Transmission mount threads disappeared? (pics)

[Levi B]

Long story short I hit a ladder on the highway yesterday on my way to work and my best option given the situation was to have it go directly under the car between the wheels (lengthwise). I was hoping I had enough height to clear it but I didn't. I kept hearing a clunk every time I accelerated. I got home and checked it out, one of my transmission mount bolts was loose (front driver side). I took the bolt out to check and see if the threads were stripped since I doubt it hit at the perfect angle to loosen the bolt. The bolt looks to be in decent shape, with only a small section of lightly damaged threads. It's still usable, but I'm going to get a replacement. I tried seeing if I could thread it in at all and the bolt just moves freely in the hole. I pulled the transmission mount down as much as I can and it seems there's just a hole about the diameter of the bolt in the ~1/8in metal of the underbody and nothing above it where threads should be for the bolt to thread into the body. It doesn't appear damaged, it looks like it was designed this way (as far as no threads above the hole). Am I missing something here? How in the world was my trans mount connected to my car? I figured the worse case scenario I would have to drill the threads out and tap new ones in but there's nothing there to drill/tap. It was difficult to take pictures but I did my best.

Edit- this is a '96 legacy outback

The bolt that came out of the hole. I'm surprised it was still there seeing as it was only hanging on to a 1/8th inch of metal that has no threads.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/12/V04f5n1-1.jpg

In the clean circle where to mount contacts the body there are two holes. The center most hole is the one the bolt should go into.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/12/TXmQ3HL-1.jpg

A better picture of the hole.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/12/aJqCpVj-1.jpg

At some point before I got the car it has the transmission replaced, but it has felt solid up to this point. Could this be damage from a poor transmission swap? If so, how did they secure it without threads?

[Levi B]

In case anyone is reading this with the same problem, there should be a nut welded in that hole. I have to take it to a shop to get that fixed.

[Baddog]

Yep. I have had to do a few repairs like this before. Used a plasma cutter and had to re-weld nuts.

[Levi B]

Wishing I had access to a full shop right now... I know how to weld (I'm a noob, but I could do this) but being a university student leaves no moneys for a welder at my house haha. I'm having a friend look at it that's pretty good at welding tomorrow (no shops open anyway tomorrow) and if he can't do it then Monday I'll get it fixed at a shop.

The only way I can think to get a nut in there would be to cut the section out, weld a nut on there, then weld the section back on the car. Is that what you did?

[86bratman]

My friend had the same nut break welds, used a hole saw through the floor board to put in a new nut and bolt. I don't know if he's got any pictures or not from when he did the repair.

[Levi B]

So he went at it from the top? yikes... I suppose that's better than having to trust your weld with holding the trans in there, but then you have a hole in your interior.. This might be what needs to happen, which will be messy since I have sound deadening covering everything under the carpet.