C3 Installing large-head alum. rivets

[Patricia Brown]

I need to re-install the factory alum. large-head rivets, such as are found on the transmission tunnel insulation clips (and many other places on the body). Is there a type of rivet gun that handles these rivets? I'm only familiar with stem-type rivets.

Thanks, Patricia

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Installing large-head alum. rivets

Patricia-----

There's no rivet gun that I am aware of which is available to install these rivets. Quite frankly, I find them to be a "bear" to install. Basically, it's a two person job. Someone has to hold a "bucking bar" on the rivet head, while the other sets the end of the rivet with a special tool with hammer or air chisel. The special tool is available from most of the Corvette vendors at a nominal cost.

One thing to keep in mind: you MUST use "dead soft" aluminum rivets as were used in PRODUCTION and as currently available from Dr. Rebuild and, possibly, others. Otherwise, you'll never be able to set them.

If setting these rivets becomes too much of a chore and you finally decide that you're willing to forego that element of originality, you can use pop rivets as an alternate to most of these original type. For pop rivets, of course, a special tool is easily available.

[Stephen L.]

Re: C3 Installing large-head alum. rivets

If you have an air chisel at your disposal then its fairly easy.

You hold a heavy flat hammer against the large head and using the air chisel, you flatten the rivet stem. The air chisel needs to have a "bit" that is concave on the end in place of the "chisel bit". I cut a chisel off and used the shaft with a concave drilled end. It'll take some "fabrication" if you can't locate one.

[Rob A.]

Re: C3 Installing large-head alum. rivets

Patricia,

If you have a lot of rivets, large head as well as round, you can buy a small rivet kit from an aircraft supply company. It's different than an air chisel. It comes with the rivet gun and several different shaped rivet sets, straight as well as angled for both flat and round, as well as different shaped bucking bars for holding the other side of the rivets. Some of the rivetting does require two people. I had a lot to do during a frame off, so I bought one. It really wasn't that expensive. I can look up the company that makes them if you're interested.

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: C3 Installing large-head alum. rivets

Rob, please look it up.

Thanks

Harry

[Mike M.]

Re: C3 Installing large-head alum. rivets

Here are a few places. I have used aircraft tool supply before. If you have a lot of riveting to do you should get a pair of Cleko pliers and 1/2 dozen clekos the right size. They hold the piece nice and tight while you are riveting and make the job a lot easier.

http://www.aircraft-tool.com

http://www5.mailordercentral.com/clevtool/default.asp

http://www.rivetsinstock.com/index.html

Mike

http://www.aircraft-tool.com/

[Rob A.]

Re: C3 Installing large-head alum. rivets

aircraftspruce.com shows a rivet gun kit with case, under rivet tools, I bought mine elsewhere for less, I think around $150, I'll keep looking for their catalog and post their website when I find it.

[John H.]

Re: C3 Installing large-head alum. rivets

An ordinary air hammer, mini-regulator (you only need 10-20 psi at the gun), and a shanked rivet set to fit in the gun, and you're in business; you can use just about anything solid as a bucking bar against the flat head of the rivet while you "set" the other end.

[Rob A.]

Re: C3 Installing large-head alum. rivets

The rivet sets are available separately as John says. They make a large, flat one with rubber around the edge to protect the fiberglass you can use on the flat head rivets.

[Mike M.]

Rivet Guns

You don't need to spend the extra money and buy a rivet gun. Like John says a air hammer works great and is a lot cheaper to buy.

[Rob A.]

Re: Rivet Guns

It wasn't so expensive when I bought my kit. I needed quite a few different rivet sets, some angled for areas like the underbody seat belt reinforcement brackets, so it was cheaper to buy the kit on sale. They appear to be quite expensive now, especially without being "on special". The gun is nice however, it allows me to feather in the power as slow as I want with the trigger.

[Patricia Brown]

Re: Rivet Guns

Thank you, everyone, for your help. Since I'm not concerned about whether the rivets look original, can I safely get away with typical stem-type rivets (I guess "pop" rivets that use the cheap $20 guns). I'm concerned if the heads will pull through fiberglass because they're about half the size of the original rivets' heads. I know you can get little washers to put under the heads, but even with washers the rivet would not have as large a head as the stock style: will they pull through or be ok?

Also, where can I purchase the tool that is concave and fits into an air chisel?

Thank you for all the help! Patricia

[Craig S.]

Re: Rivet Guns

Patricia - the website Rob lists above sells the air tool bit with concave tip as well as the expensive rivet guns. The other alternative is like John Hinckley shows with a chisel tip cut off and a spot drill with a drill bit in the end of the shank to form the concave peening pocket....Craig