alternate floor plugs

[madkaw]

I was trying to decide how to seal up the floor holes since my rubber plugs are shot . I wanted something atleast semi- permanent and I came across this idea that I thought I would share. These dust covers are for breaker boxes and they fit very tightly in the floor. You need to squeeze the tangs a little to get it started in the hole, and a few wacks with the hammer . It winds up being a very tight fit ,and then if you want, you can bend the tangs flat to make sure it stays put. Of course you will want to use some kind of sealant to complete the job. The plugs can be found at any home improvement store for about 35 cents each.

[hls30.com]

WHy not just get more of the rubber plugs?

Will

[Ed]

Why not just get new rubber plugs?

[sblake01]

What they said! Besides, your mod defeats part of their purpose. Nissan still sells the rubber ones. I bought a couple for my 810 last year and they were under three bucks ea.

[madkaw]

I guess i say "why not" . 30 cents versus 3 bucks . Unless you are looking to factory original, this might be a good alternative to get the job done that is still temporary and can be redone at any time.

And what is the purpose I am defeating by not using the stock plugs? When I replace the hatch plugs i will use the rubber ones because you can see them .

[sblake01]

The rubber ones are easier to remove and re install if necessary.

[hls30.com]

You have a short term solution I guess, but you have put it in a place most would forget about and then it would become a long term problem.

Metal to metal contact under pressure will not hold paint! the clips are spring loaded and add pressure, your feet will cause pressure, and then there is the fact that you really don't have a water proof seal, only metal tightly held to metal under felt-the ideal situation for capillary action! I don't want anything in my car that could and will invite rust! The rubber plugs fit the area of use as they are absolutley an "install and forget" part.

Put one of the metal plugs in your shower for a week, and just leave it there where the water can hit it-you will have rust in a day or two...they are not plated for even a damp environment, and when you force them through a tight metal hole, the plating scrapes off-making them and the hole more suseptable to rust.

You had a convenient and interesting idea for replacing something that really was engineered for the purpose it is used for, the metal plugs have an ideal use, and capping a hole in the floor of a Z aint it! There are places to go cheep in a Z, floor plugs ain't one of them.

Find an easy replacement for the rubber bumper strips that do not oxidize and get thick oily black nastyness on everything they touch as they age...not to mention the rusting of the attatchment hardware....there is a problem begging for and answer...

Will

[ktm]

Very easy and cheap solution: rubber stoppers cut to fit. Home Depot sells them. They are a good stop-gap until you get the plugs (such as if you are trying to fight an exhaust leak).

[240ZX]

Now thats being resourceful! However, a problem I see is that your metal plug is now creating a water trap. If you must use the metal plugs, install them from the interior side...and as you mentioned, use some type of sealant. This way you can leave the tabs as they are and you can easily remove them. Just my opinion.

[EScanlon]

One very important point that hasn't been brought up....RUST!

Those electric box plugs have been plated with a sacrificial metal, put that in direct contact with the steel of the car, add in some moisture (and on the bottom of the car to boot) and you have the basics for an electrolytic battery. In short time there will be enough electron transfer between the two to have....RUST and lots of it.

While you may not like the holes, in the long run it is far cheaper to replace the rubber plugs with more rubber plugs. The originals after all survived 30+ years. I doubt the metal ones will survive 30 MONTHS.

2¢

E

[hls30.com]

One very important point that hasn't been brought up....RUST!

E

E,

You have spent too much time looking at Ms. MoonROFL!

Reread post #7 you Mr. Moon wannabee!

WIll

[madkaw]

Okay guys,

it wasn't the best idea;but,I am fully aware of the rust potential of metal to metal. I was going to por-15 everything first,including the plug, then install the plug in reverse of the pic(it was easier to take a pic). I was also going to use seam sealer when I sealed the rest of the car. I hope I never have to worry about so much water in my car that I have to remove my plugs to drain it out !