How to Install orikawa Panels
This FAQ will help you install your panels to the vehicle using Well-Nuts
How it works: the Well-Nut is used like a traditional rivet. There is a brass insert in the rubber cylinder which is used to expand the well-nut under tension on the far side of the mounting surface, allowing it to act as an anchor for a screw or bolt. However, the well-nut is not permanent and provides isolation and flexibility that traditional rivets cannot.
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Slide the Well-Nut, flange facing you, into the OEM mounting holes so that the flange is the only portion of the nut exposed. Do this for all mounting holes used for the panel.
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Hold the orikawa panel on top of the area we are mounting to and ensure proper alignment.
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Begin partially installing the screws, first in the corners to help maintain alignment and hold the panel in place, but only lightly thread the screw into place. Press firmly down on the panel near the screw to pinch the flange and prevent the well-nut from trying to spin with the screw. Use a drill/driver to make this quicker.
Tips:
Pressure around the screw being tightened is essential to keep the well-nut from spinning with the screw.
Do not push the screw into the well-nut with force as it can push the flange through the mounting hole. Allow the circular driving motion draw the screw and well-nut together.
Mounting torque is only 3 in/lbs! This is very light torque but is enough to draw the panels together, expand the well-nut and across all fasteners it is enough to make a tight seal that will not rattle or come loose.
4. Once the panel is held in place and aligned to all mounting holes then screws can begin to be incrementally tightened to their final torque.
Why Well-Nuts?
Functionally, well-nuts are well suited to this application for a number of reasons:
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Vibration Isolation - this helps limit noise transmission, eliminates rattles, and ensures fasteners don't come loose.
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No Modification to OEM components - no aesthetic and few functional gains are often worth making permanent modifications to your vintage Toyota.
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Ease of Installation - no special tools required. Just patience, an FAQ page, or a call to orikawa customer service will resolve any technical issues with install.
Aside from being functionally adept, this combination of hardware doesn't look out of place in a vintage Toyota. The greatest compliment you can get after installing orikawa panels is finding people wondering "what isn't OEM in here?"
Rivet Lab - YouTube Well Nut Demonstration
This video does an excellent job demonstrating the useful application of Well Nuts and how they work. This video provides more knowledge than is required to successfully install orikawa panels but contains a ton of information and can facilitate a deeper understanding if installation is giving you trouble.
Additional information can be found through Albany County Fasteners in a well written blog article HERE.