FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this on the forum before but there seems to be a lot of projects right now so I thought I'd put  an old idea out there .When replacing front subframes it is sometimes difficult to get the 4  bolts back through[with the step catching on the way through] so what I do is buy a couple of spare nuts for each bolt ,then weld them together  [2 for each bolt ] then fill one end with weld and screw it back on the bolt and sharpen it with the grinder. Now you can use a hammer to put the bolt in then remove the sharpened end and put the original nut back on . Put these bullets in the drawer ,someone may use them one day. Cheers Haydn

Could have done with that handy hint two weeks ago. Bolted up front subframe to donor floor before welding in place when I removed the subframe all was good everybolt hole lined up. Sent the subframe to the powder coasters. When I went to refit the subframe nothing would line up. I suppose the heat from the oven distorted everything had to use heavy duty ratchet straps to pull every thing back in place. And boy did I have a hard time getting the bolts through. Another trick for next time.   Thanks  mate. Mickrat. Tassy

Great tip HSV. Mine fell into place ok. I did ratchet strap them together & bolts went in. I may have been lucky.

I had the machine-shop at work do a little job for the "Department of Foreign Affairs" - subframe bolt-bullets.

Mild steel round bar, about an inch long, turned down to the external diameter of the subframe bolts (3/8 and 7/16 from memory) and gently tapered towards the end, internally drilled and tapped 5/16 UNF x 5/8 deep.  If I was making a new set today, I'd make the 7/16 dia bolt-bullet longer, and put a screwdriver-slot in the end to make it easier to uncrew the bullet from the bolt once the bolt was driven into place in the outer subframe leg.

I used them first on an HD I did up, and for my FC.  They work an absolute treat.

Rob

   Grind the leading edge down to give a 45 degree angle, spray both the bolt & the hole with Inox or WD40 & gently tap the bolt home.  Support the front tie member to take load off the bolts. Have done plenty this way with no dramas.   Cheers old-blu.

great tips guys,