Aluminum rivet tool
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: In the Beautiful Shenandoah Valley of VA
Aluminum rivet tool
Is anyone familiar with the tool used to install those large head aluminum rivets that Chevrolet liked so much on C3s? These rivets are used in many places, such as riveting the battery/storage lid hinges to the frame, riveting small brackets to fiberglass,etc. I think they are the same type rivet used to rivet the header bar to the fiberglass above the headlights in earlier C3s. Is there a special tool? Or is everyone reattaching stuff with bolts instead of the OEM style rivets? Just curious.
Steve
Steve
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
Yes they are available.But I found aluminum large head pop rivets long and short reach, the head is about the size of a dime. The hole size is 3/16 and the lenght is 1/2 to 1 inch. I used large dia 3/16 flat washer on the glass side. The are used to assemble trailer bodys for eighteen wheelers.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
I spoke with Zip Corvettes about their rivet tool yesterday. I just ordered all the underbody reinforcements that will have to be rivetted back in place. Zip sells a tool that has a backer plate and a couple of punches used to peen the rivet end over. The Zip sales rep was going to speak to their shop guys to see how well the tool works and let me know if it is worth buying. The tool sells for about $25.00.
I'll let you know what he says on Monday.
I'll let you know what he says on Monday.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 1
From: Aussie expat in Saudi Arabia
Is anyone familiar with the tool used to install those large head aluminum rivets that Chevrolet liked so much on C3s? These rivets are used in many places, such as riveting the battery/storage lid hinges to the frame, riveting small brackets to fiberglass,etc. I think they are the same type rivet used to rivet the header bar to the fiberglass above the headlights in earlier C3s. Is there a special tool? Or is everyone reattaching stuff with bolts instead of the OEM style rivets? Just curious.
Steve
Steve
Just my
worth...
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
From: Chandler Arizona
St. Jude Donor '08
I asked a similar question a couple months back. The recommendation I got was to use an air hammer to peen the rivet, and a heavy piece of steel (bucking bar) against the rivet head on the inside of the car. A two man operation. I have all the supplies, tools and reinforcements now, but haven't installed any of the reinforcements yet.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 505
Likes: 25
From: Buxton Maine
I like John's approach the best. Check out Barry's website in the tech section. He recently posted John's article on setting these rivets. Good stuff.
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html
It's the last article in the "Body and frame" section titled "Installing Rivets"
I think it's a lot better than Zip's tool method especially if you have a lot of them to do. I made my own shank by cutting off an old air chisel shank and hollow grinding the end.
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html
It's the last article in the "Body and frame" section titled "Installing Rivets"
I think it's a lot better than Zip's tool method especially if you have a lot of them to do. I made my own shank by cutting off an old air chisel shank and hollow grinding the end.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: In the Beautiful Shenandoah Valley of VA
I spoke with Zip Corvettes about their rivet tool yesterday. I just ordered all the underbody reinforcements that will have to be rivetted back in place. Zip sells a tool that has a backer plate and a couple of punches used to peen the rivet end over. The Zip sales rep was going to speak to their shop guys to see how well the tool works and let me know if it is worth buying. The tool sells for about $25.00.
I'll let you know what he says on Monday.
I'll let you know what he says on Monday.
I like John's approach the best. Check out Barry's website in the tech section. He recently posted John's article on setting these rivets. Good stuff.
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html
It's the last article in the "Body and frame" section titled "Installing Rivets"
I think it's a lot better than Zip's tool method especially if you have a lot of them to do. I made my own shank by cutting off an old air chisel shank and hollow grinding the end.
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html
It's the last article in the "Body and frame" section titled "Installing Rivets"
I think it's a lot better than Zip's tool method especially if you have a lot of them to do. I made my own shank by cutting off an old air chisel shank and hollow grinding the end.
Steve
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland Georgia
The Yard Store is one supplier to the aircraft folks that has rivet sets at a reasonable price.
http://www.yardstore.com/index.cfm?A...y&Category=111
You need one for 3/16" rivets like #10004 on the above page. These sets fit hammers that take tools with a .401 diameter shank.
