Loose Trunk Handle

The handle was attached with 3 studs with small nuts on them.  A small nut driver is used to attach nuts (with Locktite so it doesn't happen again).  The hood on a CMC is double walled with air space so the nut may be floating around in cavity still.  Vacuum cleaner may pull it out.  If you take handle off - order the OEM rubber gaskets from Klassee356.

WOLFGANG posted:

The handle was attached with 3 studs with small nuts on them.  A small nut driver is used to attach nuts (with Locktite so it doesn't happen again).  The hood on a CMC is double walled with air space so the nut may be floating around in cavity still.  Vacuum cleaner may pull it out.  If you take handle off - order the OEM rubber gaskets from Klassee356.

The handle on my VS does not have a stud on the bottom part. Looks like it might use a bolt instead, or maybe the stud just fell out. Biggest problem is lack of access to the underside. Can't figure out how.  

Post pictures I've done the handle install a number of ways.  

Thanks for your offer to help. However, it is impossible to take a photo that would show what is going on as the mounting point is internal.

 The front hood is partially hollow, made of an upper and lower shell. When I lift the handle slightly I can see a small hole in the upper shell where some mounting hardware once passed through it. The hood’s latch mechanism, which is bolted to the lower shell, sits directly below that small hole. Thus preventing access to the hole.

So I naturally removed the latch mechanism. This only exposed three small holes in the lower shell: two for the bolts, one for the spring latch. Unfortunately none of the holes seem big enough nor properly located to let me get a bolt or tool in.

It appears as if the handle was mounted before the shells were joined, which is highly unlikely. I could start drilling access holes, but would rather not. Someone at VS put this part in place, but he is obviously smarter than me.

I bet the stud was over torqued and broke off...

You'd be amazed at what Alan might see that one of us have not. He's only built 40 something of them.

Remove the handle and repair, reinstall.

Yup - drill/dremel thru the inner liner about where the studs should be - if they become  too large you can always use bondo/gorilla hair to patch the new holes after the handle is secured.

This is going to be a very simple fix for you.  Peel back the carpet and you will see that there is enough room to get a small socket in through the two holes in the hood and remove the upper two nuts.  The handle will then pull right off and you can replace the stud.  You can try fishing around for the lost stud with a magnet, but I've never had any luck with that.

Glue the carpet back down with 3M adhesive spray and you're good to go.

Easy peeze.

Wolfgang's suggestion might be how it needs to be done on a CMC , but not on a Vintage.  Trust me, there are holes there and that is how Kirk installed it in the first place.

As Bill said, the stud may have been over torqued, but I doubt that it broke off.  It probably stripped out the threads in the softer aluminum handle.  Still easy to repair with a slightly larger stud.

Thanks for your help. I get how to remove the handle, replace the stud (which I assume is something like a threaded rod), and then put the handle back on the car. But my problem is how to get access to the stud from underneath so I can spin a nut on to it. How is this done?

All of the suggestions here are exactly what you need to get this done. Since none seem to be helping it's time to call Kirk.

It is quite possible that instead of a stud that a bolt attaches too the installer used a screw since the hole doesn't appear big enough (according to you) to fit a nut driver or 1/4" sockets thru. In that case he may have taped the screw to the tip of a screwdriver and inserted it thru the hole.

It really would be helpful if we could see a picture of the bottom of the frunk where the hood latch had been installed.

I don't understand what the problem is.  You just reach up to it with your fingers.   It's simple and I've done it many many times.   Kirk is just going to say the same thing.  Take the handle all the way off and it will make more sense. 

As you suggest: I can take the handle completely off, install a new stud, and put the handle back on the hood with the stud going through the hole in the hood’s upper shell. No problem. But what I can’t do is get access below the stud in order to get a nut on it.

 The front of the handle sits directly over the hood latch, which when removed still leaves no openings or access.  

 Also, when the handle came loose I found this bolt in the trunk. It might be just a random lost fastening, or a key to the puzzle.

 Thank you for your time and patience,   

Access hole behind the latch or create one....Remove the stud and replace it with machine screw and washer.

Wombat.   Pull the carpet back! 

Troy Sloan posted:

Wombat.   Pull the carpet back! 

X2 - The access hole is under the carpet. You'll need some 3M Spray adhesive to reattach the part you peel back.  That's where mine was at.

 The access hole is not under the carpeting. I pushed a wire down the hole where the stud/bolt/screw should go. The wire exited out the underside of the hood just above a ledge on which the hood-latch is mounted. This ledge blocks my access to the underside of the hole.     

Once off, if handle is stripped where stud was, cut off head of a machine screw about right size and JB Weld it to handle.  I had to use a nut driver to apply the nuts to the hood handle studs. That screw looks too coarse thread to have been original hood handle fastener - unless it was stripped out.

