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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 865
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cargo light installation
I've tried to install my cargo light using those awful rubber well nuts. Well, now I've found a better solution. I have discovered rivet-nuts. What wonderful creaters these are. I've included a pic of a rivet nut that's been crimped, what they look like uninstalled, and what they look like installed.
If you're not familiar with them they are a special rivet. Basically, they have threads inside and when you crimp, you're using the treads to "bulge" the steel in a similar fashion to a pop rivet. These particular rivets are steel, and they are 1/4-20 thread. That was the only size that the fastener shop had that was .375" diameter to fit in the cargo light holes. Now I just need to get the appropriate size panhead screw, and I'm in business. It seems that a 1 1/4" or 1" long panhead screw will work fine with these. Either way, I've now got a solution to the well nuts pulling out of the holes! |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 865
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Re: cargo light installation
forgot a pic
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#3 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: ** THE FALL GUY **CHICAGO IL
Posts: 5,883
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Re: cargo light installation
and where does one find these little guy's.
they look very cool..i could think of many times i could have use this little guy ![]() Last edited by rage'nrat638; 04-04-2006 at 10:47 PM. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 865
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Re: cargo light installation
Any fastener store will sell them. I've been selling kits on ebay with some aluminum riv-nuts. I was surprised too, the steel crimped very easily. I expected it to be a fight!
These worked really well also because they had a large lip on the outside. They really gripped the steel. My dad told me that he used them with some electrical panels years ago. I mentioned them to a hot rodder at work and he said the same thing. Really handy when working with sheetmetal. |
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#5 | |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: ** THE FALL GUY **CHICAGO IL
Posts: 5,883
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Re: cargo light installation
Quote:
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 865
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Re: cargo light installation
No. I had to go to a nut and bolt dealer in the area. You know, one of those places that sells bolts by the lbs. MSC and Fastenal will carry them, although I don't know what the cost is. I think my steel rivet nuts (aka rivnut) cost about $.60 each.
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#7 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: cargo light installation
But now you'll have problems with the light being on constantly.
The dome and cargo light have full time power, and are switched on the ground side. By running a metal screw into a metal fastner attached to the metal body, you are giving the light a ground and you won't be able to shut it off at all. |
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#8 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 865
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Re: cargo light installation
Quote:
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#9 |
saving one more
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Pryor Creek, Oklahoma
Posts: 3,066
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Re: cargo light installation
Longhorn Man, you made me think! I used these rivet nuts to mount my cargo light and it works correctly, I have been trying to remember how I made it work.
You are correct about the metal bolt into a metal fastner in a metal body creating a constant ground. What I did was I put an O-ring or some other type of rubber piece on the bolts to keep from grounding the bolt to the cargo light housing. Works like a charm for a couple years now and really easy to put the cargo light in.
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72 Chevy longbed - now for parts 69 Chevy short fleet - needing some love 70 RS Camaro - needing more love driver - 96 GMC X-cab |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: New Carlisle, Ohio,USA
Posts: 1,404
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Re: cargo light installation
Years ago, I bought a kit from MAC Tools. They called it a nut-sert kit. It contains all different size nut-serts from about #10-32, to about 3/8"-16? Also includes about everything to install them, except for the drillbits. Sure has come in handy.
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![]() ![]() ![]() LIFE AIN'T EASY WHEN YER FAT AND GREASY! GMC= Got More Class! ![]() ![]() |
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#11 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: cargo light installation
What type of tool do you install them with? Looks like a great thing to put somewhere in my brain to remember.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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#12 | |
Next project: 1970 K10
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fort Collins, Colo 80524
Posts: 6,685
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Re: cargo light installation
Quote:
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Bob 1970 Chevy K10 LWB "Goldie" 350/TH350 next project!! 1981 Chevy C10 LWB 355/TH350 - My son's truck LS SWAP FORUM! Tons of LS swap info here! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE GREATEST BOARD ON THE NET! CLICK HERE FOR THE FAQ INDEX by KRUE |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: central pa
Posts: 1,525
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Re: cargo light installation
Harbor freight sells a kit and replacement nuts. When you use them just don't over tighten them as they will spin and you will never get them off. I forget how much I payed for it around $20 on sale with Tool/4 threadedmandrels/and about 75 different size nuts. A box of replacement nuts are about $12 for 75 assorted.
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72 longhorn c30 502BB/th400/fact air/4.11rear/ custom camper 72 bug(the better half's) under reconstruction 2009 HHR aqua blue 71 GMC k20 350/sm465 2009 Chevy hd3500 6.6 Victory Red crew cab dually Dave & Jeanne |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,254
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Re: cargo light installation
IIRC, I installed mine the way the factory did and it only works when the dome light is on.
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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#15 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: cargo light installation
some how it is working right then...
You ran a metal bolt into a metal insert int eh sheet metal on the cab... right? |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 865
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Re: cargo light installation
I haven't actually screwed and mounted the cargo light. I was pressing it against the cab when I did this. It still should have grounded though.
I guess the door jam switch is cutting the positive lead. I even played with the cargo / dome switch and it seems to be working correctly. I wonder if I have something backwards and it should be on all the time. All of my wiring is original and unmolested. Perhaps I just got lucky! |
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#17 |
saving one more
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Pryor Creek, Oklahoma
Posts: 3,066
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Re: cargo light installation
I think mine would only work with the dome light on, I reran wiring so I can turn on the cargo light with or without the door open, I had to use a three way toggle switch.
The white ground wire is what makes and breaks the circuit to the dome light and cargo light.
__________________
72 Chevy longbed - now for parts 69 Chevy short fleet - needing some love 70 RS Camaro - needing more love driver - 96 GMC X-cab |
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#18 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: cargo light installation
it's only supposed to work with the door open, but once you mount it, if it's going to be metal to metal hdwr to metal body, then you'll be up the creek.
The dome lamp circuit is always hot, the switch (both the one one the dash and the ones in the door jambs) is on the ground side of the circuit. |
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#19 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,254
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Re: cargo light installation
Quote:
Basically if you have the dome light on you can flick the cargo light on and off - if wired the way it left the factory.
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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#20 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: cargo light installation
good call.... my mistake.
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#21 |
Keep On Truckin'
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Buda, Texas
Posts: 1,354
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Re: cargo light installation
Nut-serts have been used for ages by auto/truck manufacturers to attach side view mirrors that are mounted on door skins. They work great for that and just about anything else where a blind, threaded, hole in sheet metal is needed.
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Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire..... |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 865
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Re: cargo light installation
I finally got around to getting the mounting bolts. Rather than getting some philips head bolts, I got some with hex heads. That way I can really torque this light down so it seals. I thought I'd add a pic just to be thorough.
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Ontario
Posts: 1
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Re: cargo light installation
The nutzerts are a great idea. Used some 50 cent 1/4x20 Nylon Screws I got from Home Depot. A little thread locker and good to go. Insulated from the body, light works perfectly
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