i had to remove my drivers side fender today, and i noticed the 9/16 inch bolt on the bottom, right behind the tire, was stuck.
turns out, the cage nut or the plate that shifts around in there was spinning inside with the bolt, so the bolt isnt going to come out how its supposed to.

im here to get help on removal and fixing this problem. i need ideas.
thanks for any help you can give me.

------------------
Lucas

Lucas,
Pretty normal for a 30 year old car...you are going to have to cut the bolt off and figure a way to get a new plate in there when you put it back together.

------------------
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md

1971 Heavy Chevy - original owner
Team Chevelle #100

you could cut the head off with a high speed and cutoff wheel just be carefull not to grind into the fender. Or you could try prying the fender apart at the spot where the bolt is, sometimes if you get a little pressure/tension on there it will keep the nutplate from spinning

I had the same problem with my 71. The bolt has to be cut. I used my Sawzall. I stuck the blade between the wheel well and the fender and cut the bolt off,then you can get to the caged nut with the fender off. Bill

------------------
B.Rose
68-SS396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/71SSBB/1968chevelle.jpg)
71-SS454 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/71SSBB/1971ss454.jpg)
ACES #04039

awww nuts.

ill see what i can do.
but, say i get it out, what will i put in place of the plate thats spinning, to back the bolt?
maybe ill understand it more when i take it out, ive never done such surgery, only the obligatory quarterpanel and rear window sill replacements.

thanks for the help fellas.

After you take the fender off you can easily replace the caged nut. With the fender off you will see how simple it will be to replace.It slips right over the hole in the wheel well. You can get them at almost any good parts store...Bill

------------------
B.Rose
68-SS396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/71SSBB/1968chevelle.jpg)
71-SS454 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/71SSBB/1971ss454.jpg)
ACES #04039

whoa, wait a second Bill, i think i didnt describe it well enough.
what im talking about has nothing to do with the wheel well, just the fender-to-body connection.
i mean the the 9/16 inch bolt underneath the rockerpanel, rear of the tire/wheel. its one of the bolts used to adjust the body seams...

i got the fender off while the bolt was still jammed only because the fender is slotted for ease of adjustment.

Take a look under there, you'll see what Bill is talking about, the body is slotted not the inner fender

Sorry I thought you ment the bottom hole in the fender well.Like Dean said, the fender is slotted . If the bolt is loose at all, the fender should slide out. If not I think it will have to be ground off like turbo suggested. Then it can be replaced when the fender goes back...Bill

If that doesn't work I'll bring my "JAWS OF LIFE" over ,that will get it off guaranteed!!!!!

------------------
B.Rose
68-SS396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/71SSBB/1968chevelle.jpg)
71-SS454 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/71SSBB/1971ss454.jpg)
ACES #04039

ok, i misunderstood the first time.
ill just whack it off and replace the cage nut and bolt.
thanks again for the help fellas.

------------------
Lucas