Seat Belt bolt sheared

Body parts, seats, dash, headlining, windows and stuff!

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Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 242
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 21:38
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Uffington

Re: Seat Belt bolt sheared

Post by Zaphod »

You mean it's a single threaded tube running to the bolt for the passenger side catch? I wonder why it has seized then!
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

Pete Boole
Senior Poster
Posts: 3710
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

Re: Seat Belt bolt sheared

Post by Pete Boole »

Yes. They seize because the tube is often poorly sealed against water ingress between the body and transmission tunnel.

Pete

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 242
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 21:38
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Uffington

Re: Seat Belt bolt sheared

Post by Zaphod »

well I have a broken drill bit in the broken bolt.. and the bolt on the other side has broken! I am however close to getting the drill out using an 8mm diamond coated hole saw.. however progress is slow :(
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

Pete Boole
Senior Poster
Posts: 3710
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

Re: Seat Belt bolt sheared

Post by Pete Boole »

Just think how good it will feel when you get them out!! :D

Pete

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 242
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 21:38
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Uffington

Re: Seat Belt bolt sheared

Post by Zaphod »

Well the bast%&d drill is out.. and I have run drills to 9mm through, and I’m not seeing any threads yet.. question is what would the next size drill be to use.. or is it worth trying a tap (with the attendant risk of it snapping!)

I also have a broken bold on the passenger side, but I may try putting plus gas the now open end and sealing the hole and hope that frees it off and it can be wound out…
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

Pete Boole
Senior Poster
Posts: 3710
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

Re: Seat Belt bolt sheared

Post by Pete Boole »

Well technically the minor diameter of a 7/16" UNF female thread is 9.74mm, so I'd go to 9.5mm and assuming you're not drilling in the absolute centre you should start seeing some evidence of threads. Hopefully you'll then be able to dig the rest of the bolt out.

Keep going!! :D

Pete

Zaphod
Senior Poster
Posts: 242
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 21:38
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Uffington

Re: Seat Belt bolt sheared

Post by Zaphod »

My eye must be good.. 9.5mm and still no sign of the thread.. except a short bit I pulled out with pliers, however examination with a USB borescope still shows no threads inside the hole.. anyway.. 25/64ths next..
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...

1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel

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