• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

 

Removing footwell box

Ajax MD

Well-known member
1,567
1,414
113
Location
Mayo, MD
How does one typically go about removing the "box" in the rear passenger foot wells?

They're held in by an overabundance of rivets. There's definitely no way to hit all of them with a drill due to angles and space limitations.
I read somewhere that this was a common mod in the Avenger models? I'd like to use the well to store a spare tire and fuel can.
 

TOBASH

Father, Surgeon, Cantankerous Grouch
Steel Soldiers Supporter
3,173
2,800
113
Location
Brooklyn, NY
I’m not sure a spare tire would fit there.

A Dremmel with a grinding bit can get most types of rivets out.
 
Last edited:

Ajax MD

Well-known member
1,567
1,414
113
Location
Mayo, MD
I’m not sure a spare tire would fit there.

A Dremmel with a grinding bit can get most types of rivets out.
I don't think it'll "bottom out" in the footwell but it will settle in much deeper. I can create a wooden chock for it, to support the weight a bit and then strap it down. Good tip on the Dremel. They sell a remote head for them that I should be able to get into the nooks and crannies. I should have thought of that.
 

Action

Well-known member
3,582
1,550
113
Location
East Tennessee
I don't think it'll "bottom out" in the footwell but it will settle in much deeper. I can create a wooden chock for it, to support the weight a bit and then strap it down. Good tip on the Dremel. They sell a remote head for them that I should be able to get into the nooks and crannies. I should have thought of that.
Wouldn’t the front seat get in the way before the tire got close to nestling in the hole?
 

Ajax MD

Well-known member
1,567
1,414
113
Location
Mayo, MD
Wouldn’t the front seat get in the way before the tire got close to nestling in the hole?
It doesn't look that way. The uh, structure bar (for lack of a better word) looks like it'll stop the tire before it touches the seat.
 

Retiredwarhorses

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
4,236
3,775
113
Location
Brentwood, Calif
I’ve installed many many rear seat bases, all the rivets are accessible, either from up top or underneath.
IMO,this is a bad idea, buy an airlift bumper and install a tire carrier and can carrier.
you don’t want a 125lb tire and fuel can inside your cab.
 

Ajax MD

Well-known member
1,567
1,414
113
Location
Mayo, MD
I’ve installed many many rear seat bases, all the rivets are accessible, either from up top or underneath.
IMO,this is a bad idea, buy an airlift bumper and install a tire carrier and can carrier.
you don’t want a 125lb tire and fuel can inside your cab.
I know it's heavy. You really don't think there's a good way to secure the tire?
 

Crapgame

Well-known member
623
314
63
Location
Navarre, FL
If you can remove the rear seat boxes without damaging them I'd be interested in buying them,

Some of these trucks are so old the pop rivets themselves are oxidized to heck. I had to remove a set of older Driver Seat floor plates which are similar installation to the rear seat buckets, except the seat boxes may not have Permatex adhesive like the High Back Seat Floor Plate install does.

Use a center punch to make a divot in the pop rivet stem remnant inside the rivet. Then I used a 5/16" cobalt Pilot point drill bit to drill out the wide flange of the rivet head. After that you can use a punch to knock the remaining rivet shank out of the flooring or gently use a pry bar or screwdriver to pop the seat buckets off the rivet stem. Some of the rivets were so oxidized the aluminum flanges broke off on their own, if not, the pilot point bit didn't take much effort to cut it away, just a few short bursts with the drill to save the floor plates or seat boxes in your case.
Dewalt Pilot Point Bit.jpg
 
Last edited:

Milcommoguy

Well-known member
Supporting Vendor
1,649
2,084
113
Location
Rosamond, CA
If you can remove the rear seat boxes without damaging them I'd be interested in buying them,

Some of these trucks are so old the pop rivets themselves are oxidized to heck. I had to remove a set of older Driver Seat floor plates which are similar installation to the rear seat buckets, except the seat boxes may not have Permatex adhesive like the High Back Seat Floor Plate install does.

Use a center punch to make a divot in the pop rivet stem remnant inside the rivet. Then I used a 5/16" cobalt Pilot point drill bit to drill out the wide flange of the rivet head. After that you can use a punch to knock the remaining rivet shank out of the flooring or gently use a pry bar or screwdriver to pop the seat buckets off the rivet stem. Some of the rivets were so oxidized the aluminum flanges broke off on their own, if not, the pilot point bit didn't take much effort to cut it away, just a few short bursts with the drill to save the floor plates or seat boxes in your case.
View attachment 825322

I used an air hammer AKA rivet gun with a sharpen 5/8 or so wide chisel bit. One or two second "burps" across the head or tail of rivet and done. Sheared them all off fast and easy quick. Then tap shank out with punch and peen hammer. No elongated holes, sharp chips, sore muscles. More like a "Pac Man" game. Where your safety glasses, & ear plugs.

Work for getting the drivers seat junk out for the new seat base too.

Now go eat them up, CAMO

pacman.pngWak wak wak wak wak wak
 
Last edited:

Ajax MD

Well-known member
1,567
1,414
113
Location
Mayo, MD
Nice. I have an air hammer. I'll see if I can find a sharp chisel implement for it. I didn't think you could fit an air tool inside the box to knock off all the rivets but obviously you have.
 

Mogman

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
5,815
8,081
113
Location
Papalote, TX
I have also been removing quite a few rivets lately just using a SHARP hand chisel and a hammer, they cut of very cleanly
 
  • Like
Reactions: NDT

Ajax MD

Well-known member
1,567
1,414
113
Location
Mayo, MD
It's farking cold and a parade of weather systems rolling through. This is going to have to wait a bit.
 
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website like our supporting vendors. Their ads help keep Steel Soldiers going. Please consider disabling your ad blockers for the site. Thanks!

I've Disabled AdBlock
No Thanks