I ordered an air hammer from Harbor Freight that was on sale for $4.99 complete with five other bits (how do they sell at those prices) and it works fine with the set from The Yard Store. I think the normal operating pressure for air hammers is ~90psi but you'll want to back it down when setting rivets to soften the action some. Some references recommend ~20psi but I found that 40psi works well with my particular combination.
I've read that the rivets that some companies sell are too hard to set properly. Paragon and Dr. Rebuild are the two suppliers that I've seen recommended for a rivet of the proper softness. Dr. Rebuild has a chart on their web site that gives the length of the various GM part numbers for the rivets. They sell one length and you use side cutters to trim them to length.
Later,
Johnny
http://www.yardstore.com/index.cfm?A...y&Category=111
You need one for 3/16" rivets like #10004 on the above page. These sets fit hammers that take tools with a .401 diameter shank.
I ordered an air hammer from Harbor Freight that was on sale for $4.99 complete with five other bits (how do they sell at those prices) and it works fine with the set from The Yard Store. I think the normal operating pressure for air hammers is ~90psi but you'll want to back it down when setting rivets to soften the action some. Some references recommend ~20psi but I found that 40psi works well with my particular combination.
I've read that the rivets that some companies sell are too hard to set properly. Paragon and Dr. Rebuild are the two suppliers that I've seen recommended for a rivet of the proper softness. Dr. Rebuild has a chart on their web site that gives the length of the various GM part numbers for the rivets. They sell one length and you use side cutters to trim them to length.
Later,
Johnny
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
the punch i used to ''mushroom'' the large headed rivits on my ''y strap'' on the tire tub is called a ''swege tool'' . it has a concave groove in the punch to achive the desired finish of said rivit,,the neighborhhod garage has one with a old fashoned anvil. i ''swegged'' the rivits while the owner and his son held the tub, came out just like the general did it
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
The Yard Store is one supplier to the aircraft folks that has rivet sets at a reasonable price.
http://www.yardstore.com/index.cfm?A...y&Category=111
You need one for 3/16" rivets like #10004 on the above page. These sets fit hammers that take tools with a .401 diameter shank.
I ordered an air hammer from Harbor Freight that was on sale for $4.99 complete with five other bits (how do they sell at those prices) and it works fine with the set from The Yard Store. I think the normal operating pressure for air hammers is ~90psi but you'll want to back it down when setting rivets to soften the action some. Some references recommend ~20psi but I found that 40psi works well with my particular combination.
I've read that the rivets that some companies sell are too hard to set properly. Paragon and Dr. Rebuild are the two suppliers that I've seen recommended for a rivet of the proper softness. Dr. Rebuild has a chart on their web site that gives the length of the various GM part numbers for the rivets. They sell one length and you use side cutters to trim them to length.
Later,
Johnny
http://www.yardstore.com/index.cfm?A...y&Category=111
You need one for 3/16" rivets like #10004 on the above page. These sets fit hammers that take tools with a .401 diameter shank.
I ordered an air hammer from Harbor Freight that was on sale for $4.99 complete with five other bits (how do they sell at those prices) and it works fine with the set from The Yard Store. I think the normal operating pressure for air hammers is ~90psi but you'll want to back it down when setting rivets to soften the action some. Some references recommend ~20psi but I found that 40psi works well with my particular combination.
I've read that the rivets that some companies sell are too hard to set properly. Paragon and Dr. Rebuild are the two suppliers that I've seen recommended for a rivet of the proper softness. Dr. Rebuild has a chart on their web site that gives the length of the various GM part numbers for the rivets. They sell one length and you use side cutters to trim them to length.
Later,
Johnny
Yardstore has speedy delivery, great prices and customer service. I first bought my rivet sets and bucking bars from them for my Corvette. Now I buy more from them because they carry many unique tools. The air hammer and bucking bar are nearly as easy to use as pop rivets and they are original just as Chevy used. Only the inner seat belt brackets required help from my son as he held the bucking bar while I set the rivets from under the body of the car.