quick easy question

[280z]

im just doing a little refurbishing on my z and noticed that the rectangular panel under the hatch is attached by 4 screws and 4 black rivet clips, but none of the rivets have the little pin inside of them. i tried inserting the pins but they simply wont go all the way through. even if i try forcing the pin in the rivet, the pin will bend or break before it makes it half way through the rivet hole. does anyone know, or could anyone check to see if rivets or screws were originally used to attach the panel to the hatch? these pictures might give a better idea of what im talking about

[DRBall]

You only need the pins in the rivets when you install them, they get punched outwhen you install it ,expanding the rivet.

[280z]

right, but what i guess i was implying was that when i try pushing in the pins to expand the rivets, the rivets wont expand at all because it feels like they are already confined to a real tight space. this is what is leading me to believe that the rivets might not belong there at all so im trying to figure out if the original hardware were rivets or screws.

[EScanlon]

Or you may not have pushed the rivets in deep enough that the back end of the rivet CAN expand.

Check the following:

Pull out one of the rivets and look on the outside of the 4-sectioned* plastic cone and see if you can detect a ridge deformation because of the rivet trying to expand IN the hole in the sheet metal.

The rivet typically has a thinner section further up it's shaft than at the point that it has been split into 4 (sometimes 3) sections. The rivet expands those sections such that the combined amount of material is more than can pass through the hole in the sheet metal.

If you don't push the rivet in deep enough, the sections won't push out far enough that the pin itself can lock it in place.

I hope this makes sense...and you don't bust a gut laughing about it....

E

(and if you find the pun, you're sick! )

[sblake01]

No rivets there. Ten screws like the one shown in your center picture are what holds that panel on in my 78. That being the case, the holes are too small to use the rivets and that's the source of your discomfiture. Tighten the screws lightly or the washers will cut into the fabric.

[beandip]

I used the same ones as sblake for all my interior . I used the polished stainless washers and stainless screws. I used the yellow size molly inserts in the holes and the screws spread the plastic inserts and provide the screws a purchase. Mine have held in place now for over 3 years. Not original I know but my color isn't either and my 240 has ZX engine . Gary

[280z]

thank you stephen

[Blue Meanie]

Self tapping screws are what I used. Since the interior is black, I used polished screws with large polished washers. I was going for the aircraft, industrial look.