Hardtop trouble...need advice

[ghayes420]

Hi folks. Just picked up my first Viper. 98 RT/10. I am addicted.

I have an elementary machine shop question. On the hardtop...front latches...the the previous owner tried to take out the screws to tighten the latch. The screw stripped. I tried to use an extractor bit to remove the screw. That worked. I tried to put in a new screw and the POS screw broke off into the hole inside of the part inside the hardtop. I tried to extract that. I got the screw out but I stripped the threads on that part. I cannot screw in a screw now. You can't remove this part because it is located inside the the hardtop. I obviously am not very mechanically inclined. Is it possible to re-thread that metal piece? I would hate to have to trash an otherwise perfect Mopar hartop. Thanks in advance.

 

[Jeff Lemke]

Try to re-thread it with a heli-coil kit. They seem to work pretty good.

Jeff

 

[prodiver]

If the heli-coil doesn't work then fill the hole with JB Weld (get it at almost any hardware or auto parts store) then re drill and tap it.

 

[bth1]

JB Weld was also what I was thinking. It is really amazing what you can do with that stuff.

 

[trainville]

Or..........just drill to the next larger size and tap a larger bolt size into the hard top. You might want to research what size bolts will fit your application. I've never tried heli-coil myself.

You can buy a tap/die set at most any hardware store, parts store, SEARS, etc. Or just buy a handle and the single size tap you need. My .02

 

[KWIK96]

Make sure you get that front secured very well.
I had the back pop off at 140+ and it was floating about 4 inches above the roll bar, and believe me I was praying that the front held till I could stop. The front is really important! Turned out the back was not properly engaged, so now I double check