Attaching the chin pan

[JammerX19]

I'm still trying to figure out how to fix the chin pan on my '80 Spider. The problem is that the six holes across the front are rounded out, and the big bolts just won't tighten in them any more. Someone here posted a possible replacement, a type of toggle bolt I think, but I can't find that post.

A coworker showed me these and said he has used them in the past. They're basically a nut that you install in the hole with a special tool. The back end of the nut gets flared out by the tool and stays permanently attached.

http://www.thomasnet.com/catalognavigat ... 0Thumbnail

So before I go completely off the deep end, has anyone here come up with a better solution?

[blurple124]

We use something like these at work. We call them "tric nuts". Keep in mind you will likely need an appropriate tool to install them.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/nut-in ... alog/N-8o2
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=thr ... nsert+tool

Most of our applications are on steel and stainless sheet metal that is lighter than 18 gauge (typically 22-24).

They hold fairly well, but can spin out on thin metals.

Most of the sheet metal on the FIAT appears to be at least 16 gauge, and probably thicker where you are going to be mounting these, so they will do just fine.

You won't be putting much stress on these, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.



If you want another option, you could drill and tap holes, then go to a hardware store and put studs in. Either use red loctite threadlocker or a welder to keep the studs from spinning in the body. Then just put your pan on and thread some nuts on.
This is the solution I am using to fix my swaybar mount, since I need a more substantial solution.

[RRoller123]

You can get behind here with regular nuts and bolts (SS advised), and even some SS large sheet metal screws (like #14 or so) will work in the stripped holes. If you modify the splashguard so that you can easily get to the oil filter, then it won't have to come off but rarely.

Pete





This works for mounting the lower grille:

[JammerX19]

Finally got hold of some sample "RivNuts" from Fastenal. A coworker had the tool to install them and I tried it out on a piece of aluminum stock I had lying around. So now that I test fitted them, I'll order a few and see how it goes. I can tell you that this nut is very firmly installed in the hole...I'm confident I could really torque on it if I had to.

In case anyone is interested in these in the future, they're Fastenal #0126094:

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/de ... ku=0126094

[RRoller123]

That looks really cool. It seems that the tool pulls the fastener through the base and it is held by press fit?
Very useful device!

[JammerX19]

That looks really cool. It seems that the tool pulls the fastener through the base and it is held by press fit?
Very useful device!

Actually it compresses it so that the base of the nut swells on the other side of the hole, locking it into place.

[RRoller123]

Cross between a swage and a rivet. Looks strong enough for most operations.

[JammerX19]

Finally got these rivnuts installed. In the first photo you can see the silver head of the rivnut sticking out of the body.



Here's the finished product, chin pan installed.

[sweet124]

Can you tell me what type of bolt size you used or part # they look great

[JammerX19]

Can you tell me what type of bolt size you used or part # they look great

My reply further up from a few weeks ago has the part number. I ended up using 1/4-20 bolts...they didn't have a metric version of the rivnut.