Tonneau Fixings

[DDubya]

I bought a second hand Tonneau cover, however there are no Stud sockets fitted to the body of my S3. Both SBFS and Caterham have a plethora of studs and fixings. QQuestion is which is the right one for self tapping/riveting to the body...This one?

http://caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=310

Also is it best to riven or self tap

Danny

[Jonathan Kay]

Some of mine are screwed and some are rivetted and none have ever come away. 

Do you need any with special functions? The vertical side straps on my half hood need a particular (asymmetric?) type to withstand the pull. They came with the hood from SFBS.

Jonathan

[SteveA]

There are essentially four parts involved in dot fasteners, two attach to the car (base and counter sunk rivet) and the other two attach to the tonneau cover (socket and fastner). The part you have linked is the socket that goes on the cover. The parts to attach to the car body are;

Socket Base - http://caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=343

Countersunk rivets (depth depends where you are fastening) - http://caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=528

I used some small alloy washers (4mm) inside the scuttle ones to give the rivet something stronger to bite into, not sure if this is the normal way to do it but it made sense to me.

There are also one way bases which will only detach in one direction (to stop air resistance from removing the Tonneau whilst driving or in transport) but I haven't used them and haven't had an issue when trailering the car around the country.

[DDubya]

Thanks JK and Steve.

The Tonneau has the fittings attached so it is for the body. The Socket base and rivet look the right parts. I think on my last seven that the two centre ones on the Scuttle were self tappered. I assume the C/S rivets fit a standard rivet gun?

 

Danny

 

[DDubya]

Six quid for parts, 16.80 to ship 

Anyone live near Dartfor to collect for me?

Danny

[Jonathan Kay]

Is that a Caterham website-quoted shipping cost? There was a suggestion it can be lower if you order by 'phone.

Jonathan

[SteveA]

No they don't but it's down to the socket base rather than the rivet. As the rivet needs to go to the very bottom of the base, the gun nose needs to fit inside the base (which standard guns don't). You can either buy a specialist version or do what I did and drilled a rivet size hole in a peice metal that fits inside the base, sort of like inserting a really thick washer.

I'm not sure how well I've explained that but if you want I can send you a picture of what I used.

Edit to add - I've always thought Caterhams delivery was quite steep. If I were you I would just buy the parts from here;

http://www.softbitsshop.co.uk/press-stud-range-19-c.asp

Delivery is significantly cheaper.

[6speedmanual]

The nose of the pop rivet tool is easily ground down to make it slim enought to poke inside the cup of the fastener.

Carriage return.

If you wanto use a self tapper, ok into steel frame, not ali sheeting. Rivets best.

Carriage return.

Peter

[Nigel Riches]

You may find the rivet head is larger than the hole in the fixing piece, if this is the case, a few minutes with the rivet mandrels in an electric drill chuck, and some careful light action with a file will bring them to a suitable size to fit right down in the hollow of the "button". 

Definitely recommend the use of washers on the inside, as previously mentioned, to spread the load, Ali washers the same diameter as the button, mine are still in place after 33 years. 

Regards, Nigel.  

[Ozzy]

Danny,

You don't need to start grinding down your rivet gun etc. Just use a very small nut (3 or 4mm, can't quite remember) on the shank of the rivet, and the head will sit in the bottom of the countersunk fitting. Also, remember to pull back once the rivet starts to bite, or you'll send your rivet gun straight into the bodywork when it snaps off!

Oz....

[John Vine]

Have you got a copy of the latest Assembly Guide?  Section 13.7 (p181 on) describes in detail how and where to attach the popper bases. 

JV

[DDubya]

Thanks for the advice. Rivets and stud bases arrived today. I spoke to Tony at Caterham parts and he posted them for a quid.

John V, positioning them IS the next challenge so if you have the relevant page of the Assy. Guide it would be appreciated.

Danny

[John Vine]

Danny, you can download the guide from the CC website (but you'll have to register first to get at the downloads page).  Just click on LOGIN and follow the instructions.  Once you've registered, the DOWNLOADS button appears.

 

Or...

 

I can email you the Guide as a PDF (but it's large -- 11.4MB).

 

JV

[DDubya]

Thank John. I'll look on CC I'm already registered.

best regards