Body Rivets
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 979
Likes: 258
From: Maryland
Body Rivets
Was wondering if anyone has any experience doing body rivets. I've riveted all kind of sheet metal in the past, but have never done a body rivet on a Corvette. I now have several areas where I need to replace a body rivet
so I have to ask how this is done. I see there are hand held tools such as this below:
https://www.corvettecentral.com/c3-6...2f%3fcount%3d9
so my question is
Do you hold the tool with one hand on the inserted rivet and then hit the rivet head with the hammer? Sorry if this is a silly question, but I have just never done this...
so I have to ask how this is done. I see there are hand held tools such as this below:
https://www.corvettecentral.com/c3-6...2f%3fcount%3d9
so my question is
Do you hold the tool with one hand on the inserted rivet and then hit the rivet head with the hammer? Sorry if this is a silly question, but I have just never done this...
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 218
Likes: 42
From: Hopedale Mass
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 979
Likes: 258
From: Maryland
Pro
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 532
Likes: 104
From: Chicago, IL
i am currently reinstalling the body rivets for the seatbelt brackets, and all that other stuff on the floor of the car, get a friend, have them hold the top of the rivet with a bucking bar, or piece of steel. and go under car and peen over unside of rivet, the factory did it kind of sloppy, just keep punch or air hammer straight or it will fold and look bad, along with prob being weak. i ordered the punch for my air hammer from eastwood.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,399
Likes: 792
Harbor Freight small gun for tight spots. Bit is not bent it is an offset bit for tight spots. You can adjust the air pressure covered by my hand.
Some of the riveted brackets. Practice a little to get the right look. I had to redo a few.
Air adjusment
Different bucks, picked this set up on Ebay. Cleco pins also help hold the piece tight when setting the rivet
Had to cup a punch to get in real tight spots.
Most of the under the seat brackets depending on year of car.
Bracket support up in front of the gas tank.
So, like mentioned above, peen over the stem of the rivet which should be soft aluminum. Hope this helps!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 979
Likes: 258
From: Maryland
i am currently reinstalling the body rivets for the seatbelt brackets, and all that other stuff on the floor of the car, get a friend, have them hold the top of the rivet with a bucking bar, or piece of steel. and go under car and peen over unside of rivet, the factory did it kind of sloppy, just keep punch or air hammer straight or it will fold and look bad, along with prob being weak. i ordered the punch for my air hammer from eastwood.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 979
Likes: 258
From: Maryland
Harbor Freight small gun for tight spots. Bit is not bent it is an offset bit for tight spots. You can adjust the air pressure covered by my hand.
Some of the riveted brackets. Practice a little to get the right look. I had to redo a few.
Air adjusment
Different bucks, picked this set up on Ebay. Cleco pins also help hold the piece tight when setting the rivet
Had to cup a punch to get in real tight spots.
Most of the under the seat brackets depending on year of car.
Bracket support up in front of the gas tank.
So, like mentioned above, peen over the stem of the rivet which should be soft aluminum. Hope this helps!
