Removing Belly Pan

garp · 08-30-2002, 10:21 AM

I have recently aquired my first airstream and would like to drop the belly pan to inspect the frame and floor. Can anyone help me with advice about how to remove the belly pan? It seems to curve up the sides to a trim piece held in place by olympic rivets. Does this piece have to be removed? What is the best way to remove this style of rivet?

Any help much appreciated.

uwe · 08-30-2002, 11:01 AM

garp,
I was told to use a sharp drill bit and drill out the rivets. It is advisable to use the right size drill bit for the rivet that is being removed. The small rivets that hold on the interior skins utilize 1/8" size holes, so a 1/8" drill removes them easily. i am not sure about the size of the exterior rivets, but it should be easy to determine.
I found that once in a while a rivet would spin with the drill, and holding the head with needle nose pliers helped get the rivet out.
Good luck!
Consider a pneumatic rivt tool to re-install everything. hand riveting gets old after about 10 or so rivets.........

ALANSD · 08-30-2002, 12:27 PM

check elsewhere on the forums for photos of PeterH doing Olympic rivets on his motorhome.