I need to bolt an aluminium switch panel to my (carbon mods) dash and would ideally like to be able to remove it easily, so I'd like to use some kind of captive nut arrangement. I initially though rivnuts would do it but now don'y think they're quite right. Has anyone had any experience with Jack Nuts? Suggest anything better?

Never heard of Jack nuts so can't comment, but I would have thought rivnuts would be OK as long as you have a suitable washer or similar behind them?

Just my opinion

HTH

never seen them before either..

but a quick search turned up these...

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

cage nuts are good, but you need a square hole for the cage bit to go in.

For compostite dash you could use rubber wellnuts.
Anything metal etc would likely cause cracking and come loose over time.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=rubber+wellnut&_sacat=0

I used these, managed to get them from work for free. They are excellent, just make sure you order the correct length.

Southco

Yes sounds like a job for "WELL NUTS"

What about 10 x Corner Anchor Nuts # 8-32 UNF 'H3' | eBay

you could just make up a thin metal spreader plate to go behind the dash (enough to stop it cracking the dash)
then you could tack weld or braze the nuts to that and bond it onto the back of the dash

or make the plate out of a little thicker metal (say 3 to 5mm thk aluminium for weight) then tap the holes in it directly....

[Edited on 10/8/2012 by mcerd1]

[Edited on 10/8/2012 by mcerd1]

Hi
We used small blocks of hardwood stuck behind the dash and flange head stainless self tappers
also used to fix dash to scuttle, light and works a treat for anything you need to fix on fibreglass.
If its heavy use nuts & bolts.
René

I have used screw anchors from Memfast in grp.

You can install them without the special tool, just takes a bit longer.

http://www.memfast.co.uk/shop/Vprod2.asp?cat=2257001824

[Edited on 10/8/12 by Davedew]

quote:

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Originally posted by mcerd1
you could just make up a thin metal spreader plate to go behind the dash (enough to stop it cracking the dash)
then you could tack weld or braze the nuts to that and bond it onto the back of the dash

or make the plate out of a little thicker metal (say 3 to 5mm thk aluminium for weight) then tap the holes in it directly...

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Use Big-Heads they are designed for the job (or make you own as I did). I use homemade versions to hold my mud guards on, with no problems in 3000 miles. If you email them with a query, they will even send you a load FOC. You would just drill you holes, and thenuse tigerseal to bond the fastener in place on the backside of the dash. I made my own out of a small offcut of aluminium, and a rivnut. Just mount the rivnut on the ali, drilla load of holes to allow the adhesive to lock onto the ali, and then abrade, solvent wipe and bond in place. Simples.

quote:

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Originally posted by twybrow
Use Big-Heads they are designed for the job (or make you own as I did). I use homemade versions to hold my mud guards on, with no problems in 3000 miles. If you email them with a query, they will even send you a load FOC. You would just drill you holes, and thenuse tigerseal to bond the fastener in place on the backside of the dash. I made my own out of a small offcut of aluminium, and a rivnut. Just mount the rivnut on the ali, drilla load of holes to allow the adhesive to lock onto the ali, and then abrade, solvent wipe and bond in place. Simples.

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