Starter relay firewall... captured nuts?

[MiamiMopar]

I noticed that the starter relay was not tight against the firewall, but when I tried to tighten the bolts, they didn't have any "bite". Are these supposed to screw into captured nuts or just the firewall metal? For a part that is replaced it would seem strange to have to get way up there behind the dash to hold a regular nut.

 

[tpodwdog]

both of my mopars just thread into the metal and YES i had to fix them both. there are no captured nuts....altho thats a great idea....

heres what i did:

I GOT A BEEFY BOLT...(preferably one with a point on it ) WITH BEEFY COARSE THREADS AND FORCED IT IN THERE.... fixed and aint loosened up yet!

 

[roadrunnerman]

They are basically self starter bolts and it sounds like the holes have been "pulled" out". Maybe all you need to do is take a flat end of a hamer and tap them in a little to make the hole "smaller" and you should be able to tighten your relay snug. Unles you really want to get under the dash and weld in nuts permanantly.

 

[MiamiMopar]

Thanks! I will try tapping them, or runing a wire in with them to get some grab.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Mine were loose too so I cut a thin strip of sheet metal and folded it in to a U shape to take up some space in the wallowed out hole. Worked great! If I was thinking I would have got the TIG out and added some filler rod to close up the holes a bit BEFORE the engine compartment was painted.