stripped bolts on 'cuda steering gearbox

[1970hemicuda]

Anybody had a problem with stripped mounting bolts for their 'cuda's steering box?  The driver's side bolt has a nut welded to the K-member that it threads into, while the two on the passenger side thread into the K-member.
Driver's side and lower passenger side won't stay tight ... I'm afraid they might be stripped ~

[Chryco Psycho]

have you changed the bolt to see if the threads are stretched or worn ?

[Wang]

Have not had this problem,, Try what Chryco said,,, also apply some thread locker. if that doesn't work,, maybe a lock washer??  worst case scenario... once you tighten the bolt take a mig welder and put a tack on the threaded area where it comes thru the nut (welt it to the nut) But only a tack-weld incase you ever have to remove it again.

[1970hemicuda]

What I have found after I posted the question, is that the nut on the back side of the driver's side bolt has broken free of its factory weld on the K-member - which is why I can't unthread it and the others won't stay tight.  Now what?  There's approx 3/8" opening to access that nut (more like SEE the nut, not access it).  An original hemi car, I don't want to cut up the frame to get to the nut to repair / replace it ... bad design, I think.  Anyone been here before?

[Chryco Psycho]

you are basically forced to cut into it to fix it either way So I would remove one of the reinforcement plates around the mount ,reweld the nut in place & replace the plate , while you are there you can add a few extra paltes , the car will steer better with more stiffness int he  steering box mount

[1970hemicuda]

OK, got away without having to cut anything up, although that would've been a helluva lot easier!  Took a 3/4" combo wrench and cut off the box end to a length of 2 1/2", then shaved the front and rear of it to a thickness of 3/16" and shaved the top and bottom to an overall diameter of 15/16".  Then I slid the wrench into the slot and rotated it onto the nut.  With a friend holding it in place, I unthreaded the bolt until the wrench wedged itself to a stop.  Once out, I taped a nylock nut to the wrench, slid it back in place and threaded a new bolt through the mounting hole and into the nylock.  5 1/2 hour project, with 5 hours spent coming up with the modified wrench concept.  After that, the old was out and the new in place in about half an hour!

[tactransman]

 

[Chryco Psycho]

kkep the wrench incase you ever have to do it again !!

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

    I like it when a plan comes together.  A lot of folks will use that bit of rigging.  You from down South???

[1970hemicuda]

Not from down South, but from that generation where you had to scratch your head to make things work, as opposed to the throw-away generation ... not passing judgement, just making an observation.  Don't see many fix-it shops (for your vaccum cleaner, radio, toaster, electric drill, or TV) around anymore, do ya?