I'm trying to refresh my hardtop and have run into a problem, so I'm looking for forum wisdom. The eight bolts that secure the two hatch lift strut brackets and the two contact plates for the latch arms snapped while trying to remove them. This is what the first pic is showing. The latch arm plate is to the left, and the strut plate is to the right. While trying to drill out the remainder of the bolts to use screw removers, the plate broke off on the inside. Second pic is a closeup of the black holes of my dilemma.
My question is, do I cut open the inside wall of the hardtop to retrieve the plate, finish removing the bolt remains, and reattach the plate to the fiberglass inner wall piece and repair the fiberglass to return it to original condition? Or is there another method that would not require me to learn the mystic art of fiberglass repair on a stress-bearing area? Can I attach a plate on the outside of the inner wall that would not break under hatch usage? Share your knowledge internet denizens!
My question is, do I cut open the inside wall of the hardtop to retrieve the plate, finish removing the bolt remains, and reattach the plate to the fiberglass inner wall piece and repair the fiberglass to return it to original condition? Or is there another method that would not require me to learn the mystic art of fiberglass repair on a stress-bearing area? Can I attach a plate on the outside of the inner wall that would not break under hatch usage? Share your knowledge internet denizens!