73-87chevytrucks.com
Technical Forum (Read Only) => Cab Interior => Topic started by: DnStClr on August 18, 2014, 03:16:57 PM
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Here's a small dilemma I'm in the middle of-
I'm re-doing the interior of my 87. I used a vinyl covering on the door panel inserts. Here's a pic-
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/138e5a08-9707-4df8-814b-f7c94554d159_zpsee17f7df.jpg) (http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Dnstclr/media/138e5a08-9707-4df8-814b-f7c94554d159_zpsee17f7df.jpg.html)
A few of the plastic studs on the backside were broken so I drilled them out with the idea of replacing them with 1/4 inch plastic rods, and then screw the thread-cutter nuts on to the new plastic rods.
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/659e6d50-0afc-4f5f-8644-a3926d716935_zpsb67d9462.jpg) (http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Dnstclr/media/659e6d50-0afc-4f5f-8644-a3926d716935_zpsb67d9462.jpg.html)
But, of course, I can't find anybody who has the plastic rod. SO, l thought I'd make my own using a piece of 1/4 inch plastic tubing slid down over a 3/16 inch dowell. But that didn't work so well- the nut ate up the plastic tubing. :( dumb idea anyway.
It looks like a 1/4" helicoil won't leave me enough boss wall . The boss is .510" dia. and the drill hole for the 1/4' insert is a .375" hole. If I drill for the 1/4" insert the wall will only be @ 1/16" thick. I'll use a 10-24 insert to get more wall thickness.
Sorry about that fuzzy picture. I guess I resized it a little bit too much...
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/8b31b7b5-65a2-452a-b056-ff70d691a79c_zpsb212339d.jpg) (http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Dnstclr/media/8b31b7b5-65a2-452a-b056-ff70d691a79c_zpsb212339d.jpg.html)
After drilling the holes out to 9/32", I used a 5/16" lag bolt to put some threads in the hole. I put some threadlocker on the brass inserts and carefully threaded them into the plastic.
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/c04e52e5-c500-43c0-adf6-39e422853e81_zps614d93fd.jpg) (http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Dnstclr/media/c04e52e5-c500-43c0-adf6-39e422853e81_zps614d93fd.jpg.html)
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/509822c5-0fd9-4dd3-bafa-1ca50487ab7a_zps058831b2.jpg) (http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Dnstclr/media/509822c5-0fd9-4dd3-bafa-1ca50487ab7a_zps058831b2.jpg.html)
I attached the brass screws into the inserts to hold the panel. I had to cut the screws to 1/2" long.
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/IMG_2129_zps973706b3.jpg) (http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Dnstclr/media/IMG_2129_zps973706b3.jpg.html)
And the finished look- I used a darker colored vinyl so it would match my seat. If it doesn't work out i guess I"ll start all over with a lighter colored vinyl... :-\
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/d514c3b2-0886-4584-bcb7-cf4a6a31489d_zpsfad79922.jpg) (http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Dnstclr/media/d514c3b2-0886-4584-bcb7-cf4a6a31489d_zpsfad79922.jpg.html)
And, finally. installed- thanks to Bd for his helpful suggestions so I could get this job done. :)
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/10bb662e-bfe1-42be-b808-566a1eaea35b_zps7b46cdd5.jpg) (http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Dnstclr/media/10bb662e-bfe1-42be-b808-566a1eaea35b_zps7b46cdd5.jpg.html)