Need Help with Battery Hold Down Kit

[Ryan536]

There was nothing to keep my battery from moving around when I bought my Vette so I bought the complete battery hold down kit from Ecklers. I showed the rivets to some local garages to see if I could borrow the rivetor from them. Nobody here has seen these type of rivets. How do I install them? How is the kit installed? There are no instuctions and I can't find nothing on the web. Does the thin piece of metal with the three holes go on top of or below the other piece of metal with the three holes? I do have vague idea of how it should go together but I don't feel like doing this job ten times before it's right. Aye Carumba!!! Why are the easiest jobs always the hardest?

 

[JohnZ]

The Assembly Manual will show you how the parts attach above and below the floor of the storage well. I use an air hammer (regulated to about 15 psi) and a 3/16" rivet set tool from www.aircraft-tool.com to set the soft aluminum body rivets.

 

[red70vette]

The thin piece of metal goes on the underside of the battery box to support the fiberglass. The rivits go thru the wider piece then the fiberglass and then the thinner piece. I did not have the riveting tool that John showed so I held the pieces in place with a machine screw and nut in the middle then set the 2 outside rivets using a backing plate and a punch. I then removed the middle screw and set the last rivet. Not the easiest way but it worked. If you don't have an assembly manual get one they are invaluable.

 

[Ryan536]

Thanks for all your help. I didn't realize that the thin piece of metal goes on the underside of the car. See... I would have done the job wrong 10 times before figuring it out. I really do need to get an assembly manual, I know they are worth it.