Happy Sunday - can someone help me out with the rivnut installation for a 69 console? I have the rivnuts (2 right)? and i also have an installation tool from Rick's, but I'm not sure how it is supposed to work to install rivnuts. Also - the floor over the transmission hump is a little bowed (toward interior) - any ideas on what to use to flatten it out so console mounts flush...and correct? Thanks in advance.

The console should be pretty close to flat across the top. I'd imagine a 2 by 4, perhaps wrapped in a towel, and repeated application of a medium heavy ford tool (hammer) should put things right.

If it's the kind of rivnut tool I have... Mark the holes and drill to the outside diameter of the rivnuts, they should fit snuggly thru the holes.

Thread the rivnut snuggly on the shaft of the tool.

Insert and squeeze.

Unscrew the tool by turning the knurled shank counter clockwise.

thanks Jim - the holes that are already there are a little larger than rivnuts - I'm thinking maybe a sealer around the nuts to hold it in place. The tool I have is just a threaded shaft with an allen head on it; not sure how that is supposed to "mount" the rivnuts, but I'll fool around with it and see what happens.

you have to thread a nut on there, then thread the allen into the rivnut....hold the shaft with the allen to keep it from spining and tighten the nut to compress the rivnut, then take the allen and nut out......walla you have it!

Thanks Joe - that makes more sense. I'll give it a whirl...

There are several old posts on this subject with good pictures that explain the process. A few show some clever home made installation tools also. Do a search on 'rivnut' or 'nutsert' and you'll get quite a few hits.

thanks Jim - the holes that are already there are a little larger than rivnuts - I'm thinking maybe a sealer around the nuts to hold it in place. The tool I have is just a threaded shaft with an allen head on it; not sure how that is supposed to "mount" the rivnuts, but I'll fool around with it and see what happens.

Ahhh... mine, which I got from menards BTW, looks like a big pop rivit tool.

jim has the "real" tool.....

Also noticed something else interesting... My Factory Assembly Manual shows the rivnuts going "down" through the tranny hump, however most of the pics I've seen here with console removed shows nuts coming "up" through the hump. Any insight? Thanks.

Since my floor hump isn't completely flat, and the console had been mounted incorrectly in the past, I think I will purchase the more expensive tool - sounds like it is much easier to use and handle. Thnaks guys!

They go down........
The nuts may still be avail from GM.

I used this tool to compress the GM rivnuts.It is a tool used in industrial sheetmetal fabrication.....


I purchased a floor hump from a 4 speed console 68 to locate the holes.
I did a a 4 speed conversion so I used the doubler ring that spot welds undernieth.I purchased a spot welder to accomplish this task.

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Thanks John - that was helpful. Would you happen to have the dimensions of the hump hole handy. Mines a little hacked-up and when I do the floors with POR, I'm going to try to put it back into shape. I appreciate the help.

Actually, as I look at it closer, it looks like it might be very close to the cover that holds the shifter boot on the top-side??? If that is the case, maybe I can use that as sort of a template? Thanks again.

Hey Guys;

I received my new Nutsert tool from HomePro Fasteners in the mail the other day. Went out this evening to try to install the nutserts for my console, and I have to be doing something wrong. I put the gadget through the hole and I can't squeeze the handle. I mean, I'm 6'2", 200 pounds and I can't squeeze the handles? I could force it, but I'm afraid I will either destroy the tool or nutsert or both. The instructions show to install the nutsert onto the tool with the handles closed, but then I don't see how the tool provides the leverage to install the nutsert. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.