Cab Reinforcement Plate Installation M109/ M35s

[islandguydon]

Cab Reinforcement Plate Installation M109/M35s

I got an early start on my day and found myself removing the 2 front seats around 9:00am. I picked up this reinforcement plate from MKcoen, in the SS classifieds. The unit came packaged with 96 industrial rivets, 6 nut and bolts sets and a few extras.

The steel plate is allot heavier than it looks. It was a perfect fit. I drilled the 4 corner spread, 2 each end installed the bolts & locknut's. The install kit came with a bag 96 of the biggest rivets I ever had to work with. I had to go to MikesMobileMarine and borrow the tool, Its called BIG DADDY. I installed only 16 of the 96. That was plenty tough enough. I also welded 8 spots that were accessible. I am confident in the stability.

I believe the plate is to help mount a gun ring which I do not have so the added rivets were unnecessary. I am impressed with the cut outs for the seat belts and the whole plate with a little help just kinda snapped in place.

I also added a 1000/2000 spike, inverter. It ran the Dewalt drill no sweat.

 

[hndrsonj]

Shoulda put in the extra rivets.

 

[islandguydon]

Hey Jim, it takes 4-5 minutes per hole. I hit the plate with my fist all over and there was no noise makers. I have to install a drivers seat tomorrow morning and will add a few more.

I have a feeling the way it fits there should be no new squeaks the plate is tight.

 

[Castle Bravo]

Why install the plate if you're not going to install a gun ring?

 

[islandguydon]

I did it because its was bought from a SS member and adds strength to the cab, also keeps things square. Also you can finally mount things on the rear wall with out drilling to the outside.I am going to fill the 2"gap with Great Stuff expanding foam. That might help quiet the cab some.

 

[hndrsonj]

Hey Jim, it takes 4-5 minutes per hole. I hit the plate with my fist all over and there was no noise makers. I have to install a drivers seat tomorrow morning and will add a few more.

I have a feeling the way it fits there should be no new squeaks the plate is tight.

I woulda thought under a minute a rivet? They are great to mount stuff to.

 

[jwaller]

I woulda thought under a minute a rivet? They are great to mount stuff to.

its a couple minutes per hole because you have to drill each one first. it's no short task.

 

[islandguydon]

Jim,

The bends are double thick, 3/8" + the rear structure steel. I have cobalt bits and a good drill. I was beat at 10,lol There are also 4 point structure end nuts and bolts.

Lights out for me I have Parade Duty Tomorrow. Peace Out..!

 

[hndrsonj]

its a couple minutes per hole because you have to drill each one first. it's no short task.

The way to do them is to clamp them in, draw lines in the middle of the ribs where the rivets go, them remove it, drill all holes in the plate, put it back in, drill all holes through the cab, cleco it in, then set the rivets.

 

[mkcoen]

Don,

Glad to see you got it in! Looks like the green clashes with your paint job though

 

[islandguydon]

mkcoen,

Nothing 30 minutes and a couple cans of rapco tan wouldn't cure. I had to paint the new installed seat bases anyway. Again, thanks for the great deal...!

 

[rrrr]

That steel is tough. Took me 3 days and 9 drill bits to do all the drilling and rivets. I went to Harbor junk and got their big air riveter. Worked great.

 

[jwaller]

I noticed you said you were going to spray foam behind the plate. Did you and did it help any?

 

[hndrsonj]

I removed the seats then set up and drew the center lines of the braces. I then removed the plate marked/center punched/ and drilled the plate. Reset it in the truck. Drilled two at a time 1/4 then did the final drill one at a time with the correct size drill and riveted with the HF 1/4" air riveter ($69). I still have 4 rivets to put in. I bought two new drill bits which are still sharp. I think I have right at 3 hours in it.

 

[6x6junkie]

yea took me more time to get the seat out of the way. they are well worth the 40 bucks you cant buy the rivets for that. just get a decent drill bit

 

[Lieutenant Dan]

What about gripserts? The work like rivets but they hae threads on the inside. So you could bolt the panel in place. Then you could put stuff (fuse blocks, power inverters, etc) in between the exterior wall no the panel, if you ever have to get into the stuff you could just unbolt the panel.

 

[hndrsonj]

What about gripserts? The work like rivets but they hae threads on the inside. So you could bolt the panel in place. Then you could put stuff (fuse blocks, power inverters, etc) in between the exterior wall no the panel, if you ever have to get into the stuff you could just unbolt the panel.

It would be impossible to line up 80+ Rivnuts. Also you can stick your hand behind the panel almost everywhere.