Ideas for securing diamond plate - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Sammy · 03-08-2009, 10:10 PM

I have some thin highly polished diamond plate. I want to make panels for under the hood between the stiffners. Anyone done this? How did you secure the panels? I know some use the hook n pile method. Isn't that a remove before you drive down the road mod? Don't mind removing it to wipe it down but looking for a slightly more secure idea.

Andy4639 · 03-08-2009, 10:28 PM

That's going to be tuff inless you use the ribs under the hood to screw it in like I did mine. I have just a center peice to cover the motor since I have a louvered hood.
Put some foam along the edge of the hood and screw the rest down maybe.

Longhorn Man · 03-08-2009, 10:35 PM

maybe aluminum rivits, and attach it to the braces?

Sammy · 03-08-2009, 10:52 PM

Longhorn you may have an answer I could live with. I have a good aviation cherry max rivet gun. I need to order some good cherry max rivets. Thanks

Longhorn Man · 03-08-2009, 11:00 PM

If it is a driver, I would inspect this on a somewhat regular basis if you ddo it that way.
Being thing diamond plate may make it OK though. I'd hate to see the brace rip and drop the diomond plate on the motor (and fan) while doing 75 MPH.
It'll probably be fine though. Put a rivit every 2 or 3 inches and that'd spread out the load pretty good.

Sammy · 03-08-2009, 11:08 PM

Thats the plan. Right drill bit for the proper depth rivet. Not pop rivets from Autozone. Should hold together unless I land in the HUDSON.

ed2552 · 03-08-2009, 11:12 PM

Could you do it so the plate sits on the inside of the hood, and the rivet goes in through the steel of the hood first, then the panel? that way, if a rivet fails, it's inside your hood, instead of on your engine.

72BLUZ · 03-08-2009, 11:55 PM

try huck bolts and stainless bolts

Andy4639 · 03-09-2009, 12:23 AM

Ribits aren't going to be a very easy thing to remove for polishing though. That's why I used good size sheet metal screws to take it out and clean & polish it.

68C15 · 03-09-2009, 04:56 AM

what about some panel bonding adhesive? if it is strong enough for door hinges on the 88-up trucks it should be good enough for this.

Sammy · 03-09-2009, 08:53 AM

Andy any trouble with them getting loose? Some pretty stainless screws would be nice if they wasn't too long.

Andy4639 · 03-09-2009, 05:26 PM

I haven't had any problems except for one. I got a new set and replaced all of them and not one has come loose. I put a dab of sealer on them also though.
I used the self taping ones with a small hole drilled first.

woodwright · 03-09-2009, 09:32 PM

I was going to do a similar project a while back and picked up some Dzus fasteners. They are a quarter-turn fastener that are used for attaching panels on race cars and such. They would allow you to take the panel off if you need to. I think they look cool too. There is a bunch of different types now too, like allen headed ones.

03-08-2009, 10:10 PM	#1
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	Ideas for securing diamond plate I have some thin highly polished diamond plate. I want to make panels for under the hood between the stiffners. Anyone done this? How did you secure the panels? I know some use the hook n pile method. Isn't that a remove before you drive down the road mod? Don't mind removing it to wipe it down but looking for a slightly more secure idea. __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629"

03-08-2009, 10:28 PM	#2
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,945	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate That's going to be tuff inless you use the ribs under the hood to screw it in like I did mine. I have just a center peice to cover the motor since I have a louvered hood. Put some foam along the edge of the hood and screw the rest down maybe. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

03-08-2009, 10:35 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate maybe aluminum rivits, and attach it to the braces?

03-08-2009, 10:52 PM	#4
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate Longhorn you may have an answer I could live with. I have a good aviation cherry max rivet gun. I need to order some good cherry max rivets. Thanks __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629"

03-08-2009, 11:00 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate If it is a driver, I would inspect this on a somewhat regular basis if you ddo it that way. Being thing diamond plate may make it OK though. I'd hate to see the brace rip and drop the diomond plate on the motor (and fan) while doing 75 MPH. It'll probably be fine though. Put a rivit every 2 or 3 inches and that'd spread out the load pretty good.

03-08-2009, 11:08 PM	#6
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate Thats the plan. Right drill bit for the proper depth rivet. Not pop rivets from Autozone. Should hold together unless I land in the HUDSON. __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629"

03-08-2009, 11:12 PM	#7
ed2552 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Charles City IA Posts: 1,626	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate Could you do it so the plate sits on the inside of the hood, and the rivet goes in through the steel of the hood first, then the panel? that way, if a rivet fails, it's inside your hood, instead of on your engine. __________________ '67 C20, Under the Knife!, LWB, Eaton HO-52, Rear Coil Springs 72' GMC C2500, 350, TH400(?), Dana 60 '67 K10 4-spd., 305, SM465, Dana 44, 12 Bolt, RUST! '65 C60 292, 4 spd, 2 spd Rearend, 15' Grain Box, MINT! 09 Yukon Denali 82k Miles 6.2L/6A

03-08-2009, 11:55 PM	#8
72BLUZ Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: lafayette, ga. Posts: 832	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate try huck bolts and stainless bolts __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.... Ronald Reagan

03-09-2009, 12:23 AM	#9
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,945	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate Ribits aren't going to be a very easy thing to remove for polishing though. That's why I used good size sheet metal screws to take it out and clean & polish it. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

03-09-2009, 04:56 AM	#10
68C15 blood type; Retumbo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: next to my reloading bench Posts: 10,269	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate what about some panel bonding adhesive? if it is strong enough for door hinges on the 88-up trucks it should be good enough for this.

03-09-2009, 08:53 AM	#11
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate Andy any trouble with them getting loose? Some pretty stainless screws would be nice if they wasn't too long. __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629"

03-09-2009, 05:26 PM	#12
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,945	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate I haven't had any problems except for one. I got a new set and replaced all of them and not one has come loose. I put a dab of sealer on them also though. I used the self taping ones with a small hole drilled first. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

03-09-2009, 09:32 PM	#13
woodwright Enjoying left field Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dillon Montana Posts: 900	Re: Ideas for securing diamond plate I was going to do a similar project a while back and picked up some Dzus fasteners. They are a quarter-turn fastener that are used for attaching panels on race cars and such. They would allow you to take the panel off if you need to. I think they look cool too. There is a bunch of different types now too, like allen headed ones. __________________ Clint 70 Chevy 4WD "Ultimate Work Truck" SOLD



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