Yup- CMCs came bare hood fiberglass NO carpeting supplied. 

Remove the latch! Drill a small access hole if one does not appear...

You just stick your fingers through the hole and thread the nut on to the stud. 

Here is a picture.   Unless your hood came from a different casting it will look very much like this.  

There is no magic involved in getting the nut screwed on to the stud.   If Vintage Speedsters did it you can do it.  There shouldn't be any need to drill anything. 

I'm bumping this thread back to the top because I want hear what the final outcome was.   This should be a no brainer, but for some reason it isn't and I'm curious why that is. 

x2! What did you find wombat?

I gotta say this is what makes SOC such a great forum. I pose a dumb question and get no wisecracks, only thoughtful answers.

 Problem: the front fastener on the hood handle disappeared. Leaving me with two issues:

1) What do I use to replace the fastener: is it a bolt, a threaded rod, a screw, or something else? And what size is it?

2) How to get the new fastener up into the handle from the underside of the hood. The only access is behind a fiberglass shelf on which the hood latch mechanism is mounted, leaving barely enough room for me to get a finger in (see photo).

 Answers So Far

1) The fastener is an “allen head stud,” most likely metric, of unknown size, length, and thread pitch. I’m assuming that an allen head stud is a threaded rod with an allen head cut out at one end. I’d buy a few sizes to experiment with but my two main sources for fasteners, mcmaster.com and boltdepot.com, do not list anything like this.

2) The builders at Vintage Speedsters managed to work in this small space, although I can’t see how. I hate to drill unnecessary holes, but I may have to in order to gain access.

 Solution?

I wrote Kirk about getting a new fastener but haven’t heard back. Looks like I’ll just have to buy a new handle and start from scratch.

 Thanks again for all your suggestions…

OMG!!!   Buy a new handle?   Since your old handle is unusable can I have it if I pay the shipping? 

Wombat:

I have been asking stupid questions on this forum for years and my friends here have been more than kind and generous in responding. 

Thanks to them I have dug out the wrenches after about thirty years and I have been tackling some projects on my Speedy, because I have the confidence that if I get in over my head somebody will help me out.

Just don't make us come down there, Bob.  

Hey, we got wise cracks...

Take the handle off. I'd bet money that the screws on the other end are the same size.

Gordon:

You are welcome down here any time. I might just get in so deep on purpose that you have to bail me out by making the trip.

wombat posted:

I gotta say this is what makes SOC such a great forum. I pose a dumb question and get no wisecracks, only thoughtful answers.

 Problem: the front fastener on the hood handle disappeared. Leaving me with two issues:

1) What do I use to replace the fastener: is it a bolt, a threaded rod, a screw, or something else? And what size is it?

2) How to get the new fastener up into the handle from the underside of the hood. The only access is behind a fiberglass shelf on which the hood latch mechanism is mounted, leaving barely enough room for me to get a finger in (see photo).

 Answers So Far

1) The fastener is an “allen head stud,” most likely metric, of unknown size, length, and thread pitch. I’m assuming that an allen head stud is a threaded rod with an allen head cut out at one end. I’d buy a few sizes to experiment with but my two main sources for fasteners, mcmaster.com and boltdepot.com, do not list anything like this.

2) The builders at Vintage Speedsters managed to work in this small space, although I can’t see how. I hate to drill unnecessary holes, but I may have to in order to gain access.

 Solution?

I wrote Kirk about getting a new fastener but haven’t heard back. Looks like I’ll just have to buy a new handle and start from scratch.

 Thanks again for all your suggestions…

 

 

       

I would remove one of the two fasteners from the upper (non-badge) end of the handle. (Provided it is a bolt and not a broken stud) Take it to Home Depot and get one to match, it is probably a common size. If it is an allen head type bolt it would be very easy to install. Directly below the fastener hole in the front area drill a hole the same size as the head on the allen bolt. Tape the allen head bolt to the allen wrench, insert thru the hole, and fasten the bolt. If it is a stud that has broken off see the option below.

Your other option wombat is to get some double-sided tape and cut out a piece that is slightly smaller than the bottom footprint of the rubber gasket that goes between the handle and the hood. Then cut out a second piece of double-sided tape to put on the top of the gasket. There should be enough material to secure the handle to the gasket and the gasket to the handle.

There is no such things as stupid questions,,,,    Only stupid people who ask questions, LOL!

Jethro posted:

There is no such things as stupid questions,,,,    Only stupid people who ask questions, LOL!

South Park

The two screws at the upper end are much smaller than the one at the front. 

This thread makes me feel like I'm having a bad dream and can't wake up.   When I finally do wake up I realize it was all just a dream. 

And this is why I don't bet!

AS mentioned many times, take it off and run to the hardware store to find the correct stud size. Having to buy a new handle makes no sense unless you have money to waste...