Clear Rivets for Ignition Shielding (1968 x 427)

[William H.]

I have a '68 427 ignition shield cover that was re-chromed and I need to replace the clear rivets. I have not been able to get in touch with Corvette Forum 'Buddy' so does anyone know where to get rivets that will be close in design to the originals? I have another original shield top but I do not think there is any way to remove and reuse the rivets. Thanks for any help or ideas.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Clear Rivets for Ignition Shielding (1968 x 427)

Bill,
I have successfully removed and re-used original rivets. I used a hot sharp knife to "un-peen" the rivets by lifting up the edges of the peen and pushing it to the center. It's hard to describe but the heated knife melts the plastic and you can lift it up. To repeen I used the same tool that I use to peen the soft aluminum body rivets and heat it up and just press the tool on the stud. The hot tool melts the plastic into the round peened surface. Hope this helps.
Jeff

[Terry M.]

Re: Clear Rivets for Ignition Shielding (1968 x 427)

I did the same thing Jeff did, and it worked just fine. I was also fortunate to recently get in contact with Buddy. My original contact with him was several years ago, and I had almost forgotten about it when about six months ago I got an email requesting money. You may have to be patient, although I recall a post on CF indicating he might not be able to produce any more clear rivets.

[William H.]

Re: Clear Rivets for Ignition Shielding (1968 x 427)

Jeff. Thanks for the info. So, do you squeeze the clear top through the hole when salvaging and then push it back through to reinstall after it was heated? And, you were able to do this without distrubing the quality of material? Can I just heat up a cutting knife/straight edge? Thanks for your expertise. Bill

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Clear Rivets for Ignition Shielding (1968 x 427)

Bill,
After pushing the heated plastic toward the center with the heated knife, the re-formed rivet is pushed through the hole cold. After the plastic liner is cleaned and/or the the lid is replated, the cold rivet is put back into the hole. Then the heated tool is used to re-form the mound shape of the peened rivet. Not perfect but pretty good. I used a hot x-acto knife for straightening the rivet for removal.
Jeff

[William H.]

Re: Clear Rivets for Ignition Shielding (1968 x 427)

So, is it essentially melted and reformed? Thanks much.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Clear Rivets for Ignition Shielding (1968 x 427)

Yes, that is correct.
Jeff