Dzus Fastener 101 needed - C9X??

all right guys, I did some searching and found a bit of info on the dzus fastener's. First off, is the poster C9X around still? He makes a tool for dimpling the sheet metal for these things and I want to see if he wants to sell me one.

What I am trying to do is make a few panels that are quick release, right now I am going for the cover over the transmission around the shift lever. I also need to do the two inserts on the left and right sides in front of the door (the side walls of the floorboard area, no idea what you're supposed to call those panels). When the bed is back on I need to do a cover at the back for the battery box that will be mounted under the bed.

With all that in mind I ordered some of the Dzus fastener's, wasn't sure what I needed so got the .5 size figuring I can buy shorter or longer once I get going. What I really need to know though is, how do they get installed. Anybody got a how to guide for them?

Thanks all!

Red

See if this helps.

www.racerpartswholesale.com/dzus.htm

Don

that little picture diagram helps a lot, I still have a couple of questions (if I understand right from this picture)

1. the fastener and the spring get riveted to their panels individually?
2. if the panel that is being attached is to be carpeted how do you handle fastener's? (i.e. install after upholstering the panel or leave the carpet in that area setup with velcro or something to remove it?)

Thanks all.

Red

Question #1, Yes. Question #2, You will have to determine how long the shank of the Dzus will have to be to get it to install through the carpet and panel and still have enough tension on the Dzus to hold it all together. Shank to long, it's going to be loose, to short and it won't reach the spring. As far as a counter sink, I've used a carrage bolt and spacer, (thick washer). Drill the hole for the Dzus shank, place the spacer under the panel, (I glued the spacer to the bench top, and put a dot in the center with a magic marker so I could line everything up and keep it centered. Using the head of the carrage bolt against the hole in the panel, give it a rap with a hammer to make the counter sink. Experiment on a scrap piece to see how hard you have to tap it, it's easier to make the countersink, than to get it out if it's to deep. Rap or tap, not smash and bash!