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What's the best process for removing these rivets without damaging the fiberglass? I have my rear clip off and have started working on the tub. Most of the metal on it needs to be replaced. On the outside of the tub, I've removed a few of the ," bucked" ends with a cut-off wheel on a die grinder. I can get the #4 body mounts off, but the remaining rivet nubs are proving to be stubborn. Are they glued in as well?
Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated.🙂
It's too difficult to center punch the rivets in fiberglass so I would recommend grinding a nice clean flat on the heads and use a new small drill bit to get it centered , then increase the size of bit and slowly drill them out. Works for me every time.
It's too difficult to center punch the rivets in fiberglass so I would recommend grinding a nice clean flat on the heads and use a new small drill bit to get it centered , then increase the size of bit and slowly drill them out. Works for me every time.
Drilling from the cut off side I suppose? The pocket where #4 body mount sits might be hard the get a drill down in unless it was an angle head, which I don't currently have.
What's the best process for removing these rivets without damaging the fiberglass? I have my rear clip off and have started working on the tub. Most of the metal on it needs to be replaced. On the outside of the tub, I've removed a few of the ," bucked" ends with a cut-off wheel on a die grinder. I can get the #4 body mounts off, but the remaining rivet nubs are proving to be stubborn. Are they glued in as well?
Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated.🙂
Hi 73, that;s a great picture of the cage nut area. That's a tough spot to work in even on a vert. I basically took 2 drill bits and drilled them out. They are pretty soft. You can also use a nips a cutting type pliers depending on access. Do you plan on using rivets again? If so you will need a set, buck and or a small rivit gun. You can get that at HF.
RVZIO
Yeah...I'm going back with rivets. I have everything but the air hammer bit. Our harbor freight doesn't have it, so I'll either have to order it or make it on my small lathe.
I have removed them several times in several places. I carefully used a Dremmel with a grinder on the end and took it down to the point where it just popped out. They are soft aluminum. I would not reuse the rivets. You can get them new from all the vendors and they are very inexpensive. Just get the right size and the vendors will know which size goes where.
Putting them in will probably be easier with a friends help in that area. You can use non stock rivets with the hole in the center, like the trim tag rivets, but if you want them factory correct looking then you need to hammer them as you mentioned.
I have removed them several times in several places. I carefully used a Dremmel with a grinder on the end and took it down to the point where it just popped out. They are soft aluminum. I would not reuse the rivets. You can get them new from all the vendors and they are very inexpensive. Just get the right size and the vendors will know which size goes where.
Putting them in will probably be easier with a friends help in that area. You can use non stock rivets with the hole in the center, like the trim tag rivets, but if you want them factory correct looking then you need to hammer them as you mentioned.
Not reusing the same rivets....I thought rv was implying going back with some other type of fastener........however, another question. What to do about these two rivets that are apparently under the back panel lip. On the right side of this picture.....you can vaguely see some discoloration as if a rivet head is below it. Is that how it came from the factory?
Thanks...😎
Last edited by 73BBVette; May 8, 2017 at 11:58 AM.
Reason: Changed photo
LOL! I totally misread that sentence. Could you imagine someone trying to reuse the original rivets? With so many people wanting to use the original parts it would not surprise me that someone might try to reuse the original rivets.
Hi,
I think there are 2-3 hidden rivets in that photo. (At least that's what the AIM indicates.)
On rivets that I had good access to for both sides I center punched the flat head and then used a large drill bit (3/8") to drill into the head of the rivet.
The taper on the drill bit's tip removes some of the center of the flat head and as soon as it's through, the head the rivet head begins to spin.
I remove the head and switch to a 1/8" drill bit to drill a little way down into the shank of the rivet. This hole allows the rivet shank to collapse a little as you gently tap the shank the rivet in order to push it out of the hole in the fiberglass with out enlarging the hole.
I think it's important to keep the hole in the fiberglass as small as possible so I don't put much effort into knocking them out if they're not ready.
Regards,
Alan
You can see 6 of them in these photos and the AIM indicates there's a single rivet (#7) facing the rear of the car but I'm unsure about it.
Some success 🙂 Now I guess I un-bond the back panel of the tub to get at those last two rivets. This is the passenger side #4. All in all not too bad. Driver side, including the cage nut was eaten through with rust. The drilling through the head was the way to go.👍
Drilling from the cut off side I suppose? The pocket where #4 body mount sits might be hard the get a drill down in unless it was an angle head, which I don't currently have.
You can buy an angle head pretty cheap. Not the best quality but they do the job. I've had one for years.
Yeah...I'm going back with rivets. I have everything but the air hammer bit. Our harbor freight doesn't have it, so I'll either have to order it or make it on my small lathe.
I made mine by just cutting off an old air chisel .
not sure if it bothers you to cut your car ,but I cut out the section around that rear rivet to gain access , a neat square and just glued it back on after. you could certainly glass it back together
heres one I did a few years ago, I forgot to put the piece back on until later on as you can see and my gluing was pretty bad !! but it gives you an idea . with the undercar exhaust you can barely see it
heres one I did a few years ago, I forgot to put the piece back on until later on as you can see and my gluing was pretty bad !! but it gives you an idea . with the undercar exhaust you can barely see it
That'd be the way to do it, and I wouldn't have a problem doing it, but I've removed the entire rear clip from the car. It had been smacked in the back, and not a single panel was replaced. The bondo bandit had a field day with it....😏
Rivet removal.
