The Ford Barn

montanafordman · 08-22-2013, 08:53 AM

I need to replace a few floorboard D-nuts, my question is how do you install them?

I would love to see what people use to set the nuts in place. Do you use some sort of tool, or improvised piece of steel as a bucking bar? then what do you strike the top with? Do you use heat? It appears the original ones are swaged in somehow and I'm curious what your methods are. Thanks!

Steve Wastler · 08-22-2013, 09:22 AM

Great idea!

wrndln · 08-22-2013, 09:49 AM

1930 coupe,
What size steel ball did you use? If you did it again, would you use the same size ball or a smaller or larger one? It seems like grinding a flat spot on the ball would help keep the C clamp from slipping off when it it tightened. I will need to install a D nut in my CCPU' floorboard in the future.
Rusty Nelson

d.j. moordigian · 08-22-2013, 10:06 AM

Rusty,

An idea.....remove the swivel from the "C" clamp, reform the end too roll
the edge of the "D" nut. Kinda like my dimple tool....make sense?

Tom Wesenberg · 08-22-2013, 12:22 PM

I saw a C clamp at the flee market the other day that was missing the flat swivel part, leaving just a nice round ball on the end of the screw. This would be ideal for spreading the D nuts.

Mike V. Florida · 08-22-2013, 01:51 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 1930 coupe

I use a heavy duty C clamp. Place a steel ball from a ball bearing in the D nut and squeeze it with the C clamp to slightly spread the lip, then remove the ball and finish smashing the lip with the C clamp.

That is a fine way to do it.

wrndln · 08-22-2013, 05:26 PM

It seems to me that a steel ball large enough not to touch the lower part of the D nut would hit the side of the cross-sills or subrails. I tried a golf ball, which is about 1 5/8" in diameter, and it was quite a bit too large, as it hit the side of the subrail big time.
Rusty Nelson

wrndln · 08-22-2013, 08:07 PM

1930 Coupe,
I understood the two step process, but I thought a larger steel ball would be necessary to push out the top of the D nut than the ball size in the picture of your last post. The ball in your picture looks to be about 3/4" in diameter which would probably fit along side the edge of the subrails or cross-sills. I need to get a steel ball and would like to get the right size the first time, Would it be a problem for you to measure the steel ball you used since you have successfully installed a D nut(s).
Thanks
Rusty Nelson

wrndln · 08-22-2013, 08:39 PM

Thanks for providing the measurement of the steel ball you used. I should be able to install the D nut with the help you provided.
Rusty Nelson

Arlen · 08-22-2013, 11:15 PM

Wow! Great idea. I was about to change out 6 or 7 this weekend and I bet I can do it now in no time.

montanafordman · 08-23-2013, 12:24 AM

Thanks for the suggestions!

eystein · 08-23-2013, 12:28 AM

I just cut the rounded head off a carriage bolt and put it in the vise to spread the flange of the nut.

08-22-2013, 08:53 AM	#1
montanafordman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Meridian, ID Posts: 568	Floorboard D-Nuts I need to replace a few floorboard D-nuts, my question is how do you install them? I would love to see what people use to set the nuts in place. Do you use some sort of tool, or improvised piece of steel as a bucking bar? then what do you strike the top with? Do you use heat? It appears the original ones are swaged in somehow and I'm curious what your methods are. Thanks! __________________ Aaron in Tacoma (although still a Montana hillbilly at heart )

08-22-2013, 09:22 AM	#2
Steve Wastler Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,987	Re: Floorboard D-Nuts Great idea!

08-22-2013, 09:49 AM	#3
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,162	Re: Floorboard D-Nuts 1930 coupe, What size steel ball did you use? If you did it again, would you use the same size ball or a smaller or larger one? It seems like grinding a flat spot on the ball would help keep the C clamp from slipping off when it it tightened. I will need to install a D nut in my CCPU' floorboard in the future. Rusty Nelson

08-22-2013, 10:06 AM	#4
d.j. moordigian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fresno, Ca. Posts: 3,636	Re: Floorboard D-Nuts Rusty, An idea.....remove the swivel from the "C" clamp, reform the end too roll the edge of the "D" nut. Kinda like my dimple tool....make sense?

08-22-2013, 12:22 PM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Floorboard D-Nuts I saw a C clamp at the flee market the other day that was missing the flat swivel part, leaving just a nice round ball on the end of the screw. This would be ideal for spreading the D nuts.

08-22-2013, 05:26 PM	#7
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,162	Re: Floorboard D-Nuts It seems to me that a steel ball large enough not to touch the lower part of the D nut would hit the side of the cross-sills or subrails. I tried a golf ball, which is about 1 5/8" in diameter, and it was quite a bit too large, as it hit the side of the subrail big time. Rusty Nelson

08-22-2013, 08:07 PM	#8
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,162	Re: Floorboard D-Nuts 1930 Coupe, I understood the two step process, but I thought a larger steel ball would be necessary to push out the top of the D nut than the ball size in the picture of your last post. The ball in your picture looks to be about 3/4" in diameter which would probably fit along side the edge of the subrails or cross-sills. I need to get a steel ball and would like to get the right size the first time, Would it be a problem for you to measure the steel ball you used since you have successfully installed a D nut(s). Thanks Rusty Nelson Last edited by wrndln; 08-22-2013 at 08:13 PM.

08-22-2013, 08:39 PM	#9
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,162	Re: Floorboard D-Nuts Thanks for providing the measurement of the steel ball you used. I should be able to install the D nut with the help you provided. Rusty Nelson

08-22-2013, 11:15 PM	#10
Arlen Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 524	Re: Floorboard D-Nuts Wow! Great idea. I was about to change out 6 or 7 this weekend and I bet I can do it now in no time. __________________ DMAFC

08-23-2013, 12:24 AM	#11
montanafordman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Meridian, ID Posts: 568	Re: Floorboard D-Nuts Thanks for the suggestions! __________________ Aaron in Tacoma (although still a Montana hillbilly at heart )

08-23-2013, 12:28 AM	#12
eystein Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 521	Re: Floorboard D-Nuts I just cut the rounded head off a carriage bolt and put it in the vise to spread the flange of the nut. Last edited by eystein; 08-23-2013 at 12:29 AM. Reason: Typo