Boxologist Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 ran over a cone hard at saturday's autoX and it pulled out the front 5 rivnuts from the body. the aluminium is puckered around the exit wounds. http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/42201/2195272430099946657S600x600Q85.jpg best course of action to reattach? only 2 of teh 5 rivnuts went back in and stayed in place, the front lowermost and top one in front of the axle. those should hold the fender well enough for now. I take it i have to drill out the panel next to ther rear bulkhead to get to the exterior skin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 (edited) Jon, as you know, I have plenty of experience with hitting cones and destroying rear wings. :banghead: But I've never had a problem with loosing the rivenuts. The key for future reference is to replace your steel bolts with Nylon bolts and only use 3-5 bolts to hold the rear wings on. That way, if you hit a cone hard, the nylon bolts will break off and not damage the side skin or rivenuts. It is way easier to repair the fiberglass wings. As for your question, I believe the guys in the UK use something called Rawlnuts when replacing the rivenuts. I think they are rubber and can be fitted in the side skin without taking off the panel you refer to. I belive that they expand on the inner side when you screw in the bolt. There is a thread on Blatchat right now about the same issue. Here's a UK link re: the Rawl nuts. http://www.rivetwise.co.uk/productrange/wellnut.htm Good luck, Tom Edited August 3, 2009 by yellowss7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 I would think the easy way would be just go up one size on the rivet nut. I put a doubler plate behind each rivnut that attach at the aluminum body panel areas. I used plates about 2 x 1.25 x 1/8thk alloy "some had to be trim a little fit" plus also used e-poxy betweeen the plate and the panel. I've collected a few cones, both forwards and backwards and the fenders are still hanging on. Dave W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catracer Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Heres a US supplier of the wellnut. http://www.mcmaster.com/#well-nut-inserts/=30znm6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 awesome. an expanding anchor is what i was hoping for. The metal bolts in the back of the wing arch just spin the metal factory rivnut in place. the neoprene layer should solve all the issues with this occurance. It should hold together as is well enough this weekend's autocross double header if 5 point holds together for Tom. Its best for the event chair to show up in his own car. Dave, saounds as if I would have to take off the interior piece to use the reinforcing washers or other metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 I have purchased well nuts at Home Depot and Lowes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 I attached my rear arches (fenders) with 12 zip ties so that the rear fenders shear off in a collision. The lower body is really expensive and I doubt the Brits have shipped one by itself to the States. http://hanksmegabusa.com/images/050409/01.jpg I haven't autocrossed yet, but if/when I do I will probably take the front and rear fenders off. It may look funny, but it only takes 1 cone in the wrong spot to do major damage. I'm not going to chance it. The roadcourse is a different story. Higher speeds require as much aerodynamic help as possible and if I hit the wall the lower body is damaged anyway. Therefore, I will run front/rear fenders on track days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 the "cone" bars that some of the stalker (a few others too) have made for in front of the rear fenders is the best solution. it knocks them sideways. teh cone that caused the damage was hit so hard/fast that it stayed planted in its box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbanker Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 My cone kickers/number plates are removable. they have saved my rear wings many times. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 got over to Lowe's and Home Depot. Lowe's has Well Nuts. the 10-24 size was corect for the holes i have caused from the autoX 2 weeks ago and re-opened yesterday on my last run. They are a bi larger than what u have created when u pull the OEM rivnut thru. U will need to drill or grind them a smidge larger. i went to Home Depot after i tried initial press fitting and lubing the rubber, but HD has some knockoff that does not have the small lip on the rubber to catch the Al skin. the WellNut is a MUCH better design. I do need to get longer bolts than i intially bought, maybe 1.25" wil be long enough, but 1.5" will be safe. the original bolts were an M5. Tom's use of plastic bolts is good too. i did not see them at the stores, but will order them. And a bumper bar for the off side is definitely desired Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athens7 Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 (edited) It was a really hot weekend in my part of the country-if also thus where you were, maybe our cars (or the cones) were expanding slightly in the heat:D! If I paid more attention, I would have seen this thread and not wasted everyone's time! Edited August 11, 2009 by athens7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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