Question for the pro's

[soundcontrol]

How do professional restorers deal with lagre screwholes and screws that goes thru plastic pieces? Taking the interior out of my car, all door panels, sill plates, etc is fastened with a wide selection of sheet metal screws, wood screws, metric screws etc, etc. of course all holes are to large for the original screws now, and I ordered a interior screw set.  Do you weld the hole and drill a new one, or is there any smart tricks to fix this? I guess if I just weld a lillte bit to make the hole smaller, it's gonna be pretty hard to get a stock screw in there, since the weld will be thicker and harder than the sheet metal...


Also some of my interior pieces have been tighten to much in the past so the head of the screw goes thru the plastic, easy "fixed" on my car by previous owners with a large washer and a long wood screw.... My rear panels (convertible) are in good condition, except for the upper holes for the screws.
On top of that, on my rare SE taillight trim panel, someone just drilles a hole thru it and put a sheet metal screw in to hold it.. 
Gonna try to TIG weld or solder that one later.

[roadman5312]

I have in the past used the old toothpick trick, stick it in, start the correct screw, break it off, tighten screw. Works on some, not all situations. I have also used those plastic deals you push into sheetrock that expand when the screw tightens, and sometimes works.

[Chryco Psycho]

or you can fill the hole with epoxy & drill a new pilot hole

[soundcontrol]

There is many quick fix ways to do this and I've probably used all of them in the past, including larger screw. Toothpicks and woodglue is great on wood, don't wanna use wood or plastic in my car though. I was just wondering how the pro restorers deal with this, must be a pretty common fix.

[4 speed fish]

There are some great plastic glues out now.They are 2 part epoxy and work great.Like CP stated glue and re drill.

[dutch]

 

as for the oversized holes in the sheetmetal,  I don`t know if you have everything painted, or if you are restoring, but I`d braze the holes and redrill.
If that`s no option, you can use a dolly behind the hole and stretch the metal around the hole a bit with a peenball hammer and close it up enough to grab a screw again.

[burdar]

I've heard of people using those plastic push-in screw anchors in certain situations.  You know...those things that keep multiplying in your junk drawer.

[johns cuda shop]

You can always flll the hole with a silicon bronze rod using either Tig or Oxy fuel welding, Than re drill the hole 

[soundcontrol]

Googling "Silicon Bronze" and that seems like a great material for the purpose. I never heard about it before. 50% the strenght of steel, seems perfect to fill holes with.
Found this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2_hXQ4ABrg


I'm gonna get some of that and try it with my TIG. It's not time for me yet to restore the car, but I'm gathering parts and information.
Car was painted before I bought it, but it's not restored. It looks pretty good from a few yards away, but it is a project if you dig in to it. Gonna drive it for another year or two, then take it apart and fix it up good. Here is a nice pict.

[mikeporp]

I have a 70 challenger convertible. when I bought it the interior panels were spray painted black they are originally white. The paint is slightly peeling off does anyone know a good way of removing the black paint without destroying the panel. I want to restore them back to the white panels. Thanks. Mike

[blown motor]

I've used a spring steel clip on the backside of the hole. I'm not sure what they are called but when the screw goes through it spreads the "wings" in the clip. Works well in places that where you can get to the backside.

[burdar]

I have a 70 challenger convertible. when I bought it the interior panels were spray painted black they are originally white. The paint is slightly peeling off does anyone know a good way of removing the black paint without destroying the panel. I want to restore them back to the white panels. Thanks. Mike

I would try oven cleaner.  Test it on the back of the panel first to make sure it doesn't react to the plastic.  I sprayed some plastic dash pieces for my Dart with oven cleaner.  The paint washed right off after letting it sit for maybe 20 minutes.