[2022VeniceGTS]

Today I was changing the oil on my 2022 Venice GTS. When I removed the bolts holding on the hood the body clip for the bolt closest to the cockpit separated from the frame. Because Vanderhall just assumed no one would even need to have access to this clip, there was no way to put it back on the frame mount. 

To access it, I had to remove the windshield, cowl and mirrors. Once I had gained access, I discovered that just like all the other body clips, the clip just floats on the frame mount. No matter how I bent the clip, I could not guarantee that it wouldn’t just fall off the next time I removed the hood. 

The fix I came up with was to place some electrical tape at the base of the frame mount thus creating just enough of a lip to prevent the clip from falling off the mount or below the drilled hole in the cowl. I have to say that I’m extremely disappointed that Vanderhall didn’t think to simply weld something to the frame mount preventing the clip from possibly falling off. Hell, even just applying a piece of tape like I did would have prevented me from having to spend 3 hours removing every piece of fiberglass off the front of the Vanderhall. 

I caution all of you reading this to be careful when undoing those bolts. I knew the three clips forward of the cowl were free floating but I did assume that the clips inside the frame were welded in place. The clips holding the snap screws closest to the cockpit are welded in place to prevent exactly what happened to me from happening there. Have to love the engineers at Vanderhall.

[RustyTeeth]

2022VeniceGTS pid='4362' dateline='1651280068']Today I was changing the oil on my 2022 Venice GTS. When I removed the bolts holding on the hood the body clip for the bolt closest to the cockpit separated from the frame. Because Vanderhall just assumed no one would even need to have access to this clip, there was no way to put it back on the frame mount. 

To access it, I had to remove the windshield, cowl and mirrors. Once I had gained access, I discovered that just like all the other body clips, the clip just floats on the frame mount. No matter how I bent the clip, I could not guarantee that it wouldn’t just fall off the next time I removed the hood. 

The fix I came up with was to place some electrical tape at the base of the frame mount thus creating just enough of a lip to prevent the clip from falling off the mount or below the drilled hole in the cowl. I have to say that I’m extremely disappointed that Vanderhall didn’t think to simply weld something to the frame mount preventing the clip from possibly falling off. Hell, even just applying a piece of tape like I did would have prevented me from having to spend 3 hours removing every piece of fiberglass off the front of the Vanderhall. 

I caution all of you reading this to be careful when undoing those bolts. I knew the three clips forward of the cowl were free floating but I did assume that the clips inside the frame were welded in place. The clips holding the snap screws closest to the cockpit are welded in place to prevent exactly what happened to me from happening there. Have to love the engineers at Vanderhall.

I have seen several methods to upgrade the flimsy clips, 1 is called a Rivnut basically a rivet nut, 2 is called a cage nut. I used several of the plastic square expanding nuts that are used it other places on the Vandy. Was able to find 500 misc. sizes on amazon. Not sure which I'm going to use been trying several. Still in research.

[Orchestr8]

Just went through that this morning......Luckily my next door neighbor is an ex Blackhawk pilot and knew his way around the toolbox !!

[2022VeniceGTS]

How did you solve it? As they say, there’s more than one way to skin a cat?

[coolwhip]

I have a 2018 Venice, and the fasteners may be different on later models, but l have no problem with the clip-on nuts. I found that since they “float around”, I just put a centering tool (ice pick, nail, any small pointed tool) in the hole through the body panel to center the clip, then the screw is no problem. I’ve had the hood and cowling/windshield off many times.
Also, since I have a cover that doesn’t need the snaps, I replaced those two screws and clips with ones that match the others. New clips can be found at NAPA or other parts stores.
Also, if you remove the lower side panels you will find that there is a spacer under each screw that will fall out. You need these spacers to not overly compress the panels. I have seen pictures of Vanderhalls with overly compressed panels - obviously, the spacer is missing.
Be careful and don’t overtighten. Likewise, I have put some on too loose, and had them vibrate out.