Drilled, done There is a spinning nut on the inside, so that sucks Thank you everyone for grappling with me on this
Next step will be to "pinch" the lip of the barrel flange edges in carefully until you can push the nut into the aluminum chassis panel(it will drop into the tunnel). Seems like I recall using a sharp chisel to tap those edges towards each other without damaging or altering the size of the hole in the chassis panel. A dremel with a cut off disc would also work if the chisel seems to be causing unwanted damage to the panel.
Thank you, so once it drops into the tunnel, I can fish it out by removing the center under tray panel I presume? The one with all the bolts? I may not push it into the tunnel until I am prepared to get it out from the other side, don't want it mulling around
Put an allen socket on a drill for you can unscrew if fast. While the drill is in reverse spinning the screw, tilt the drill to the side. this will jam the spinning rev nut/flange nut in its hole thus allowed the screw to back out.
That is what we call an AVK insert, your pic shows the flanged type. you can buy kits with M4,5,6+8 mm inserts plus the installation pliers
AVK insert it is. Kennyd. I tried the trick you are talking about to bind up the back side of the insert but it kept spinning so had to pinch, chisel, to push it through the panel. No way to remove the insert without pushing it inward as it is flared/ballooned on the inside of the panel sort of like a pop rivet. Colorful. If there is sound deadener material inside the tunnel, that might capture the insert nut but pulling down the under panel would allow you to get at it as well. I doubt that the loose nut could cause much trouble but who knows?
My 360 is now on the lift so I pulled the tunnel panel and the back side of the AVK insert is easy to get to. Wish I would have pulled the panel earlier because you might have been able to clamp the backside with a narrow beak vise grip to back out the screw but you still would have the loose fitting to deal with. Maybe clamping the back side of the loose nut will make removing it easier? So yes, the loose nut will be easy to remove.
If you have a loose insert and you manage to get the screw out, you can always try to tighten up the insert in place, either with AVK insert pliers or a threaded bolt , a nut and a repair washer.
Good idea. Certainly worth a try and just might work. And then a new screw with anti-seize and should never have to mess with it again.
If you go to fit these AVK inserts with the special tool, be careful not to pull too much when doing an M4 or you will pull the threads out of the new insert. The 5,6 and 8 mm are not a problem
