Love my fixed '97 M .... and a question.

Well, I have been driving my repaired 1997 M model for about three
weeks now, and I have to say I love the car just as much as I did my
1992. I can't say that I'm mad about the leather seats, as thery do
contribute to sweaty back, but other than that.... very happy, big
grins. I'll be driving it to Boston this weekend to visit a friend,
a round trip of just over 1,000 miles; should be fun. Unfortunately,
almost all interstate, but I can't spare time off work to take the
backroads on this trip.

Anyway, the question....

Since I bought the car, the passenger side hardtop "frankenstein" bolt
has been loose. It is also almost completely stripped. So last
night, I removed it for replacement. To do so, I had to thread a
deepwell 6-point metric socket (14 or 15mm iirc) and 2.5" extension up
from inside the trunk. The head of the bolt (phillips pattern) was
too messed up to be used, so I simply took a vise grip and unscrewed
the frankenstein bolt. Came out with little drama. However, the
retaining nut also came out in my deep well socket. Shouldn't this
be a welded nut permanently affixed for the bolt to thread into?
also, my Frankenstein bolt is two parts: a stud that is threaded on
one end for the retaining nut, and on the other end for the
Frankenstein bolt. I have found numerous places that stock the
frankenstein bolt; none of them illustrate it as a stud and a female-
threaded chrome top piece, and none of them illustrate the retaining
nut either. So, is this normal, or has my car got some sort of
previous owner bodge going on?

Thanks,

Tim

Tim M. wrote:

> Anyway, the question....
>
> Since I bought the car, the passenger side hardtop "frankenstein" bolt
> has been loose. It is also almost completely stripped. So last
> night, I removed it for replacement. To do so, I had to thread a
> deepwell 6-point metric socket (14 or 15mm iirc) and 2.5" extension up
> from inside the trunk. The head of the bolt (phillips pattern) was
> too messed up to be used, so I simply took a vise grip and unscrewed
> the frankenstein bolt. Came out with little drama. However, the
> retaining nut also came out in my deep well socket. Shouldn't this
> be a welded nut permanently affixed for the bolt to thread into?
> also, my Frankenstein bolt is two parts: a stud that is threaded on
> one end for the retaining nut, and on the other end for the
> Frankenstein bolt. I have found numerous places that stock the
> frankenstein bolt; none of them illustrate it as a stud and a female-
> threaded chrome top piece, and none of them illustrate the retaining
> nut either. So, is this normal, or has my car got some sort of
> previous owner bodge going on?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tim

Did you figure this out?
I actually have no idea, but I may be able to figure it out from
pictures of the last Miata that was torn to pieces.

Pat

On Oct 1, 11:57*am, pws > wrote:
> Tim M. wrote:
> > Anyway, the question....
>
> > Since I bought the car, the passenger side hardtop "frankenstein" bolt
> > has been loose. *It is also almost completely stripped. *So last
> > night, I removed it for replacement. *To do so, I had to thread a
> > deepwell 6-point metric socket (14 or 15mm iirc) and 2.5" extension up
> > from inside the trunk. *The head of the bolt (phillips pattern) was
> > too messed up to be used, so I simply took a vise grip and unscrewed
> > the frankenstein bolt. *Came out with little drama. *However, the
> > retaining nut also came out in my deep well socket. * Shouldn't this
> > be a welded nut permanently affixed for the bolt to thread into?
> > also, my Frankenstein bolt is two parts: *a stud that is threaded on
> > one end for the retaining nut, and on the other end for the
> > Frankenstein bolt. * I have found numerous places that stock the
> > frankenstein bolt; none of them illustrate it as a stud and a female-
> > threaded chrome top piece, and none of them illustrate the retaining
> > nut either. *So, is this normal, or has my car got some sort of
> > previous owner bodge going on?

> Did you figure this out?
> I actually have no idea, but I may be able to figure it out from
> pictures of the last Miata that was torn to pieces.

Not yet; I have the bolt on my dresser to remind me to take care of
it. Prime soft-top weather in the Washington D.C. area now, but in
two and a half months I'll be installing the hardtop, so I've got to
address this before then, any way.

"Tim M." wrote:
>
> Not yet; I have the bolt on my dresser to remind me
> to take care of it. Prime soft-top weather in the
> Washington D.C. area now, but in two and a half
> months I'll be installing the hardtop, so I've got
> to address this before then, any way.

Hell that's what duck tape is for. I gotta roll in my trunk.

yrs jp

/and a vise grip

On Oct 1, 8:44*pm, "johnny p." > wrote:
> "Tim M." wrote:
>
> > Not yet; I have the bolt on my dresser to remind me
> > to take care of it. *Prime soft-top weather in the
> > Washington D.C. area now, but in two and a half
> > months I'll be installing the hardtop, so I've got
> > to address this before then, any way.
>
> Hell that's what duck tape is for. *I gotta roll in my trunk.
>
> yrs jp
>
> /and a vise grip

LOL! I used a vise grip to get the thing out!