I hate sloppy holes.

 

Sigh .... there is ALWAYS someone >>>>>>>

 

Yea, and it seems like HE's always the someone...

 

Example of the clips... for anyone not onboard with the rivnuts.

 

Thanks for the photo; I take it that is a Ford ?

Those clips are fine if one is replacing O.E.M. cab markers with identical ones; however, in my case, although my cab has the big center hole and the clips, the mount holes in the cab lights I am replacing with are miles away from the center opening and I would have to create two more rather large holes to accommodate the clips.

However, you have inadvertently given me an idea that I will share after I see whether it pans out.

 

Those clips look like Tinnerman nuts, commonly known as speed nuts. They are easier to use than Rivnuts and will hold the lights just fine.

 

I'm sure, like every thing else now days, they come in different thicknesses and materials, and thus quality?

 

Though frequently used on aircraft, I was never a fan of Tinnerman's. Had way too many of them fail in one way or another. I'd rather go through the misery of installing nut plates through a small hole.

 

I generally avoid cheap aluminum nuts which are soft and react with stainless screws.

I have had good luck with the Lawson brand of blind rivet nuts (lawsonproducts.com), which are plated and have ridges on the barrel which bite into the underside of the sheet metal. I also use stainless riv nuts for exterior applications. Ditto with previous poster re anti-seize on the screw threads.