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Old 07-11-2012, 05:53 PM   #1
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Rebolting Penthouse

In my ongoing (neverending?) effort to bulletproof the van, I spent the afternoon replacing the failure prone PH bolts with these neat shoulder bolts I found at a local supplier:


They are extremely strong so I expect them to last. Of course I had to remove the PH springs to take the load off the bolts. I made a hole in the rear plate that covers the anti-rattle spring and used a small come-along to release the spring tension:



(Who took these blurry pictures?!) Worked very well and keeping the come-long inline with the spring is a good idea.

The pivot bolts were easy to replace:


The front mounting bolts were a PIA if you have bratwurst fingers like I do:


That said, the existing bolts looked OK and probably didn't need to be replaced. At least I know how to do it now.

Z

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Old 07-11-2012, 06:19 PM   #2
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Rebolting Penthouse

So what is the source of the shoulder bolts?
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Old 07-11-2012, 06:55 PM   #3
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Rebolting Penthouse

http://www.boltdepot.com/Shoulder_bolts.aspx

Z


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Old 07-11-2012, 07:54 PM   #4
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Re: Rebolting Penthouse

C'mon Tom, you gonna tell us the size of the bolts you used, or do we have to measure our parts?

Mike
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Old 07-11-2012, 08:34 PM   #5
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Re: Rebolting Penthouse

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350
C'mon Tom, you gonna tell us the size of the bolts you used, or do we have to measure our parts?

Mike
My short term memory ain't what it used to be for some reason...but here goes:

2-Front mounting bolts 1/4"x 1 3/4" long
2-Pivot Bolts 1/4" x 2 1/4" long

Z
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Old 07-11-2012, 10:22 PM   #6
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Rebolting Penthouse

Thank you.


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Old 07-11-2012, 11:13 PM   #7
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Re: Rebolting Penthouse

I was able to find the same bolts at my local Fastenal but I never have been able to find the size for the electric top. Are they the same?
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Old 10-28-2012, 10:36 AM   #8
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Re: Rebolting Penthouse (without a come-along)

Here is one I figured out in remote desperation to repair a broken scissor bolt without using a come-along.

Use a strong piece of line to replace the come-along and tension the line with the top partly raised. Then you get a couple people under the roof, raise it and place precut 2X2's or equivalent under the 4 corners of the top. Tension is now off the scissor bolts and even the chain to spring. So this can be used to carefully re-tension the top.

Also the bolts I used were Grade 8, very hard. These should not wear out....

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Old 03-19-2013, 05:42 PM   #9
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Rebolting Penthouse

My pivot bolt just snapped.

Zeta - The length and diameter you listed above was for the shoulder bolts or for direct replacements of the smb bolts?



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Old 03-19-2013, 06:11 PM   #10
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Re: Rebolting Penthouse

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ocsmb
My pivot bolt just snapped.

Zeta - The length and diameter you listed above was for the shoulder bolts or for direct replacements of the smb bolts?
Both. Good luck.

Z
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