68 Gas Lid Attachment

[Edward M.]

Can anyone tell me what the tool looked like that was used at the assembly plant to attach the gas door to the gas door hinge on 1968 Corvettes. The assembly manual says "spin rivet 6 places" (four for the hinge, and two for the emblem). I am researching a method of restoring these attachments to factory like condition.

I have numerous original 68 gas doors, and I can say for certain that the door was painted before it was attached to the hinge. I have some ideas on how to duplicate this attachment method, but still need to know what the actual tool looked like. Thanks.

[John H.]

Re: 68 Gas Lid Attachment

Ed -

The fixture looked like a drill press - it had a nest that held the parts in position that floated laterally so it could be positioned under the head of the "spin-rivet" tool. The spindle had a chuck, and the tool it held was essentially a shank with a ball on the end; two opposing sides of the ball were ground nearly flat. The operator positioned the nest with the parts under the ball and pulled the lever down, and the spinning ball "mushroomed" the hollow end of the die-cast stud from the upper (show side) part that protruded through the backing plate. Same process was used on mid-year glove box doors.

[Edward M.]

Re: 68 Gas Lid Attachment

OK, I've sort of got a picture in my mind of this "tool". A shank with a ball on the end. Any idea what the purpose of the flat surfaces on two opposing sides was for.

Right now I am picturing in my mind (usually a dangerous place for anything) a shank with a small (approximately 1/8") diameter ball on the end if it. This ball would not quite, but almost, fit into the rivet that was cast in the door lid. The spinning motion of the tool, and the downward pressure of the "drill press" caused the rivet to expand. Does that sound about right to you?

[John H.]

Re: 68 Gas Lid Attachment

Ed -

I'd say the diameter of the "ball" was more like 3/16"-1/4", so it would "mushroom" the end of the hollow stud with minimal travel; the "leading edges" of the ball were radiused (and hardened) so they more gently rolled the end of the stud over against the backing plate rather than grinding away at it.