Removing 42 Fordor Running Boards
 

Its a 42 Fordor I'm working on

I m attempting to remove the running boards on my 42. Of course all the bolts are concealed and they use caged nuts.
I drilled holes in the bottom of the body and sprayed penetrating oil over several days before starting on this.
With that said, SEVERAL of the caged nuts must have been very rusty before I started as they easily broke loose and just spun.
What I would like to know is if anyone has run into this before and how did you get everything removed.
I am thinking I will have to drill holes from above, they will be covered by the flooring, and go after them from there. The body mount bolt at the pillar was so rusty it twisted in two with NO effort. I think I can get to that one from the inside at the pillar.
Back to the other bolts, how has any of you gotten them out when they wouldnt just back out?

Re: Removing 42 Fordor Running Boards
 

You’ll have to cut the bolts off in order to detach the running board. Another way to get out the cage nuts is to cut a hole in the backside of the rocker panel access them that way then weld the whole back up after you’ve installed new nuts. pretty common for these years of Fords.
Am doing this myself as well.

Re: Removing 42 Fordor Running Boards
 

My rockers were mostly gone which made access less of a challenge. The replacement pieces had nuts tacked into place.

A similar issue arose on the front fenders, especially the fasteners that attach to the cowl.

Good luck. These little buggers are time hogs.

Re: Removing 42 Fordor Running Boards
 

What is the condition of your rockers?

Re: Removing 42 Fordor Running Boards
 

As waterboychuck has asked....It depends on the condition of the rockers......IF they are generally in good shape you can by new 5/16 cage nuts and "hopefully" tack them back in place. OR depending on how wallowed out the holes are I have seen (for quick and easy) a plain steel hex nut tacked to a plain steel flat washer, turned over, thread a longer bolt into it, center it in the whole where it needs to be and tacked around the perimeter of the washer.

Re: Removing 42 Fordor Running Boards
 

What is the condition of your rockers?


The rockers are actually in very good shape. The body is on the chassis and there just isnt much room between the body and the frame to get in there to drill holes. I'll take pics but I am thinking the easiest way is going from the top down. Drilling holes above the bolt/cage nuts and getting at them that way. I think i can drill a 1 inch hole then when I'm done plug them with some hole plugs. that way too the flooring willl cover it all up.

Re: Removing 42 Fordor Running Boards
 

My '41 had a couple that came loose. I drilled a hole above the bad ones, made a "L" shaped metal piece and welded a nut on the short leg(with a hole). Held the long leg with pliers and lowered it into the rocker box and threaded the bolt in. worked for 20 odd yrs. Put anti-seize on the threads

Re: Removing 42 Fordor Running Boards
 

Sell yours and buy my wonderful special deluxe survivor for 12,900


John Stimac


[email protected]

Re: Removing 42 Fordor Running Boards
 

i wish i had known how much it was going to cost to redo mine, i would have bought yours in a heartbeat, i love that one