Any ideas?

[other_shoe]

My convertible top shop used sheet metal screws to install my boot channel, so now the proper screws -- it requires very short machine screws to avoid ripping the upholstery on the rear seat -- won't fit.

Is my best choice to find a larger diameter machine screw and tap new threads?

Or is there another option?

Many thanks.

 

[66forfun]

I found oversize screws for the tail light bezels, check with the parts houses there should be something out there.

 

[BarnStang]

Wow. THat's frustrating. You can try running a tap for the correct thread through. You might be surprised. As long as you can get a good hard bite when you tighten it, but if it strips, then you will have to tap to the next size OR drill and helicoil all the threaded nutserts. Not sure what they are really called...threaded inserts, small nuts stamped into sheetmetal...who knows?

 

[other_shoe]

Thanks for the suggestions, 66forfun and BarnStang.

Since the next larger diameter machine screw now fits in the whole -- albeit without proper threading -- I'm guessing I cant get the tap for the right size to work.

So I'll certainly check with the parts houses on a larger screw, though I'm afraid the head will be comically huge in this application.

I like the nutserts plan for a long-term solution. No idea how to do it, but I'm always up for learning.

My "It's Sunday afternoon and I have to get something done" solution was to use small, almost flat speed nuts on either side. Since there is not a lot of weight or force being borne by any of the eleven screws, this seems to work well enough for my current needs of not ripping the rear seat upholstery and not being reminded of the bad work.

 

[izzy jr]

That's always frustrating when you pay someone to do a job and instead of taking their time to get it right they just half arse it to get it out of the shop.