with mine. They were only threaded on the end and the threads were shot,so I used a 1/4-20 die and threaded the entire length of the studs and used regular nuts and washers to install them. On one of them one of the studs had been broken off, so I had to drill and tap that one, and use a bolt to put it on. Hope this helps. Dennis

deejay:
Any special way you had to cut threads on these?
They are slightly tapered. Did that cause any die threading problems?

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Team Chevelle Member #1037
'72 Chevelle Convertible (all SS options, no SS badging)
'95 Mustang GT convertible (the wife's)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 72soft-top:
deejay:
Any special way you had to cut threads on these?
They are slightly tapered. Did that cause any die threading problems?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>No special way. I noticed the slight taper also. The ends of mine were smaller than the die, and it didn't start to cut the threads until it was an 1/8" past the end. The metal that these are made of is pretty soft and easy to thread, but it will also break very easily, so I just worked VERY slowly. Could be that luck was with me that day for a change http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif I also stopped the die about 1/8" short of bottoming out, and used extra washers to fill the void when I installed them.

deejay:
Thanks for the info, I'll definately be threading mine as well and install nylock nuts.
Those factory pinch nuts are very flimsy and difficult to work with (they may loosen over time too?)


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Team Chevelle Member #1037
'72 Chevelle Convertible (all SS options, no SS badging)
'95 Mustang GT convertible (the wife's)