Grab handle revisited - Interior Tech - Tech Section

Home

Recent Topics

New posts

Not logged in - Login | Register

Ford-Rangers.com Ranger Forum > Tech Section > Interior Tech > Grab handle revisited

Ford-rangers.com is a discussion forum, a Ranger forum for people who have questions about fixing or modifying
their Ford Rangers or people who just admire their Ranger. Please join and enjoy sharing experiences!

Grab handle revisited #: 1309

Moderated by: NoPower, Mike69, MaDMaXX

New Topic

Rate Topic

Posted: Wed Oct 3rd, 2018 12:53 pm

Quote

1^st Post

JAMMAN

Owns A Torsen

Joined: Mon Sep 18th, 2017

Location: Grove City Ohio, USA

Posts: 5691

Name: Jim

Occupation: Design and Innovation

Interests: RBV's, Computers

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 9200

Member's Gallery

For those of you that did the grab handle mod... how did you remove the bracket?

I tried drilling, I have 4 offset spinning rivets now, I can't get a 3" cutoff wheel in there.

Maybe dremel or carbide burr?

____________________
Truth sounds like hate for those who hate truth.
00 XLT 2WD RCSB 5.0 swap Gherkin (now a parts truck)
00 XLT 4WD XCSB 4.0 G2 (For Sale)
00 XLT 4WD RCSB 3.GO! Jalapeño (will keep till death)
99 XL 4WD RCSB 3.0 PJ (Plain Jane) For Sale
00 XLT 2WD RC Steppie 2.5 Dee Dee For Sale
01 XLT 2WD RC Steppie 3.0 auto SIlver

NOT ALL Amazon Green Metallic

Quote

Posted: Wed Oct 3rd, 2018 01:08 pm

Quote

2^nd Post

410customs

Idahome

Joined: Wed May 2nd, 2018

Location: Panhandle Idaho, USA

Posts: 2129

Name: Jamie

Occupation: Elevator Design Worlds Tallest Buildings

Interests: Ranger Based Vehicles and OFFROAD

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 5309

Member's Gallery

Please explain this mod?

I have over the years re enforced the overhead grab handles on my Bronco several times. Passengers keep ripping them out!! I added A pillar handles on both sides as well. I kept having to add larger and larger self drilling screws and the passengers kept ripping them out.

My idea is to now to weld up some bolts pointing downwards and attach the handles to that.

What is this mod you speak of?
Thanks dude!

____________________
I build custom RBV, specializing in drivetrain conversions, wiring, suspension and complete custom trucks

Quote

Posted: Wed Oct 3rd, 2018 01:22 pm

Quote

3^rd Post

JAMMAN

Owns A Torsen

Joined: Mon Sep 18th, 2017

Location: Grove City Ohio, USA

Posts: 5691

Name: Jim

Occupation: Design and Innovation

Interests: RBV's, Computers

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 9200

Member's Gallery

A-pillar grabs. I have them on a 98 and want to transfer them to my 2000 since the molding is the same color it will look stock.

So I need to get the 4 rivets out of the old bracket. Proving to be more of a challenge than I thought.

Quote

Posted: Wed Oct 3rd, 2018 01:36 pm

Quote

4^th Post

410customs

Idahome

Joined: Wed May 2nd, 2018

Location: Panhandle Idaho, USA

Posts: 2129

Name: Jamie

Occupation: Elevator Design Worlds Tallest Buildings

Interests: Ranger Based Vehicles and OFFROAD

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 5309

Member's Gallery

Drill then with a stepped drill bit?
That is my first plan of attack for aluminum rivets
I always have a pack of Harbor freight stepped drill bits around, they are fantastic!

Last edited on Wed Oct 3rd, 2018 01:36 pm by 410customs

____________________
I build custom RBV, specializing in drivetrain conversions, wiring, suspension and complete custom trucks

Quote

Posted: Wed Oct 3rd, 2018 01:40 pm

Quote

5^th Post

JAMMAN

Owns A Torsen

Joined: Mon Sep 18th, 2017

Location: Grove City Ohio, USA

Posts: 5691

Name: Jim

Occupation: Design and Innovation

Interests: RBV's, Computers

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 9200

Member's Gallery

They be spinning though. Even the mighty step drill cannot conquer spinning items.

