Snapped Bed Bolts

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

Put your vise grips onto the bolt as tight as you can get them.
Them use some other pliers to tighten the vice grip bolt just a little bit more.
Making the vicegrips really tight.
Then use a flat head screwdriver pry up the rest of the clip off the bolt and push it through away from the gas tank.
Then get a punch and a hammer and push the bolt the rest of the way out from above.
This is just a suggestion I'm not trying to boss you around but this is how I would try to get it done.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well that’s a bummer…

I feel like I did this once or twice without dropping the gas tank, but I can’t really remember details. It’s been awhile. I do remember breaking one of those clips getting it out with a broken bit of bolt attached and part of it went somewhere into low orbit. There was a loud PING and it was gone. Never even heard it hit down. We were in town too.

How is that bracket bit attached to the frame there? I’m having trouble picturing it at the moment.

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

I just Edited my last post please reread.

 

[tomryan31]

Replying to last three:
That tab is, I believe, hot riveted to the frame with 4 or 5 1/4" rivets. It's fairly large and also supports the rear cab mount.

@Dougjustgotout I may very well try that, maybe it'll work!

@lil_Blue_Ford hilarious

Worst case scenario, I just use 5 bed bolts and eventually drop the gas tank when I get around to doing more...

 

[SenorNoob]

Hey. What about putting the vice grips on the bottom and drilling straight down from the top?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Replying to last three:
That tab is, I believe, hot riveted to the frame with 4 or 5 1/4" rivets. It's fairly large and also supports the rear cab mount.

@Dougjustgotout I may very well try that, maybe it'll work!

@lil_Blue_Ford hilarious

Worst case scenario, I just use 5 bed bolts and eventually drop the gas tank when I get around to doing more...

Figures it wouldn’t be a small tab, that would be too easy. I was gonna say maybe knock out the rivets and get it done.

You can lower the gas tank some, not fully drop it but lower it enough to get in there and do something about the bolt. Best to leave all the fuel stuff connected and sealed if you’re cutting steel near there anyway.

 

[tomryan31]

Hey. What about putting the vice grips on the bottom and drilling straight down from the top?

Maybe. It's take a long time I imagine. Given what the bolt did to my multi-tool blade, I'm not convinced my drill bits would do much better

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

I believe all that's holding you up is that little tiny bit of clip that the bolt goes through. I think all you really need to do is pry that little bit up and then push it through and the rest of the bolt well fall out.
The visegrips are just on it to catch it.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The oscillating tool isn't working because the bolt is moving with the blade. Use vicegrips as mentioned and your oscillating tool. Could try a reciprocating saw too.
Make sure you're using metal cutting blades.

 

[tomryan31]

The oscillating tool isn't working because the bolt is moving with the blade. Use vicegrips as mentioned and your oscillating tool. Could try a reciprocating saw too.
Make sure you're using metal cutting blades.

Definitely used vice grips to hold it... Used titanium tipped bimetal blades that should be good for it.

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

I'm talking in two threads at the same time my phone is going slow as all get out it can't keep up.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Definitely used vice grips to hold it... Used titanium tipped bimetal blades that should be good for it.

Interesting…

Sounds like time to put some blocks under the gas tank and lower it far enough to get a grinder on it

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I'm talking in two threads at the same time my phone is going slow as all get out it can't keep up.

Probably doesn’t help that I’m just chilling here on my tablet with good internet just pounding it out, lol

Just wait till I switch over to the laptop

 

[tomryan31]

Interesting…

Sounds like time to put some blocks under the gas tank and lower it far enough to get a grinder on it

I'm with you. When it's light out I'll give a hammer a good go, and then just roll with 5 bolts until I get around to dropping the tank.

Thanks fellas!

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

Wait, wait wait!!!!!!