Rear Trans Mount/Threaded Hole Repair

Greetings Oh Wisened Ones,

I am a pretty new Jeepster Dad. The boy wanted something a bit different for his first auto and I was able to "steer" him to a Jeepster when one I had know of for 18 years became available. It is a '67 convertable and was advertized as being in ready to roll condition. Had a professional check it out to be sure and got a pretty clean report - just the things one would expect to be worn on a 40 year old car. Of course I soon started digging the money pit! Well worth it, so far.

After a month in the shop for a new clutch release bearing (that led to a clutch pack, that lead to a total tranny rebuild, that lead to...you get the idea) I didn't get a mile toward home before bad sounds of pieces leaving the Jeepster started. Turns out the threaded holes in the frame that hold the crossmember upon which the tranny rests were bad on the drivers side and would not hold the attach bolts. I am seeking ideas for a repair.

Does anyone know what is inside the frame at that point? The mechanic tried to tap the hole without luck. It is as if something inside is just spinning. Even if we can tap it, is there enough material there to hold a thread repair? I am thinking I need to cut a hole in the side of the frame just large enough to insert a nut.

Comments and suggestions would be most welcome!

JeepsterDad, aka Patrick

 

Thats what I would do.
Yes there was a nut in there but it has been stripped.

Welcome .
There are No stupid ???'s here, so ask away.

Here is a Commando Forum to use as well.
http://forums.off-road.com/jeepster-american-jeepster-club/

But this is a realy friendly place with all the right answers

 

We did a repair on one for a buddy of mine last year with the same problem. There's a couple of ways to do it, this worked good for us. We took some 3/16th or 1/4" plate the width of the frame or slightly less and a couple of inches longer than the width of the mount, drilled two holes where the mount holes are, inserted and tacked in two bolts. We then drilled out the original threaded holes and enlarged the holes enough that the bolt heads would be up slightly inside the frame and the plate would sit up flush against the frame and welded the plate on. An alternative to that would be to drill and tap two holes in the plate and then weld the plate to the frame. 1/4" plate will also pretty much eliminate the shims that go between the plate and the frame. I think we ended up with one shim per side. I've seen where people drill up from the bottom through the top of the frame and insert long bolts from the bottom too.

 

Thank you for the ideas. Went to the shop this morning and we were able to drill, tap and insert helicoils. So far, so good. The Jeepster needs to be a daily driver to get the kids to school for a couple of more years and then it will be time for a frame off, I think. Next project is brakes (already replaced the master cylinder, now need to do everything else) and then exhaust. It came with dual glass packs and side pipes. I like the look and the sound, but not the exhaust fumes when sitting idling and the top is down!

Thanks again for the assistance.

patrick