I want to take off the alloy bobywork that's on my Fug and replace it with the fibreglass one i've now got. Thing is I want to be able to easily remove it so I can drive about with just the frame showing on occasion. It's pretty simple to do that with the bonnet but I'd like the sides removable. Once the alloy is off I intend to weld up the screw holes,but not just to drill a load more. I've thought about bonnet pins but the pin will still be there when panel is off,8 or so of them down each side wouldn't be nice. Don't want to leave holes in frame either. the body I have bought had been fitted by fibreglassing loops on the back so it could be fitted with cable ties,not the perfect solution,but certainly along the right lines. Anyone have a real sharp and tidy solution to this? Other than some really good Velcro! ;)
By the way,Merry Christmas and how sad am I to be the first one to put a technical posting after Christmas. :(

Hi Bob happy chrimbo back.

You could drill out the holes where your screws go and fit "rivnuts/nutserts" so that you can bolt and unbolt the body panels.
Then when you want just the frame, put some nice stainless button heads in the threads and bingo!

Just in case you don't know what they are or where to get them RIVNUTS ;)

On all the bits I need to take off / get at I used Duez fasteners. These are good because they stay part of the panel and you only need a 2p piece to operater them

Rivnuts could well be the answer,didn't really want to drill through the body but it's similar to motorbike stuff so I guess it's ok. Can't find out what Duez fasteners are,found them mentioned in various spelling but can't actuall find a picture,any chance of a link or phone number please Tigger. Don't want to do something then realise I could have got it better,hang on that's my life story :blink:

it's DZUS fastener ! :lol:



and on this pic you can see how it looks with these on ...




or else you can try "reversed" bonnet pins. with a gentle piece of metal in the corners of your frame.. :unsure:

Does this not involve forcing yourself into the footwell to do them up ! I'm 6'4" it's as much as I can do to get in and out of it normally. Guess they could be done up and then put the bonnet on. Really must try and get this thing done for the summer,don't want the novelty to wear off.

dzus fastners are the correct way to put clamshell bodywork on to a space frame chassis - I would be careful with riv nuts put directly in the chassis as the fug panels do not hug as close to the frame tubes as you would like them to........follow Rutgers method as in the picture and you can not go wrong. B)

I would have to say that the body panels being close enough for rivets are most defo close enough for RivNuts, if not it would be great for sticking rubber cushioning strips on the inside of the panels to take up any gaps and make the mounting even nicer.

Also with Dzus fasteners you need to weld on brackets to mount them to, which will be exposed without the panels in place.

But hey what do i know :rolleyes: :D

Blue tak might be just as good. :lol:

I can see the pro's and con's for both. I don't like the idea of putting tabs on the frame,as I want panels detachable to change the look as oppose to ease of access when working on it working on it. That said it's an incredibly easy and fast way to get the panels on and off. I do feel that my fibreglass body fits snug enough to use rivnuts,but then it's more of a job to take them on and off. This is why I never get much done,decission,decissions. :( :( Blu tac may be an option yet. I'll probably spend ages deciding and then over engineer it,only to put them on once and never bother to take them off again. :D

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I had the same issue about that....


almost nobody looks at the dzus-tabs, because they are stunned from the car..

second: you won't take of the pannels that much :lol: because you get worried about scratches...



:lol: :lol:

so if you're going to paint the frame: just weld them on... you can cut thme off and repaint it a little..

not me!!! i'm trying to work out how to make fibre glass panels rusty!!! :lol: :lol:

just realised you meant scratches to the frame.......i must pay more attention.... :rolleyes:


but back on topic.......i trial fitted my side panels earlier today and they are a very tight fit :huh:

the 'bonnet' panel seems fine but the 4 side pieces needed a lot of effort just to fit onto the frame. is this normal for a fuge? did UVA make different size frames cos my panels seem to be a size too small........ :blink: :unsure:

My panels fit pretty accurately,the bonnet kind of fits where it touches but the sides are really good. This is quite amazing really,if you really look how hit and miss these things were really made it's a wonder any two are the same. It's just as well they don't have doors etc.,then it'd really notice.
Still,I'm going to start on mine again next week in an attemp to drive it this summer. :)