Rivet head size - 1972

[Jerome P.]

The rivets under the hood located on each side of the compartment and just above the water diverter channels - what size (head size) should they be? If needed I will tried to attac pictures.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

The rivets under the hood located on each side of the compartment and just above the water diverter channels - what size (head size) should they be? If needed I will tried to attac pictures.

For the life of me I can't figure out the location of the rivets you're asking about.

What do they attach?

Patrick

[Jerome P.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

Here are a couple of pictures from two different cars

[Jerome P.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

Pat see my follow up post

[Patrick H.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

You mean this one:

[Jerome P.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

That is the one.

The pictures I posted earlier showing this rivet; the yellow car is mine. It appears to be the same size as the one you posted. Is your picture one of an original or a correctly sized replcement? If so, what size is the head of the rivet.

I am doing some minor body work and we needed to remove the rivets and were not sure if they were of the correct size. Your help, as always, is appreciated.

Jerry

[Patrick H.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

That is the one.

The pictures I posted earlier showing this rivet; the yellow car is mine. It appears to be the same size as the one you posted. Is your picture one of an original or a correctly sized replcement? If so, what size is the head of the rivet.

I am doing some minor body work and we needed to remove the rivets and were not sure if they were of the correct size. Your help, as always, is appreciated.

Jerry

Original.
I may get out to the car tomorrow if no one else has time to measure.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

I think a standard 3/16 pop rivet will be close enough in this location.

[Bryan M.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

My rivet head measured 3/8" diameter.

[John H.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

Midyears use the same arrangement for wire harness clips - those are ordinary 1/8" pop-rivets.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

I'm not sure about your 72 but 73-75 the head is the size of a 3/16 pop rivet. I can't tell the shaft size without drilling it out.

[Jerome P.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

I have done some more digging and in the 72 AIM's on page M251 (UPC - sheet A15) shows the rivet in question and it is part # 9428047. However, I still am at a loss as to the size - both head and shank. Does anyone have a reference source that would provide size info for this part?

Your help is appreciated.

Jerry

[Chuck S.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

I have done some more digging and in the 72 AIM's on page M251 (UPC - sheet A15) shows the rivet in question and it is part # 9428047. However, I still am at a loss as to the size - both head and shank. Does anyone have a reference source that would provide size info for this part?...

Jerry, I doubt that even Joe Lucia will be able to tell you the description of that part number, but I could be wrong.

If it's a standard pop rivet as John Hinckley said it was, be advised that standard pop rivets are sold in home and hardware stores by shank diameter (1/16", 1/8", 3/16") and length...head sizes are less important to most users.

Corvettes of the 70-72 era use many pop rivets...most body applications use a heavy duty 3/16" diameter shank. A few examples come from a fading memory: T-top hardware, coupe plenum drain fittings, rear window weatherstrips (?), et al. Note to judges who assume that ALL rivets in similar applications on 70-72 Corvettes are pop rivets: Not true...harness clamp on my 70 left side hood drain channel has a standard flat head aluminum body rivet. The type of rivet used probably depended on location; I'm thinking design may have specified a large flat head rivet to distribute the load on the flat bottom of the channel like my 70, whereas a pop rivet could have been used on the vertical channel side without strength or leak concerns.

My suggestion is to buy a small box of 3/16" shank pop rivets and compare the rivet head diameter. Or, be a cheapskate like me...measure the head diameter and take the dimension down to the home store for comparing. I'm thinking you'll want the rivet length to be about twice the thickness being riveted...somewhere around 1/4"-5/16" should be about right. Use a magnet to determine material...I would expect the rivet body to be non-magnetic aluminum, but the mandrel will be steel.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

If it's a standard pop rivet as John Hinckley said it was, be advised that standard pop rivets are sold in home and hardware stores by shank diameter (1/16", 1/8", 3/16") and length...head sizes are less important to most users.

And, as long as the head size doesn't look significantly smaller or larger than what has been shown or described to you already, I would highly doubt you'll ever receive a deduction for it.

Patrick

[Chuck S.]

Re: Rivet head size - 1972

And, as long as the head size doesn't look significantly smaller or larger than what has been shown or described to you already, I would highly doubt you'll ever receive a deduction for it...

That's probably a variable he doesn't even need to worry about...if it's a standard pop rivet, and that has been my observation as well (I vaguely remember some non-standard), the shank size sets the head size and vice-versa. If he gets one right, the other will be right.

That's the beauty of standard components like fasteners. If they decided to change fastener design and thread forms every decade or so (now every year or so) like headlights, the world would be in a heck of a mess.