Dash Rivets

[Walter R.]

I replaced the dash on my 66. When installing the rivets they kept breaking off leaving a portion of the rivet stem. I thought my rivet gun was old and worn out so I purchased another. The rivets continue to break with the new rivet gun. I purchased the rivets from LIC. Any suggestions?

[Steve G.]

Re: Dash Rivets

Only one. Try a different rivet supplier. Pop rivets have a "cut" in the pin which determines where they will break off. They are supposed to break, the ball of the pin is supposed to plug the hole when left behind. If they are breaking off too long the cut is too far up the pin.

[Keith B.]

Re: Dash Rivets

I had the same problem with the rivets from LIC. Glad I wasn't the only one

[John H.]

Re: Dash Rivets

I replaced the dash on my 66. When installing the rivets they kept breaking off leaving a portion of the rivet stem. I thought my rivet gun was old and worn out so I purchased another. The rivets continue to break with the new rivet gun. I purchased the rivets from LIC. Any suggestions?

Walter -

There should always be a portion of the rivet shank left in the hole in the rivet after the shank fractures at the cut - are you saying the end of the remaining portion of the shank is still in the hole (normal), flush with the rivet head (normal), or sticks out past the rivet head (not normal)?

[Frank D.]

Re: Dash Rivets

My '63 Zip Corvette rivets installed fine and I would say I have a mid-priced rivet gun at best - nothing special about it...

[Domenic T.]

Re: Dash Rivets

Just went thru that lastnight. Also tried 2 different guns and about 1/2 of them did that. Rivets came from the same place as yours. What I ended up doing was put tape over the head as not to scratch it and snipped the shafteven with the rivet head. Then I used a punch and pushed the shaft in to where it was the same as the others.

DOM