Radiator mounting screws spinning in place

[87F-250HD]

I’m trying to remove my old radiator, but 3 of the four mounting screws are spinning in place. It looks like there is a bracket on the back of each one which is supposed to be immobile but which has broken, so that the screws just spin and do not loosen. How can I remove these screws?
Here is a picture from the top (you can’t see the bracket in this one):

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And here is the bracket from the front, through the grille:

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Any suggestions?

 

[Nero]

Sometimes you can use vice grips to hold them from spinning, but you may have to cut them off.

 

[Rdnck84_03]

Take a welder and carefully tack the broken nut clip to the core support. Or as @Nero Suggested, pull the grill and grab it with vicegrips.

James

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Sometimes you can use vice grips to hold them from spinning, but you may have to cut them off.

That was my suggestion too.

Take a welder and carefully tack the broken nut clip to the core support.

I hadn't thought of that one before.

 

[Lumberjackchuck]

Definitely worth while getting new hardware once you get it apart.

I believe it’s M8x1.25

https://a.co/d/62HUwSE

You can get assorted kits of body bolts and u nuts too

 

[87F-250HD]

Thank you all. I used vicegrips as Nero suggested - it was a pain to get them in there - but it worked. Got the old radiator off and the new one on.

 

[Old Goat]

Use new hardware, and maybe a dab of Anti-Seiz on the threads.

Goat

 

[Austin86250]

when I encountered that I was already fed up with that parts truck so I gas axed it clean off

 

[XOLATEM]

I hope that you used genuine vise grips...you know, Irwin-Peterson or maybe an earlier style...

You can recognize them by the badge that shows two businesses handshaking...

These trucks deserve better than chinese knock-offs...please tell us that you did not desecrate your 'Baby' with inferior tools...

What I like to do when I know I need to take something apart that might give me trouble is to hit the fasteners with WD-40 or PB Blaster and let it soak...maybe a little heat first...

Anyway...ya 'goterdun' and all went well....isn't this group helpful as all-get-out...?

 

[Nero]

@XOLATEM you mean these ones?
They are old as dirt, but holy cow they work better than any other locking pliers I've ever used. I keep them at work and use them all the time.

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[Old Goat]

Yep,,,do`s one`s.....

I have several set of the original Vice Grips.
Also they make the little 6" ones regular and needle nose, and picked up one that is made to clamp around a nut.

Hit garage sales and auto/car show swap meets etc... for good quality old tools.
I found an old Snap On 3/8" ratchet with a date code of 1945. Worked sort of, took it to a Good Guys Cars show, and the Snap On guy put new parts in it for free. I didn`t know they did that, Not bad for a $5 tool.


Goat

 

[Nero]

Snap on has lifetime warranty on all sockets and ratchets, part of the reason why I get their stuff, and always keep an eye out for older tools.

 

[XOLATEM]

They are old as dirt, but holy cow they work better than any other locking pliers I've ever used.

Yeah...ain't it just a beautiful thing..?

Handshake depiction and all....you seem to have kept them in really good shape...

You see...vise grips were invented by a Danish blacksmith named Peterson...musta been a pretty bright guy...and sometimes an invention like that is dreamed up outta sheer desperation for a suitable tool for a specific task...

along those lines...

My Girl informed me one day a few years ago that the Swedes claim to have invented the adjustable wrench...according to a repesentative at the embassy...

I use vise grips so much with welding...I probably like them almost as much as my truck...

Used a huge adjustable wrench, too....

'Ol One-Ton just silently looked on...

 

[Rdnck84_03]

@XOLATEM Here is a really old skool pair of original vice grips. Notice the lack of a release handle. I have a couple of these really old ones.

James

 

[XOLATEM]

Golly day...now THAT reminds me of a hand bang-up or two....

Those things are still in reasonably good shape...

I believe I used to have a pair of those 'way back....lost 'em when my car got broke into and my craftsman lunchbox full of most of my early tools got stolen...

I remember an ad for vise grips in a motorcycle magazine...the testimonial said that vise grips held a trailer ball in place in an emergency...musta been around early 1970's...

I hate to see what the threads on that trailer ball looked like after the emergency had passed....

I'm wondering if we should all have a vise grip exhibition...you know...show off our collection and maybe have a pin-up issue..??

As an aside....@Rdnck84_03...how thick is the metal on your welding table...? I am building one now and need to choose a sheet of steel to top it with...what has worked well for you..?