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Thread: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

  1. #1
    Garrett booster
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    Exclamation K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    I have a '92 daytona iroc that I am swapping k-frames with a '93 daytona and I cannot get the front bolts off of the crossmember...

    I have everything undone, have it supported with a jack....but I cannot get the front bolts out of the crossmember...it seems as though the nuts in the frame are just spinning!

    I have tried PB Blaster, various box end wrenches (3/4" seems too big, 11/16ths too small!) needles nose vice grips- and I still cant get the damn thing apart!

    does anyone have any tricks to getting this done?

  2. #2
    Buy my stuff!!!!!!!!!!! :O) Turbo Mopar Vendor turbovanmanČ's Avatar
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    Re: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    Ok, what has happened is the nut which is attached to a u-clip has broken off, so you have a few choices. Try to get some vice grips in there, barring that, you'll need a cutting torch and cut the nut out, then get some new U-clips or drill the head off.
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    Hot Certified Christians at TD! Turbo Mopar Staff Directconnection's Avatar
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    Re: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    Or.... do as I did: you may have just a tad bit of clearance ebwteen the K frame and the mounting points, right? A sawzall blade will fit nicely in between, but use it with caution. Worked perfectly for me!
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    Buy my stuff!!!!!!!!!!! :O) Turbo Mopar Vendor turbovanmanČ's Avatar
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    Re: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    Quote Originally Posted by Directconnection View Post
    Or.... do as I did: you may have just a tad bit of clearance ebwteen the K frame and the mounting points, right? A sawzall blade will fit nicely in between, but use it with caution. Worked perfectly for me!
    Or that, didn't have a sawzall back in the day, lol!
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  5. #5

    Re: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    You should be able to get a box wrench on the broken free nuts.

    later
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  6. #6
    turbo addict
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    Re: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    I have a shorty wrench that fits in there perfect. I think it's 18 mm. Buy a cheapo wrench and chop it if it won't fit.

  7. #7
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    Re: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    Quote Originally Posted by Directconnection View Post
    Or.... do as I did: you may have just a tad bit of clearance ebwteen the K frame and the mounting points, right? A sawzall blade will fit nicely in between, but use it with caution. Worked perfectly for me!
    that works: I know- I've seen me do it!

  8. #8
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    Re: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    I seem to recall it's not too difficult to get a box end wrench in there, but yah, our sh!t is metric... apart from when it isn't... I think I did it before I broke the retaining plate, just 'coz I expected to...

    For a sitch like this where you're trying to preserve parts and don't wanna cut into one or the other if you can help it, you can sometimes, when the nut is a decent size, drill down close to the bolt with a tungsten or nitride 1/8 bit, through the nut and stake it with a hard nail, or hard steel dowel... tricky though if access isn't good.... it's usually easier to "customise" cheap wrenches.... a good case for not throwing your old crap out when you get good new tools, just save it for cutting up or grinding down, or for making low profile T-Bar wrenches out of sockets.
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  9. #9
    turbo addict Turbo Mopar Contributor
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    Re: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    Zombie thread

    Atleast I learned something new already this morning

  10. #10
    turbo addict
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    Re: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    Gah, yeah, welcome to 5 years ago... wonder if he got it off yet
    DD1: '02 T&C Ltd, 3.8 AWD. DD2: '15 Versa Note SV, replacing.. DDx: '14 Versa Note SV << freshly killded :( ....... Projects: '88 Voyager 3.0, Auto with shift kit, timing advance, walker sound FX muffler on 15" pumpers wrapped in 215/65/R15 H rated Nexens.... and a '95 phord escort wagon PnP head << Both may need to go :( ..... I like 3.0s ... so??? ... stop looking at me like I've got two heads!

  11. #11
    Hybrid booster
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    Re: K-frame (crossmember) swap...how do you get the front frame bolts/nut undone?

    Peas and Rice! it was down at the bottom of the thread I started so I clicked to look at the problem to see if was similar. Didn't look at the dates. Hah!

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