Making body bolt recess in floor pan

[rspd505]

First off I’m making all of my own panels trying to save as much money as I can. I know that’s an oxymoron when dealing with Broncos! LOL. Anyway I thought I’d share this.

Here’s any easy way to make body bolt recess dimples in your floor pan. I used a harbor freight brake, but it could be done other ways too. If you had a vise big enough I supposed that would work.

I used a small piece of 2” schedule 40 electrical conduit and an 1 1/8 socket. When you cut the conduit make sure the ends are square. I had already located the bolt hole location on the pan. I centered the conduit on the hole on the BOTTOM of the pan. I then centered the socket on the top side. Then muscle.

Watch as the impression is made. If the socket appears to be tilting, loosen pressure and tap the socket with a hammer to center it back up.

 

[Rustytruck]

Job well done. Now what did you use to press in the reinforcing ribs?

 

[rspd505]

Job well done. Now what did you use to press in the reinforcing ribs?

I bought a cheap bead roller, then made a stand for it and added a motor. LOL

 

[Rustytruck]

Good deal and added power drive too.

 

[pcf_mark]

Can we grant this guy an award or something? That is super creative way to make the dimples! Plus a variable speed bead roller!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

I second that motion!

 

[ntsqd]

You don't need the press or brake to do the dimpling. Two different friends have made dimplers using a draw-bolt. One uses old bearing races with heavy plate welded to them to create "dimple dies" for making flanged "Speed Holes". The other used two chunks of delrin bar stock turned to make a dimpler that allowed his aircraft fuel fuel filler bung to sit flush on the body of his Scout 80.

 

[rspd505]

You don't need the press or brake to do the dimpling.

That is true, I used that "draw bolt" set up when I did the other side. It does work, but, I found this was waaay easier and didn't need to use heat.

 

[ntsqd]

Shouldn't need heat regardless. The Scout owner said that it was remarkably easy, and all of MISF's dimples are set up for the draw-bolt but when the part can be transported to his air over hyd press he does that instead.

 

[SteveL]

I used my knock out set. I used the 2" die flipped over then just hit it with the pump. It made a perfect dimple.