My Fiero Store gun ate a rivet and won't let the stud drop out. Looks like it is toast. Where can I find a good gun for plastic Pop rivets?

You can't push the rivet out with a drill bit or something?

I've been using a pneumatic rivet gun, has plenty of pull to work the plastic rivets.

Rodneydickman.com

I see the plastic rivet guns going for about $19 on Ebay all the time. One day I'll buy one...

No way to push it out. I finally got it with a small needle nose. Good thing too as I was about to throw it up on the roof.

Most NAPA stores stock a $25.00 gun that works great. Balkamp number is BK7702864

quote Originally posted by rpro: Most NAPA stores stock a $25.00 gun that works great. Balkamp number is BK7702864

Thanks! Good to know.

There's one type of OEM rivit (from the Fierostore) that will not fit in a standard pop rivit gun. Thought I'd mention that. I have a bag of Fiero store rivits at the house that I can't use because the pin diameter will not fit into the gun- and its a nice Craftsman tool with three different nose sizes. Does anyone know the remedy to this, or is there a cheap alternative to buying a $150 bannana rivit gun?

You want one of these. Takes rivets with shafts up to 1/4". In Canada, you can get them at Princess Auto (PN 804882) for about $20

You should be able to find them at other stores. I also see them on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-1-4...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 07-29-2007).]

quote Originally posted by fierosound: You want one of these. Takes rivets with shafts up to 1/4". In Canada, you can get them at Princess Auto (PN 804882) for about $20 You should be able to find them at other stores. I also see them on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-1-4...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Those things are about 2 feet long, lol. There for specialized rivets like for mounting door handles. Quality tool store wanted close to $300 for one. I bought the $20 cheap one at Harbor Freight. I only use them once every few years. If id buy the expensive 'quality' one, Id just lose it before ever using it the second time anyway.

The ones for plastic rivets are slightly different the way they grip, i dont know if a reg pop rivet gun will pull them or not. If I get rivet sticking, just make sure the handle is coming all the way back open to release the stud. Sometimes cheap rivets 'spread' at the break and cause them to hang up. I keep an old hex key the proper size to push them out.

quote Originally posted by fierosound: You want one of these. Takes rivets with shafts up to 1/4". In Canada, you can get them at Princess Auto (PN 804882) for about $20 You should be able to find them at other stores. I also see them on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-1-4...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I bought one of those - I do not like it one little bit. Try to install something like a T-Top frame and you'll learn to hate it too. I've been trying to give it away but nobody seems to want it...

What DOES work good is the air powered riveter that Harbor Freight sells. Their "top of the line" model goes on sale for $50 every time a dog scratches; if it's not cheap today, check back tomorrow. It sets those 1/4 inch steeel rivets with just a pull of the trigger and it's small enough to get to all the places that rivets are located in our cars. Highly recommended.

But avoid that long-handled misery machine; it's OK for smaller stuff but you'll work up a sweat trying to set a 1/4 inch rivet with it...

Is there any chance we could use some sort of different screw type fastener in place of these rivets? As much as these work and provide a solid connection it seems a pain to take these pieces off due to having to drill out rivets.

I used this tool from Harbor freight. I drilled out the rivet holes to 3/8" and used the 1/4-20 nuts. I then used 1" long screws with washers to hold everything together. Now I can take the panels on and off with ease. You can buy more rivet nuts at Harbor freight or places like McMaster-Carr

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1986 SE 350 V8

All newer cars are held together with all kinds of 'pop in' fasteners. There available in all kinds of sizes and reaches. Most have 2 or 3 fingers that spread out to grip when you push a pin into the center. Any place that sells body repair parts should have them, maybe even in the Help section at Autozone. Good thing is there removeable and reuseable.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: All newer cars are held together with all kinds of 'pop in' fasteners. There available in all kinds of sizes and reaches. Most have 2 or 3 fingers that spread out to grip when you push a pin into the center. Any place that sells body repair parts should have them, maybe even in the Help section at Autozone. Good thing is there removeable and reuseable.

I used some of these in the wheel well and had success, about $3 for I think 5 in the HELP section at Part Source. Problem is that once they are in there they weld together and are often not reuse able unless you are careful.