Belly Pan issue

[DryFly]

I have a 73 Argosy I just purchased and am beginning to start some repairs. The first issue is that the rivets holding the belly pan in place have evidently eaten away the belly pan in spots, and the pan is flopping loose in places. I don't want to take the whole thing off. Since the holes around the former rivet heads are up to 1/2" in diameter, re-riveting won't do much good. I'm thinking of taking 1-1/2" wide strips of plastic or fiberglass and placing the strips over the rivets and non-rivets, effectively sandwiching the riveted areas between the plastic and the frame. Suggestions?

I think I've attached an image of the pan.

[Melody Ranch]

If your not doing more work and looking inside....just drill new holes and re rivet. You don't need to use the old spots.

[Minno]

Or you can get rivets with big "heads", essentially a rivet with a washer, or use rivets and washers...

Kay

[DryFly]

That was quick! I've never worked with rivets, does it take a special tool and special rivets? Could I use washer head screws instead?
Thanks so much for the input

[Melody Ranch]

Don't ever use screws on a belly pan. Guaranteed to vibrate out.

[perryg114]

Just get some scrap aluminum and make some 2"x2" squares. All you need to do is drill some holes in them and use them as big washers.

If you really care about the trailer take the skins off and remove all the stinky wet pink insulation. This stuff will rot the frame if it has not already done so. If you want a quick fix then do the above.


Perry

[Becky B.]

These are specifically made for belly pan attachment:

Large Flange Rivets

You can use a regular rivet gun with them. EASY!

[Minno]

Yes, those are the rivets we used to attach our belly pan! (didn't know the name).

Kay

[Minno]

Oh, and yes you will need a rivet gun to attach rivets. Pneumatic is easier to use on a belly pan (when you're laying on your back on the ground) than manual, but either will work.

Kay

[jdalrymple]

I used some 3/4 wide flat alum stock to make lath strips. I riveted them along the cross members on the outer surface of the belly pan.

The flat stock is available at any lumber yard......

JD

[DryFly]

I've been doing some research on this issue and need to question the use of rivets vs self tapping screws. Are screws really subject to falling out due to vibration? My experience with self tappers into steel is that once installed they provide a very positive and seemingly lasting connection. I can certainly understand using aluminum rivets to attach to the aluminum frame on the body, but it seems to me that if vibration was really an the issue, a simple drop of loctite would take care of the problem. What other reasons are there to use rivets to re-attach the belly pan?

[Wabbiteer]

A wide-flange rivet will remain in place and clamped until there is no longer steel to hold it or until the aluminum sheet disintegrates around the flange even if there is hundreds of hours of vibrations & shocks.