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attaching ally panels

Miks15 - 14/12/09 at 10:52 AM

Im going to be attaching my interior ally panels soon (tunnel and rear bulk head) and i just would like to know what spacing you have used on your rivets? and also what size rivets you have all used?

For the top tunnel panel im going to attach it with rivnuts so i can remove it when iwant to What size rivnuts would you use? And what is the best way to seal it?

Cheers

Mikkel

mr henderson - 14/12/09 at 12:14 PM

Something like 75-100mm will be fine. Use the CBS trick of marking a piece of elastic at regular intervals, then stretching it over the first and last hole in a straight line to automatically get the in between ones equally spaced.

You will want to make sure adjacent panels have the same spacing.

I use 4mm rivets (Screwfix is a good place to buy them)

If it was my car I would use rivets instead of rivnuts, how often are you going to be removing the panel? Quick and cheap to drill them out and put new ones in aterwards. On a customer's car I would do what they wanted, of course.

If you do use riivneus you will need to use the countersunk type.

Rubber strip is good for sealing removable panels, CBS do 1.5mm sheet.

Mr Whippy - 14/12/09 at 12:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
Use the CBS trick of marking a piece of elastic at regular intervals, then stretching it over the first and last hole in a straight line to automatically get the in between ones equally spaced.

that's a clever idea, wish I’d thought of it

eddie99 - 14/12/09 at 12:26 PM

I think i rivetted my panels every 75mm. I was told to use 4mm Monel rivets, bit more expensive but suppose to be better in terms of rusting....

eddie99 - 14/12/09 at 12:27 PM

In terms of sealing, i used Duralec Jointing Compound and Masterseal. One to dip the rivets in, and one to seal it down to the chassis.
Hope that Helps
Thanks
Eddie

MikeR - 14/12/09 at 01:07 PM

Are the screwfix open or close ended?

I thought they where all open ended which means small holes for moisture to get in or am i miss-understanding?

matt_gsxr - 14/12/09 at 01:10 PM

These guys are good

http://www.prifast.co.uk/

4mm gas tight rivets. Much nicer quality than screwfix/B&Q/Homebase, and probably no more expensive.

I spaced mine at 50mm spacing and sikaflexed.

Get more than you think you need!

Matt

tomgregory2000 - 14/12/09 at 01:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
If it was my car I would use rivets instead of rivnuts, how often are you going to be removing the panel? Quick and cheap to drill them out and put new ones in aterwards. On a customer's car I would do what they wanted, of course.

I have to dissagree with this, the trans tunnel cover has been on and off so many times i would hate to drill out and re rivet each time.

Mine is held on with velcro and is fantastic!!

ReMan - 14/12/09 at 03:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy

quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
Use the CBS trick of marking a piece of elastic at regular intervals, then stretching it over the first and last hole in a straight line to automatically get the in between ones equally spaced.

that's a clever idea, wish I’d thought of it

Me too

speedyxjs - 14/12/09 at 05:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by tomgregory2000

quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
If it was my car I would use rivets instead of rivnuts, how often are you going to be removing the panel? Quick and cheap to drill them out and put new ones in aterwards. On a customer's car I would do what they wanted, of course.

I have to dissagree with this, the trans tunnel cover has been on and off so many times i would hate to drill out and re rivet each time.

Mine is held on with velcro and is fantastic!!

mr henderson - 14/12/09 at 05:03 PM

quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs

quote:
Originally posted by tomgregory2000

quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
If it was my car I would use rivets instead of rivnuts, how often are you going to be removing the panel? Quick and cheap to drill them out and put new ones in aterwards. On a customer's car I would do what they wanted, of course.

I have to dissagree with this, the trans tunnel cover has been on and off so many times i would hate to drill out and re rivet each time.

Mine is held on with velcro and is fantastic!!

X2

If it works for you then that's good. Does sound as if the panels were fitted a little bit early in the build?

tomgregory2000 - 14/12/09 at 05:53 PM

It was just the trans tunnel top that is held with velcro, no other pannels

MikeRJ - 14/12/09 at 06:20 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
If you do use riivneus you will need to use the countersunk type.

Rubber strip is good for sealing removable panels, CBS do 1.5mm sheet.

If you use some kind of sealing strip then you can get away with standard rivnuts, you just need to cut out larger holes in the sealing strip.

mr henderson - 14/12/09 at 06:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ

quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
If you do use riivneus you will need to use the countersunk type.

Rubber strip is good for sealing removable panels, CBS do 1.5mm sheet.

If you use some kind of sealing strip then you can get away with standard rivnuts, you just need to cut out larger holes in the sealing strip.

Though you would need thicker rubber strip to get a good seal

rusty nuts - 14/12/09 at 07:53 PM

Better than elastic try a chalk line!

mr henderson - 14/12/09 at 08:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Better than elastic try a chalk line!

Don't think you've quite got the point, Rusty, unles your chalk line is very stretchy and can be marked off at intevals

[Edited on 14/12/09 by mr henderson]

Fozzie - 14/12/09 at 09:58 PM

Didn't use any rivets.....

Fozzie

MikeR - 14/12/09 at 10:39 PM

^^^^ you're my inspiration!

boggle - 14/12/09 at 11:06 PM

have just drilled and tapped my box section m5....

RK - 15/12/09 at 12:41 AM

I used velcro on my rearward tunnel panels, except the top, which just sits there.

[Edited on 15/12/09 by RK]

SPYDER - 15/12/09 at 11:46 AM

On our Locost we painted all our panels prior to final fitting.
75 or 80mm spacing for the rivets. As previously stated, try to match up the spacing on adjacent panels if aesthetics are your bag.
Geoff
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