Hi, Philip ~
If the rivets are too long, then it takes a lot of pumping of the gun
before the rivet stem breaks. The rivet length should be about an eighth
of an inch (or a little longer) than the thickness of the materials you're
trying to rivet together. You also want the rivet diameter to match the
size of the hole you're putting the rivet into.
When I put on my top, I decided to go with countersunk self-tapping sheet
metal screws rather than rivets to attach the seal channel to the header
rail. That makes it easier to remove the seal channel in the future if
necessary, and avoids having all of those drilled-out rivet tails rattling
around inside the header rail. Since you're putting these fasteners into a
blind area, there is no way to attach a nut on the screws.
Steve Byers
Havelock, NC USA
'73 Midget GAN5UD126009G "OO NINE"
"It is better to remain silent, and be thought a fool
than to speak, and remove all doubt" -- Mark Twain
----------
> From: Philip Hubbard <phubbard@carroll.com>
> To: spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
> Subject: Soft top header rail installation
> Date: Thursday, April 23, 1998 8:28 PM
>
> Wondering if anyone can help me with a soft top install question. I just
> bought a 1974 Midget with a new top. Only thing is, the owner handed me
a
> header rail, weather strip and said "never got around to putting this
on."
> Ok, no big deal I think. I buy a pop rivet gun, some rivets and start to
> work. No joy.
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