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MussEd



Member Since: 20 Feb 2013
Location: East Lothian
Posts: 354

Scotland 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Baltic Blue
Headlining Fir Tree alternatives?
Tried searching for this a while back but can't find anything specific. Looking for sizes for self-tappers to try and secure the headlining in my Puma. Tried all my assortment and no luck, and the fir trees have started to fail...

If anyone has replaced those infernal fir trees with self-tappers could you point me in the right direction?
Post #927033 25th Oct 2021 8:08am
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kenzle8a



Member Since: 12 Feb 2020
Location: None
Posts: 1074

 
I used M6 Rivnuts and bolts with countersunk washes on mine. So much nicer and less of a faff. I've replaced all the fir tree clips inside with them.

https://www.defender2.net/gallery/displayi...os=-154884
Post #927037 25th Oct 2021 8:50am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17384

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I too have replaced quite a few of mine with M6 Rivnuts and machine screws (for example my MUD overhead console is now held together with, and held in place by, M6 posi-pan m/c screws into nuts/rivnuts, and is a great deal stronger then it used to be, plus it can be removed easily if necessary, plus I was able to delete the two really annoying brackets that are in the middle of the openings - win, win, win)!

I think you'd struggle with self-tappers due to the size of the hole for the fir tree clips, and in most cases spire nuts are not an option.

Horrible things, fir tree clips, a monument to the throw-away society of today! Should be illegal!


Last edited by blackwolf on 25th Oct 2021 11:21am. Edited 1 time in total
Post #927039 25th Oct 2021 8:57am
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
Maybe an option is to fit CZA4705L. But need to change from circular to rectangular hole. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #927046 25th Oct 2021 9:46am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17384

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Whatever you choose to do, remember that in most cases there is very little clearance between the hole the FTC fits into and the outer skin of the roof beyond. You need to be careful if you are drilling out the holes not to go straight through the roof, and if you are choosing fittings you need to make sure they will not protrude too far beyond the panel.
Post #927052 25th Oct 2021 11:24am
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MussEd



Member Since: 20 Feb 2013
Location: East Lothian
Posts: 354

Scotland 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Baltic Blue
blackwolf wrote:
I too have replaced quite a few of mine with M6 Rivnuts and machine screws (for example my MUD overhead console is now held together with, and held in place by, M6 posi-pan m/c screws into nuts/rivnuts, and is a great deal stronger then it used to be, plus it can be removed easily if necessary, plus I was able to delete the two really annoying brackets that are in the middle of the openings - win, win, win)!

I think you'd struggle with self-tappers due to the size of the hole for the fir tree clips, and in most cases spire nuts are not an option.

Horrible things, fir tree clips, a monument to the throw-away society of today! Should be illegal!


I did consider rivnuts but that would involve removing the headlining and I really didn't enjoy that the last time round!

Thanks for all the replies chaps...
Post #927070 25th Oct 2021 3:00pm
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2227

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 BMW M57 3.0 Diesel HT Auto Pennine Grey
You can use use rivnuts on the corners of the door cards too.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.

50 Shades of Pennine Grey
Post #927077 25th Oct 2021 3:54pm
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kenzle8a



Member Since: 12 Feb 2020
Location: None
Posts: 1074

 
MussEd wrote:


I did consider rivnuts but that would involve removing the headlining and I really didn't enjoy that the last time round!

Thanks for all the replies chaps...


I got my roof back in pretty quick with rivnuts, i used two really long m6 bolts to locate each section 1st then it was easier to fit the normal ones
Post #927126 25th Oct 2021 9:15pm
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MussEd



Member Since: 20 Feb 2013
Location: East Lothian
Posts: 354

Scotland 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Baltic Blue
Had another go today with fresh FTC's and still not happening. So I decided it's RIVNUT time. The headlining is coming back out whether it wants to or not. But I couldn't face it today so it'll need to be tomorrow... Lord Haggis I think I may steal inspiration form you with those countersunk washers!
Post #928567 4th Nov 2021 9:39pm
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jpboost



Member Since: 13 Apr 2021
Location: Gatwick
Posts: 377

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Keswick Green
I sound proofed my roof last week. - I feel your pain.

While getting the liner in and out was a bit tricky on my own, i didn't have any issues in terms of the fir tree clips. Once it lined up, they all popped in easily. Although a couple of them are a bit worn, so I'll order up replacements when I get round to it.

Which bit is causing you problems?
Post #928600 5th Nov 2021 9:12am
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MussEd



Member Since: 20 Feb 2013
Location: East Lothian
Posts: 354

Scotland 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Baltic Blue
The join/overlap between the front and middle sections(110 USW) can feel the trees going in but then they instantly fall part of the way back out. New clips made no difference for me. Ordered some countersunk washers and will attack again once they arrive!
Post #928612 5th Nov 2021 10:26am
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jpboost



Member Since: 13 Apr 2021
Location: Gatwick
Posts: 377

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Keswick Green
Are you sure it's all lined up correctly?

I only ask as when I did mine I hadn't quite pushed the rear section far enough back, and it made the rear to middle join offline to the point I could miss the holes in the roof crossbar thing. So my Fir Trees were joining the 2 sections, but not anchoring into anything in the roof itself- and they did exactly as you describe, they dropped back out a bit.

I found this out by poking a small screwdriver into the hole to try to work what was going on.

If they're going into the holes ok, then I don't think they could drop back out at all in this way.
Post #928621 5th Nov 2021 11:29am
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MussEd



Member Since: 20 Feb 2013
Location: East Lothian
Posts: 354

Scotland 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Baltic Blue
Yeah used same method of small screwdriver. Something isn’t right, it needs to come out again that’s for sure!
Post #928628 5th Nov 2021 12:04pm
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