Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro

brian schuetta · 06-14-2016, 08:57 AM

I was putting the trans crossmember back in my car last night and two of the cage nuts(?) inside the frame are turning when i tighten the bolts. Anybody have this problem? The car has been around for 17 years now with lots of trans changes or engine changes that involved removing the trans crossmember, guess it just wore out the way the threads are secured in the frame. This car has been fighting me lately.

brian schuetta · 06-14-2016, 03:08 PM

Do i cut the floor or the side of the frame to access these nuts and weld it back up?

ss3011 · 06-14-2016, 04:52 PM

Maybe drill it out and put a Riv-Nut in the hole .

Doug Domm · 06-14-2016, 10:08 PM

Maybe drill a hole on either side of the nut shoulder then plug weld it?

Tom Goldman · 06-14-2016, 10:21 PM

Most commercial fastener distributors have expanding insert nuts like Riv Nuts and other brands .
Most areas have a Fastenall store nearby .
Make sure you use the heavy duty style for the proper thickness of the frame , There are different types for use and gauge of metal.

brian schuetta · 06-15-2016, 08:30 AM

Thank you for the replies. I will find the Fastenal in San Antonio. In the meantime I will look up these rev nut things and get familiar with them.

brian schuetta · 06-15-2016, 11:43 AM

Found a Fastenal store in New Braunfels TX, they gave me a catalog and told me the Rivnut tool can be borrowed from Auto Zone. Just have to get right size nut, I think its 10 mm for the crossmember bolts.

henrys57wagon · 06-16-2016, 09:07 AM

I use a bolt and flat washer to install riv nuts when I don't have the correct threaded insert for my riv-tool.

Eman · 06-16-2016, 10:51 AM

Mine gave up a while ago, too many trans changes. I just drilled out and retapped the originals to a larger SAE size.

brian schuetta · 06-16-2016, 03:12 PM

Eman were they loose in the folded sheet metal frame? Auto Zone never heard of that type of rivet gun BTW. Hope to work on it again tonight.

06-14-2016, 08:57 AM	#1
brian schuetta Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: san antonio tx Posts: 259 Likes: 5 Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts	Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro I was putting the trans crossmember back in my car last night and two of the cage nuts(?) inside the frame are turning when i tighten the bolts. Anybody have this problem? The car has been around for 17 years now with lots of trans changes or engine changes that involved removing the trans crossmember, guess it just wore out the way the threads are secured in the frame. This car has been fighting me lately.

06-14-2016, 03:08 PM	#2
brian schuetta Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: san antonio tx Posts: 259 Likes: 5 Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro Do i cut the floor or the side of the frame to access these nuts and weld it back up?

06-14-2016, 04:52 PM	#3
ss3011 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 908 Likes: 70 Liked 238 Times in 113 Posts	Re: Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro Maybe drill it out and put a Riv-Nut in the hole .

06-14-2016, 10:08 PM	#4
Doug Domm Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: canada Posts: 251 Likes: 28 Liked 84 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro Maybe drill a hole on either side of the nut shoulder then plug weld it?

06-14-2016, 10:21 PM	#5
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,473 Likes: 878 Liked 857 Times in 234 Posts	Re: Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro Most commercial fastener distributors have expanding insert nuts like Riv Nuts and other brands . Most areas have a Fastenall store nearby . Make sure you use the heavy duty style for the proper thickness of the frame , There are different types for use and gauge of metal. __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

06-15-2016, 08:30 AM	#6
brian schuetta Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: san antonio tx Posts: 259 Likes: 5 Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro Thank you for the replies. I will find the Fastenal in San Antonio. In the meantime I will look up these rev nut things and get familiar with them.

06-15-2016, 11:43 AM	#7
brian schuetta Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: san antonio tx Posts: 259 Likes: 5 Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro Found a Fastenal store in New Braunfels TX, they gave me a catalog and told me the Rivnut tool can be borrowed from Auto Zone. Just have to get right size nut, I think its 10 mm for the crossmember bolts.

06-16-2016, 09:07 AM	#8
henrys57wagon Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Carleton Place, On. Canada Posts: 107 Likes: 5 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro I use a bolt and flat washer to install riv nuts when I don't have the correct threaded insert for my riv-tool. __________________ old 1608 stock racer

06-16-2016, 10:51 AM	#9
Eman Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: E TN Posts: 467 Likes: 16 Liked 133 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro Mine gave up a while ago, too many trans changes. I just drilled out and retapped the originals to a larger SAE size.

06-16-2016, 03:12 PM	#10
brian schuetta Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: san antonio tx Posts: 259 Likes: 5 Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Trans Bolt Holes 3rd Gen Camaro Eman were they loose in the folded sheet metal frame? Auto Zone never heard of that type of rivet gun BTW. Hope to work on it again tonight.