Quote

Posted: Wed Oct 3rd, 2018 01:55 pm

Quote

6^th Post

410customs

Idahome

Joined: Wed May 2nd, 2018

Location: Panhandle Idaho, USA

Posts: 2129

Name: Jamie

Occupation: Elevator Design Worlds Tallest Buildings

Interests: Ranger Based Vehicles and OFFROAD

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 5309

Member's Gallery

Yes it can! Put a screwdriver under the head and pry up while drilling.........can stop the spinning

Otherwise you need a dremmel to shave the head off clean

____________________
I build custom RBV, specializing in drivetrain conversions, wiring, suspension and complete custom trucks

Quote

Posted: Wed Oct 3rd, 2018 08:28 pm

Quote

7^th Post

Bird76Mojo
Ranger aficionado

Joined: Mon Apr 23rd, 2018

Location: Indiana USA

Posts: 112

Name:

Occupation:

Interests:

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 242

Member's Gallery

Chisel and hammer. Easy peasy. Even easier with a pneumatic hammer and chisel bit.

GB :)

Quote

Posted: Thu Oct 4th, 2018 06:30 pm

Quote

8^th Post

Kealel
Certified Ranger Nutjob

Joined: Sat Oct 21st, 2017

Location: Kalamazoo County Michigan, USA

Posts: 171

Name: Keegan

Occupation:

Interests: Rangers. Duh.

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 346

Member's Gallery

I used a Phillips screwdriver (one with a lifetime warranty) to pop out the center of the rivet, along with the use of a BFH. Once that was out I took out drill-bits step by step to drill out the rivets. If they span I used a flathead screwdriver to scrape the edges off the rivet so they popped out the back.

____________________
Past:
Baby Girl: 2006 XL 3.0 ~RIP~ 1/26/2015

Current:
Penguin: 2002 XLT 3.SLOW 4x2

River/Kaitlyn: 2003 EDGE 3.GO! 4x2... For now?
~Aspiring Mini Level 2~

Quote

Posted: Thu Oct 18th, 2018 06:41 pm

Quote

9^th Post

JAMMAN

Owns A Torsen

Joined: Mon Sep 18th, 2017

Location: Grove City Ohio, USA

Posts: 5691

Name: Jim

Occupation: Design and Innovation

Interests: RBV's, Computers

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 9200

Member's Gallery

I fell in the hole:

Quote

Posted: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 12:43 am

Quote

10^th Post

JAMMAN

Owns A Torsen

Joined: Mon Sep 18th, 2017

Location: Grove City Ohio, USA

Posts: 5691

Name: Jim

Occupation: Design and Innovation

Interests: RBV's, Computers

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 9200

Member's Gallery

Got them off, didn't take pics because I was covered in metal shavings.

Drill did not work.

I tried chisel as suggested. Worked on one, another it pulled the rivet right out of the assembly.

I tried a cutoff wheel, not enough room.

Here's what worked and if I would have started here it would have taken about 20 minutes total.

I used a straight die grinder (air powered) and a carbide burr with a round tip, it was about 3/8 diameter on a 1/4 shank.

On the rivets that were not pre damaged I was able to gnaw them off in no time flat. Unfortunately there were only 3 out of 8 un touched. The ones already mauled spun from the burr friction and jumped around pelting me and the car with tiny metal shavings.

Attachment: 19D667_AW01.jpeg (Downloaded 22 times)

Quote

Posted: Tue Oct 23rd, 2018 11:32 pm

Quote

11^th Post

JAMMAN

Owns A Torsen

Joined: Mon Sep 18th, 2017

Location: Grove City Ohio, USA

Posts: 5691

Name: Jim

Occupation: Design and Innovation

Interests: RBV's, Computers

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 9200

Member's Gallery

So removing the A pillar cover revealed 4 holes in the place where they should be:

And I was going to drill them out for 6MM BUTTTTT the 10-24 rivets fit 100% snug right out of the box and I thought... 4 X #10-24 is actually stronger than the 2 puny bolts holding the handle on. So I used them:

I checked the bracket and it fits 100% but I'm leaving the trim off so I can take the headliner out to do the OHC install.

Quote

Posted: Sun Nov 4th, 2018 08:41 pm

Quote

12^th Post

Mike69

Mustang Nut

Joined: Sun Oct 22nd, 2017

Location: Toms River New Jersey, USA

Posts: 1500

Name: Mike

Occupation: Merchandising

Interests: Vintage Mustangs, RBV's, car shows, & woodworking

Status:

Offline

Reputation:

Reputation Points: 2695

Member's Gallery

I purchased the brackets new, so I did not have that problem. It was very convenient that the holes are already drilled in the "A" pillar.

____________________
08 Escape 4x4(spare)
00 Ranger Extd Cab 4x4 4.0 OHV, Auto(My DD)
99 Explorer Sport 4x4 4.0 SOHC, Auto( Wife's DD)
69 Mustang Coupe 5.0, 5 spd(Project & my future toy)
14 Kawasaki Vulcan (Wife's Toy)
Splitting time between southern NJ & Southern Virginia.

Quote