*%/#&$@# firewall insulation fasteners

[Steve D.]

I've read a number of laments about how difficult the things are to install, but I've spent a couple of hours and haven't got my first one to pop through yet. I've lubricated, punched and pulled, all to no avail. I saw a specific tool in the LIC catalog; think it might be of some help? The factory surely had an expedient method or the general would have been on the brink before now.

Steve

[Dave Marshall]

Re: *%/#&$@# firewall insulation fasteners

I recall having a lot of difficulty installing the fasteners too. I finally resorted to using a pair of needle nose pliers to very carefully pull on a fastener while a helper was pushing it through at the same time using a blunt object of some suitable type. It worked for me, hope this is of some help.

Dave

[Ken Edmunds]

Re: *%/#&$@# firewall insulation fasteners

I bought the tool. It is just a phillips screwdriver with the end cut off so only about 3/4 of an inch sticks out. Save your money. I have installed them with a helper on one side of the firewall with a pair of needle nose pliers and me on the inside pushing them through. There was a detailed article in the Restorer some years back about this. Worth a look.

[Garry Barnes]

Re: *%/#&$@# firewall insulation fasteners

Steve, I just did this with my '56 and here's what worked for me. Take a smooth surfaced, large tip nail punch that is used for carpentry finish work, (usually about +4" long) put the tapered end into the rubber plug and mark where the top of the plug is on the punch. Remove the plug and find a washer that fits over the end that lines up with your mark on the punch. It's best that your washer line up just forward of your mark so that the tip doesn't go through you rubber plug. You want the washer to fit flush against the plug with no gap. Put the plug back on and put a little white lithium grease on the tip and tap into place with a hammer. The washer acts as a stop/push mechanism and allows you to drive them into place. Good luck.
Garry

[John H.]

Re: *%/#&$@# firewall insulation fasteners

In the plant, we used a tool similar to the one Garry described, with the washer brazed to the shank; the retainers were heated in a bench-top pan under a heat lamp, and dipped in a 50-50 water/Joy soap solution just prior to installation. One guy pushed from the inside, and the other guy pulled them through from the firewall side with duckbill pliers.

[Mark H.]

Re: *%/#&$@# firewall insulation fasteners

I used the pull through method described in the restorer after hanging the insulation in place with retainers I made with dowel rods and a thin wood backing plate, held in place with clothespins. Put in one retainer at a time, pulled with the string loop and used a very small screwdriver to help pry the head of the retainer through the firewall. About cut off the circulation to my fingers pulling so hard on the string, but they all eventually came through with some coaxing. I can't see how pushing from the cockpit would help.

[Dave McDufford]

Re: *%/#&$@# firewall insulation fasteners

If I remember correctly, there are two different fasteners available in the market. One is more a plastic type material and is hard to install and breaks. The other is more rubbery and is easier to install. The first I believe I got from LIC as part of a kit. The second I got from Paragon. But my memory could be wrong as to where I got them.

I also got the tool from LIC and it did not work that well. I ended up starting it on one side and pulling it from the other using the Joy solution John mentioned.

Dave

[Ken Bushley]

*%/#&$@# firewall insulation fasteners

Every time i read about this subject i get a knot in my stomach. I have to do my 75 firewall..Guess i better line up a buddy for a hand

[Larry P.]

Re: *%/#&$@# firewall insulation fasteners

I had the same problem, but finally managed to get all in except one. I cut it in half and glued a small female threaded tube in one side and a male threaded screw with the head cut off in the other side. Local hardware store stuff. Screwed them together with a helper. I couldn't figure out any other way to get it in.
Larry

[Ray C.]

Re: *%/#&$@# firewall insulation fasteners

I use a piece of re-bar tie wire or mechanics wire and wrap it around the small end of the fastener in the form of a loop. I twist it a couple times and it collapse the small end. I then poke the wire loop through the insulation and firewall. I then pull form the engine side and they pop right through. I have also used a small amount of grease to lubricate the fastener on some occasions.

Ray

[Jack H.]

I think there's also a difference...

in factory original vs. reproduction PIF parts. Once I went to a scrap yard and tedious care, removed original PIF's from Chevy passenger cars to make up a set. They were MUCH stiffer than those 'fresh/new' from reproduction (obviously they were aged to boot!). And, after being cleaned and soaked in WD40 to rejuvenate the rubber, they installed easily, WITHOUT BREAKING/RIPPING, by pushing and wiggling through the carpet/firewal with a simple screwdriver...

I can't prove there's a polymerization/durometer difference between original and repro PIF's, but my experience suggests there is a difference.