"Rivets" for roof rack?

91civicZC91civicZC Wagonist
in Bodywork & Cosmetic Modifications
I took a wander through the local junk yard, looking for some small parts. Its pretty rare they have wagons at the one I usually go to, but this weekend I found one. A Blue/Gray 2wd with an OEM roof rack. So I unbolted the roof rack.

Once I took it off, I cut out the roof liner (it was in terrible conditon anyway, dont worry) and check out just how these things Bolted to the roof anyway. From what i saw, its a "rivet" type of pecie that goes through the factory sheet metal, and is threaded on the inside.

Now for those of you who have installed OEM or non OEM racks that do not clip on and have to "bolt" in, were you able to find these Rivets at the local hardware store? What are they called?

Last, if anyone has a factory isntalled OEM rack, can you take some mesurments of where it is bolted up? I didnt think to take them while I was there. If not, i can go back next weekend and see if its still there, but its costs me two bucks each time lol. :roll:

Comments

  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    i used 1/4 inch nuts and bolts from the hardware store then used some high-strength silicone stuff and covered the area under the roof to prevent water from getting in..

    to do this best you'll prolly wanna lower your headliner, which is easy. you just need to take off the grab handles, dome light etc. then pop out the plastic trimming along the top.

    about the location.. here is a pic....

    50.jpg

    the front bar basically lines up with the B-pillar. i now wish i had moved it forward a bit... but anyways. this is the OEM location :P
  • 91civicZC91civicZC Wagonist
    This is what I had thoguht of doing as well. Good to hear someone else has done it without issue.

    Hopefully the car gets painted soon. Once that goes down, its rack time!
  • cogitocogito Wagonist
    91civicZC wrote:
    Once I took it off, I cut out the roof liner (it was in terrible conditon anyway, dont worry) and check out just how these things Bolted to the roof anyway. From what i saw, its a "rivet" type of pecie that goes through the factory sheet metal, and is threaded on the inside.
    I've got an OEM roof rack. It is held to the roof with 6 screws, 3 on each side. Is this what you meant by "bolts?" I tried to remove them and got 5 of them loose but the last one won't budge. I think it is turning this rivet thing that you say it screws into under the roof, when I turn the screw head. So I haven't figured out how to get it out yet.
  • lalunettelalunette familEE
    I installed a roof rack from an eighties Subaru Legacy and it fit perfect.

    I used metal screws with rubber grommets to keep the water out. The roof hasn't leaked yet.
  • 91civicZC91civicZC Wagonist
    Yeah, Cogito, you got it right. I was hoping to maybe source those "rivits" somwhere.

    In the end probally going the Wagodizzle way.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    91civicZC wrote:

    In the end probally going the Wagodizzle way.

    thats dangerous :lol:
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    cogito wrote:
    91civicZC wrote:
    Once I took it off, I cut out the roof liner (it was in terrible conditon anyway, dont worry) and check out just how these things Bolted to the roof anyway. From what i saw, its a "rivet" type of pecie that goes through the factory sheet metal, and is threaded on the inside.
    I've got an OEM roof rack. It is held to the roof with 6 screws, 3 on each side. Is this what you meant by "bolts?" I tried to remove them and got 5 of them loose but the last one won't budge. I think it is turning this rivet thing that you say it screws into under the roof, when I turn the screw head. So I haven't figured out how to get it out yet.

    ....remove the headliner.
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    Thought I'd share this. I was trying to explain to 949 about thin sheet nutserts and ran across this:

    http://www.acument.com/avdel/tsnutsert.asp
  • NJCIVICWAGON1NJCIVICWAGON1 Council Member
    bam-bam wrote:
    Thought I'd share this. I was trying to explain to 949 about thin sheet nutserts and ran across this:

    http://www.acument.com/avdel/tsnutsert.asp
    Cool. 8)
  • ricefighterricefighter Wagonist
    hello wagon people

    i jsut came from the junkyard and found a subaru wagon roof rack. i tried it putting it on the roof and its perfect. my concern is where can i find a blind revit nuts nuts. thsi rack uses 4 on each side total of 8 bolts.

    somebody direct me to where can i get this blind reivt nuts.

    thanks

    wagon.....................4ever
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    Here's a cheap set.

    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=1210

    I used the fancy hydraulic one we have at work, but If I didn't have access to that I'd buy something like this^.
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    One other very important thing to bear in mind while laying out the location of your rack: The edges of the roof are not parallel. I laid out a centerline and measured from there. Also, use some kind of drill stop if you don't intend removing the headliner. You WILL drill at least one hole all the way through :oops:
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