wirejock
Well Known Member
This is information for 7 builders contemplating removable floors. 180 nutplates!
First a call was placed to Vans to ask if there were any issues. The answer was no data showing issues. Builders decision but it's a great deal of work for small reward.
I personally know a few builders who had to drill out their floors. I like the idea so removable floors will be done. This may not be the right way but it's how I'm doing it.
I chose to prep the ribs while the center fuse was being built. Everything has to come apart to be prepped so adding nut plates to the ribs will be one more step before riveting the center fuse.
Forward and seat floors will be standard nutplates up to and including the bulkhead behind the seat. The baggage floor will be flush.
With the center fuse clekoed and ready to be disassembled, I made notes on the floors showing which nut plate would be under each hole then counted them. Totals are below.
Remove the floors. You want the holes left #31 so they can be clekoed back on for assembly of the fuse. 1/8" clekos hold well in a #8 nut plate and will fit the existing holes in the floors. You can drill them later.
Next step is drilling all the rib nutplate holes #19 for #8 screws. Use your method to drill all the nutplate rivet holes. I used two nutplates (2 lug and 1 lug) with a screw inserted from the wrong direction as templates for drilling rivet holes.
Next the tedious work. Vans suggests the nutplate threads be chased with a tap to make screws easier to install and remove. Your choice. I did it but after, they need a slight squeeze with a plier to give the screw a little clamping force. You don't want screws falling out. Finally, prep them as usual for install. I actually prime all nutplates. OCD!
It's a lot of work. It's also added cost and weight. Choose wisely. Here's the nut plate count, give or take one or two. This includes the nutplates you would be installing on the forward floors. They are removable per plan. You can do the math.
K1000-08=80, forward and seat floors
MS21051-L08=46, forward and seat floors
K1100-08=46, baggage floors
MS21053-L08=8 baggage floors
First a call was placed to Vans to ask if there were any issues. The answer was no data showing issues. Builders decision but it's a great deal of work for small reward.
I personally know a few builders who had to drill out their floors. I like the idea so removable floors will be done. This may not be the right way but it's how I'm doing it.
I chose to prep the ribs while the center fuse was being built. Everything has to come apart to be prepped so adding nut plates to the ribs will be one more step before riveting the center fuse.
Forward and seat floors will be standard nutplates up to and including the bulkhead behind the seat. The baggage floor will be flush.
With the center fuse clekoed and ready to be disassembled, I made notes on the floors showing which nut plate would be under each hole then counted them. Totals are below.
Remove the floors. You want the holes left #31 so they can be clekoed back on for assembly of the fuse. 1/8" clekos hold well in a #8 nut plate and will fit the existing holes in the floors. You can drill them later.
Next step is drilling all the rib nutplate holes #19 for #8 screws. Use your method to drill all the nutplate rivet holes. I used two nutplates (2 lug and 1 lug) with a screw inserted from the wrong direction as templates for drilling rivet holes.
Next the tedious work. Vans suggests the nutplate threads be chased with a tap to make screws easier to install and remove. Your choice. I did it but after, they need a slight squeeze with a plier to give the screw a little clamping force. You don't want screws falling out. Finally, prep them as usual for install. I actually prime all nutplates. OCD!
It's a lot of work. It's also added cost and weight. Choose wisely. Here's the nut plate count, give or take one or two. This includes the nutplates you would be installing on the forward floors. They are removable per plan. You can do the math.
K1000-08=80, forward and seat floors
MS21051-L08=46, forward and seat floors
K1100-08=46, baggage floors
MS21053-L08=8 baggage floors