VHB Tape + Snorkel = Good or Bad Idea?

[ForealBoreal]

I was reading another thread about installing a Safari Snorkel on my HDJ81 and there was talk about using VHB tape. Click here.

Now I am bringing this up because I hear that the plastic attachments for the windscreen pillar are complete s*** and people replace them with rivnuts. Now whats your take on the VHB tape.
As stated in the post companies use VHB tape to put in windows on skyscrapers, replace rivets when building trailers amoung other things.

The reason why i am thinking this is because this tape is less invasive and possibly tougher than the rivnuts. If in the future the snorkel could be taken off and a new fender could be bought.

Here are some vids for the VHB Tape.
YouTube - 3M VHB tape
YouTube - 3M? VHB? Tapes tug of war

I am also planning on running a 10 inch pre-cleaner....

 

[SHREDwagon]

I just finished mine using the tape. You can order Black VHB tape off ebay cheap. I used the 1/8" thick tape - but you might need to go thicker to make full surface contact as there's a bit of a curve in the pillar on mirror side. I doubled up two pieces and prepped both surfaces with alcohol. I can hang of it, no problems man. I could maybe see the tape coming off if the snork took a hit in cold weather....& if it did - slap some more tape on!

 

[SHREDwagon]

Oh yeah - I also cut a gasket out of 1/16" black rubber to fit between the snork and fender which also made a stronger connection after torquing (see 80scool site). Even missing one PITA bolt I couldn't reach, it's beefy. The fender takes almost all the load anyways.

IMHO it's better to have the A-pillar mount as the weakest link. It's not like you couldn't drive away if it got knocked off. My reasoning: if you took a hard hit with riv-nuts.....money. Hope that helps man!

 

[CorvetteFan]

"Well Nuts"

I used "well nuts" on my A-Pillar... they work great... strong as all get-out and would probably not cause any A-Pillar damage in a 'worst case' event.

My snorkle has been on for around ten years, and I [finally] replaced the original well-nuts a year or two ago with nice fresh ones.

"Well nuts" shown here (although I bought mine from Lowe's): http://www.emhart.com/products/pop/wellnut.asp

Have a good week!

Rob

 

[Leroy]

Boy I wish this thread showed up a few days ago. I tried the VHB tape and it didn't last very long and pulled off. So I pulled the snorkel off and used some blind rivets and silicone. The well nuts look like a great idea though.

 

[ForealBoreal]

I think I am going to try the vhb tape in the near future hear.
Glad someone tried it on their 81!

 

[lacruiser]

Boy I wish this thread showed up a few days ago. I tried the VHB tape and it didn't last very long and pulled off. So I pulled the snorkel off and used some blind rivets and silicone. The well nuts look like a great idea though.

I'm curious to know how you applied the tape? Did you prep the surfaces by cleaning?

I'm surprised that it failed. That stuff is strong.

 

[ForealBoreal]

I'm curious to know how you applied the tape? Did you prep the surfaces by cleaning?

I'm surprised that it failed. That stuff is strong.

I would think that you need to clean it really well.
Get all the wax off and clean it with alcohol.
Heat up the tape too after you stick it will help it stick better.
i think i am going the VHB route.
Its worth a shot.

 

[Leroy]

I'm curious to know how you applied the tape? Did you prep the surfaces by cleaning?

I'm surprised that it failed. That stuff is strong.

I used acetone to prep the surfaces. It held pretty well for a while but it was difficult to get flush contact due to the curvature of the A-pillar. Maybe two thin strips spaced a tiny bit apart instead of one wide strip would make better contact. It's certainly worth a try if you don't mind taking the snorkel off if it fails. Getting to one of those nuts on the inside of the fender is a major PITA though... at least it was for me. Drilling really isn't a big deal and the well nuts look great for this application.

 

[SHREDwagon]

Update - VHB tape does not work no matter how you prep. Waste of time.

Ended up going with well nuts from NAPA and no problems after a year (including driving in some crazy storms).

 

[Tapage]

Update - VHB tape does not work no matter how you prep. Waste of time.

how it ends .?