One of the 3M StickIt notes on the left rear quarter panel of the red 924S reminded me to repair the captive nuts for the passenger side rear seat track mounts; they came that way with the car, visibly and functionally pre-boogered by the last guy in there. The required 6mm bolts/screws would bind-up, and a thread chaser or even cutting tap would cause the captive nut to spin. This needed to be resolved before I installed the front carpets, itself a task required before I could install the center console. A satisfactory fix was in order.
[Paranthetically, I sure wish Porsche had specified 8mm hardware for the seat mounts instead of the 6mm they chose. I know, never use a bigger fastener than necessary, but all the Alfa's I've been intimate with use an 8 x 1.25mm Allen/cap screw; more durable and confidence inspiring.]
With both inner and outer captive nuts shot, I first cut out the outer one.
I considered drilling-out all the spot welds and taking the entire bracket out but there are 9 or 10 of them (double that for doing the inner bracket, too) and I figured I could do more damage to the floor that way, so using a Dremel wheel on my DuMore grinder, I took out the least amount of metal to reveal the damaged nut.
Here you can see what Porsche (Audi) used, a "nut-sert" in a captive cage, with flats on the base to prevent it from spinning within the cage. You can see how the cage has distorted, likely from someone cross-threading the bolt/screw and leaning on it too hard, with the net result of the captive nut being able to spin.
I then set about creating repair pieces and got as far as the photo below, before admitting that while my plan was sound, my ability to render the required pieces was not. If the required hardware was a few sizes bigger, I could probably have bent the required pieces of steel, but at this level of diminution, I couldn't fabricate the necessary detail.
After a self-enforced piss and lunch break, I queried Uncle Google and found exactly what I need to creat a tidy and approporiate repair available from McMaster. The order has been placed.
I'll follow-up once the new hardware arrives.
As Ringo Starr always reminds us,
Peace & Love.
John