don't throw out your SWB grill posts

[ajwans]

The SWB grill posts (T-bolts?) were a little dinky, being stamped
and not threaded all the way around. Additionally on my car they
had been mated to regular steel M5 nuts, which caused them to
deteriorate further.

They still list in the catalogs but I've read they are NLA as a new
part, I didn't get around to finding out, instead I busted out my
el cheapo tap and die set and converted them to M4.

Here you can see I did a trial run on the worst one:


2011-06-19 19.28.10.jpg, on Flickr

After threading all 7 salvagable parts:


2011-06-19 19.53.22.jpg, on Flickr

That 4.2mm drill bit was the exact size for using as a lever while turning
the bolt. Of course if you have a vise handy that would be even better.

If anyone has a spare grill post in rethreadable condition I will gladly accept
the donation :-)

andy

[preS]

A fellow list member has/ had them available on ebay $98 a set but I like that you saved yours.

Thanks for posting.

Richard

[ajwans]

Here's the (mostly) finished item:


2011-06-20 09.19.28.jpg, on Flickr

Still looking for 1 spare grill post and 4 non-bashed in aluminium acorn nuts.

andy

[mimimemegna]

Beautiful job! It seems very nice!

[ajwans]

ErichW was kind enough to send me a couple of odd ones unthreaded so
that I could make up the final one to be the same as my 'refurbished' posts.

The thread for his complete sets can be found here: SWB Rear grill T bolts reproduced

Still looking for some serviceable acorn nuts if anyone has stripped an early
grill for parts.

andy