Rivets

[Marccus]

I installed the body trim with the Ford specifed rivets obtained from Fastenal - they have everything in trim fastenfers from another company that specializes in these (forgot the name).

I used the same rivets to reinstall the door handles, but the rivets did not pull tight enough. the door handles are still loose.


Does this mean that the "grip length" of the rivets is too high?

 

[yzstud]

I installed the body trim with the Ford specifed rivets obtained from Fastenal - they have everything in trim fastenfers from another company that specializes in these (forgot the name).

I used the same rivets to reinstall the door handles, but the rivets did not pull tight enough. the door handles are still loose.


Does this mean that the "grip length" of the rivets is too high?

did you accidentally make the hole a tad bit bigger when u drilled out the rivet?
its(the rivet) probably a little to small for the hole now

 

[matty]

when i take my handels out i usually curse from the inside of the door so i dont melt the handle with a semi dull bit or high rpm drill.the only thing i do from the outside is knock out the center of the rivet.

 

[Marccus]

I use a punch to knock out what is remaining of the mandrel.

Then I tap a craper under the ****** and it comes out. I did not damage the handle holes at all.

The rivets specified for the body trim are called "large ******", and they do cover the hole for the handle.

The rivets at Home Depot all have flanges that are too small, so I would have to use washers so the small ****** rivets can be used.

 

[Marccus]

I meant scraper not craper!!!

 

[1993MTXSHO]

I use a punch to knock out what is remaining of the mandrel.

Then I tap a craper under the ****** and it comes out. I did not damage the handle holes at all.

The rivets specified for the body trim are called "large ******", and they do cover the hole for the handle.

The rivets at Home Depot all have flanges that are too small, so I would have to use washers so the small ****** rivets can be used.

I meant scraper not craper!!!

:bestpost::laugh_ti:

 

[Bizzy]

I meant scraper not craper!!!

When I read that I was like whaaa????

Best laugh I've had all day. :thankyou:

 

[Storm-Chaser]

The rivet specified for the door handle is a 1/4" dia., 1/2" length rivet. And yes, the grip length is important. If you used the same rivet for the door handle, as for the front fender door clading, that's the problem. It calls for a 6.3mm, 22.8mm length (ie. 1/4" dia., 7/8" length).

I installed the body trim with the Ford specifed rivets obtained from Fastenal - they have everything in trim fastenfers from another company that specializes in these (forgot the name).

I used the same rivets to reinstall the door handles, but the rivets did not pull tight enough. the door handles are still loose.


Does this mean that the "grip length" of the rivets is too high?

 

[Marccus]

Man! How do you KNOW this stuff!!

I'm glad you do.

:thankyou:

 

[mrecoolgar]

For what's it's worth...
I replace all my door rivets with 1/4-20 stainless hardware.
I prefer to be able to take things apart.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

I usually replace rivets with rivets. I've never had a rivet pull-through, but I have had the bolt/nut replacements come loose. Most general repair shops will use the latter, out of convenience (ie. they already have the bolts/nuts on-hand).

The big thing is to use a bolt long enough to fully engage the locknut threads, but not so long that it protrudes into the door cavity where it could possibly interfer with the movement window, window regulator, or door handle/door lock actuator rods.

If we both make the convention next year, ask me to show you my database . . . .

 

[Marccus]

For what's it's worth...
I replace all my door rivets with 1/4-20 stainless hardware.
I prefer to be able to take things apart.

Rivets did not work for me. They kept breaking (the spread end inside just fell off) as I reached the last point when the mandrel disengages, no matter what size rivet I used.

Why?

I don't know but I think it is because I had to use a washer since the rivet face was not large enough to cover the hole and that left a slight gap between the plastic hole and the washer even though I used a washer small enough to fit between the indentations and large enough to cover the hole. Since the washer is parallel flat and the surface of the hole is curved there will always be a gap..

I used 1/4-20 SS fasteners as you sugggested. It was easy. I thought it was going be hard and I would have saved myself a lot of aggravation if I took your advice from the beginning!

Thanks (Late post ... I know).

 

[zoomlater]

I'm planning to do the same shortly, what length of screw did you end up using?

Are the lengths the same for the front and rear doors?

 

[Marccus]

I'm planning to do the same shortly, what length of screw did you end up using?

Are the lengths the same for the front and rear doors?

I bought 3/4" length, but sometimes they were too long. After I installed them on the passenger side door, the handle would not open properly because in this particular instance, the screw somehow restricted the movement of the handle.

I ended up cutting them off just enough so when the nut and lock washer on the inside of he door were tightened down, only a few threads were showing.

I seemed to be always cutting off about 1/4", so 1/2" length may be best. It wasn't always EXACTLY 1/4" and the amount I had to cut off wasn't always the same.

It does depend on other things.

If the plastic hole is damaged - widened more than it is supposed to - then you may need a washer on the outside. The problem with a washer is that if its diameter is too big it will straddle the indentations where the hole is and not fully sit flush with the hole. The next smaller diameter for a washer may be too small, depending on how much the hole has been enlarged if it was damaged.

In a few instances, I needed to get some fender washers and cut a section out with a small hacksaw - think of slicing a middle section of a cake, so the piece would be wide enough to just allow it to fit flush with the hole. You can leave the ends rounded if you want.

I found this was the best solution for a damaged hole, but it took time to cut out and file the home made cut out washer.

I any case, for me, each hole seemed to be different and a one-size-fits-all solution did not work. If you buy 3/4" length and don't mind hacking away, then you can't go wrong.

Otherwise buy 1/2" length and if they are too short in some instances, go back to the store and buy the number of 3/4" length you need.

 

[zoomlater]

Thanks!!