Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs

I've been repairing the rusted floor on my '66, and several of the Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs are rusted too badly to re-use on the patch panels. Has anyone found something that can be used as a suitable replacement?

It looks like the originals may have been swaged in place. I don't have access to a lathe to make these, so I'm looking for something similar in size and shape that could be welded on the patch panels, perhaps from the back side.

Thanks!

Re: Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

That’s a good question, I’m about to install my repop floor mat and didn’t even consider the fact that some were removed during rust repair. Although I can’t really remember where they all are.

How about the head off a landscaping spike? Drill a hole and weld it from underneath.

Re: Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

looks like a nail head....could you stick nails thru the holes,weld them in , and then cut off the excess on the back side?
not sure what size your stud is

Re: Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

beat me to it dracko!!!!!

Re: Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

Haha that doesn’t happen often.

Re: Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

Thanks for the suggestions!

I was thinking about something like a nail, but didn't think there would be a nail sized large enough. I like the idea of some sort of steel spike maybe being closer to this size; I'll check out the local hardware stores.

The floors typically have eight (8) of these studs, but five (5) of mine were badly corroded and were removed when installing patch panels.

The approximate dimensions of the remaining "good" ones are shown below.

Re: Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

Taking the suggestions noted above, I did a little research on nail sizes and found that a 60D nail is about the right size. However, they do come with different head sizes/shapes. The best one that I found was at the orange big depot store, called a 60D PoleBarn Nail (the one on the right in the pictures). Welding these in from the bottom should work well for me.

However, if you have already finished and painted your floor, and cringe at the idea of welding on it, you might consider a Socket Head Shoulder Screw, 1/4 diameter, 1/4 long, 10-32 thread. This could be inserted in a hole in the floor and secured with a locking nut from below.

Re: Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

Pretty neat thinking. Can't wait to see the welded product.

Re: Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

I decided to try the lazy route and toss the floor mat in with just the 4 remaining locator studs, it’s actually pretty solid. Between the studs and the gas pedal it doesn’t move around at all. The rubber is a little tacky too so it takes effort to move it. I can appreciate you wanting to keep it 100% original but figured I’d mention this option.

Re: Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

drako, Thanks for the reply and the pictures. Looks great!

Two questions:

1. Are you happy with the mat that you installed? If so, who makes it? Where did you get it?

2. I'm going to convert my gas pedal so that it does not mount to the floor. Did your mat have cutouts for the pedal mount, or is that area solid rubber from the supplier and you had to cut it for the gas pedal?

Thanks!

Re: Rubber Floor Mat Retainer Studs
 

Thanks Tx, the mat has been holding up well. I haven’t put a ton of miles on the truck yet but the mat is solid with no signs of wear. The fitment was great, as good as the stock one I had prior. Ordered it from the Truck Shop in Ca. It is solid rubber with marks on the underside for the hi/lo switch, locator dowels, pedal and shifter. But no holes or sign of where the holes are on the topside.