Door panel screws question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**HIGHWAY BY THE SEA** · 08-21-2021, 10:59 PM

I am SO sick of dealing with these door panel screws that are "WELDED" in place with RUST.��
I just bought 1/4- 20 cage nuts and when they arrive, I am going to replace the old screws with stainless steel hex bolts and washers. Has anyone else tried this?
It seems to me that I would never have to worry about the screws being "welded" in place anymore. Screwdrivers are useless against these screws whenever this happens.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 08-21-2021, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIGHWAY BY THE SEA

I am SO sick of dealing with these door panel screws that are "WELDED" in place with RUST.��
I just bought 1/4- 20 cage nuts and when they arrive, I am going to replace the old screws with stainless steel hex bolts and washers. Has anyone else tried this?
It seems to me that I would never have to worry about the screws being "welded" in place anymore. Screwdrivers are useless against these screws whenever this happens.

I used cage nuts too. Didn't have any rust being an Arizona/California truck, but they got cross threaded.
I use #3 phillips flush screws [1/4-20] with a 1/2'' wide head. Works well. Pickup has a home made ''custom'' wood panel. K/5 is padded in vinyl.

roboticjunky · 08-21-2021, 11:43 PM

I use stainless steel screws with nylon nut insert (like the ones license plates use).

**LockDoc** · 08-22-2021, 10:27 AM

-
I did what Roboticjunky did, only I used the original screws with the plastic inserts. I still put a little anti-seize on the ends of the screws though.....

LockDoc

lutronjim · 08-22-2021, 10:10 PM

How does one get a cage nut attached?

Thanks

roboticjunky · 08-22-2021, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutronjim

How does one get a cage nut attached?

Thanks

A cage nut houses a standard nut in a cage with a spring. The cage has two wings that can be pinched together to allow the cage nut to be inserted into a square hole. The wings are then released to hold the cage nut in place.

Here's a video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVUvNzZGlLo

**kwmech** · 08-23-2021, 02:07 AM

I've always just wire brushed them after I got them out and put a dab of grease on them going back in

don t. - 72gmc · 08-23-2021, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
I still put a little anti-seize on the ends of the screws though.....

+1 for antisieze.

FWIW...don t.

**HIGHWAY BY THE SEA** · 08-29-2021, 12:05 AM

The cage nuts that I ordered came in. I drove to where my truck is being repaired and I knocked out some of the old rusted door panel nuts to replace them. But I made a huge mistake before I realized it. I had a perfectly usable nut still in place on the passenger door on the side that is closest to the hinges. I totally forgot that there is no rear access to be able to put a cage nut on the inside of the door. I had already knocked out the perfectly usable one but it is too late now. Now I must replace it with one of these plastic nuts that can be inserted from the front rather than the rear. What a stupid design! I don't understand why GM did this.

**Accelo** · 08-29-2021, 01:43 AM

I always use never-seize on new screws.
If you can't get them out just drill the head of the screw off. Then you can get the door panel off. Then I use vice-grips on the back side and unscrew them to the inside of the door. You can heat them if necessary with the panel off. I was always amazed how quickly these will seize if left unprotected with some type of lube.

08-21-2021, 10:59 PM	#1
HIGHWAY BY THE SEA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: BY THE CAROLINA SEA Posts: 922	Door panel screws question I am SO sick of dealing with these door panel screws that are "WELDED" in place with RUST.�� I just bought 1/4- 20 cage nuts and when they arrive, I am going to replace the old screws with stainless steel hex bolts and washers. Has anyone else tried this? It seems to me that I would never have to worry about the screws being "welded" in place anymore. Screwdrivers are useless against these screws whenever this happens. __________________ FRANKENTRUCK 1981 Chevrolet C10 Shortbed Stepside GRANDTRUCK 1968 Chevrolet C10 Stepside Longbed http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=584617 PROJECT JIGSAW 1967 GMC C3500 GREAT WHITE 1986 Blazer M1009 454 engine w/700R4 transmission gas conversion

08-22-2021, 10:27 AM	#4
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,849	Re: Door panel screws question - I did what Roboticjunky did, only I used the original screws with the plastic inserts. I still put a little anti-seize on the ends of the screws though..... LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

08-22-2021, 10:10 PM	#5
lutronjim Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Dunwoody,Ga Posts: 443	Re: Door panel screws question How does one get a cage nut attached? Thanks

08-23-2021, 02:07 AM	#7
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,659	Re: Door panel screws question I've always just wire brushed them after I got them out and put a dab of grease on them going back in

08-29-2021, 12:05 AM	#9
HIGHWAY BY THE SEA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: BY THE CAROLINA SEA Posts: 922	Re: Door panel screws question The cage nuts that I ordered came in. I drove to where my truck is being repaired and I knocked out some of the old rusted door panel nuts to replace them. But I made a huge mistake before I realized it. I had a perfectly usable nut still in place on the passenger door on the side that is closest to the hinges. I totally forgot that there is no rear access to be able to put a cage nut on the inside of the door. I had already knocked out the perfectly usable one but it is too late now. Now I must replace it with one of these plastic nuts that can be inserted from the front rather than the rear. What a stupid design! I don't understand why GM did this. __________________ FRANKENTRUCK 1981 Chevrolet C10 Shortbed Stepside GRANDTRUCK 1968 Chevrolet C10 Stepside Longbed http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=584617 PROJECT JIGSAW 1967 GMC C3500 GREAT WHITE 1986 Blazer M1009 454 engine w/700R4 transmission gas conversion

08-21-2021, 11:43 PM	#3
roboticjunky Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: IN Posts: 209	Re: Door panel screws question I use stainless steel screws with nylon nut insert (like the ones license plates use).

08-29-2021, 01:43 AM	#10
Accelo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: washington Posts: 2,308	Re: Door panel screws question I always use never-seize on new screws. If you can't get them out just drill the head of the screw off. Then you can get the door panel off. Then I use vice-grips on the back side and unscrew them to the inside of the door. You can heat them if necessary with the panel off. I was always amazed how quickly these will seize if left unprotected with some type of lube.



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