 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Headlining Fir Tree alternatives? |
 
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| kenzle8a Member Since: 12 Feb 2020 Location: None Posts: 1074  
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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 |
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25th Oct 2021 8:50am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17383  
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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 |
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25th Oct 2021 8:57am |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3414  
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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 |
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25th Oct 2021 9:46am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17383
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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.
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25th Oct 2021 11:24am |
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| MussEd Member Since: 20 Feb 2013 Location: East Lothian Posts: 354  
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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... |
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25th Oct 2021 3:00pm |
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| Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2227 
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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 |
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25th Oct 2021 3:54pm |
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| kenzle8a Member Since: 12 Feb 2020 Location: None Posts: 1074
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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 |
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25th Oct 2021 9:15pm |
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| MussEd Member Since: 20 Feb 2013 Location: East Lothian Posts: 354
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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!
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4th Nov 2021 9:39pm |
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| jpboost Member Since: 13 Apr 2021 Location: Gatwick Posts: 377 
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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? |
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5th Nov 2021 9:12am |
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| MussEd Member Since: 20 Feb 2013 Location: East Lothian Posts: 354
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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!
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5th Nov 2021 10:26am |
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| jpboost Member Since: 13 Apr 2021 Location: Gatwick Posts: 377
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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. |
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5th Nov 2021 11:29am |
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| MussEd Member Since: 20 Feb 2013 Location: East Lothian Posts: 354
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Yeah used same method of small screwdriver. Something isn’t right, it needs to come out again that’s for sure!
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5th Nov 2021 12:04pm |
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