Rebuilding the fresh air vents - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**bigdon-70blazer** · 09-13-2008, 12:06 PM

Has anyone rebuilt these? I thought this would be a breeze until I saw these little black rivets and how flat they were and realized that the rivets I have were regular pop rivets and they will leave a nasty looking obstruction on the back. These items are not that great and I can not be the only one that has to replace these seals, so dig deep boys and girls and help me. Where do I find these rivets? I am having the toughest luck with rivets these days!

**bigdon-70blazer** · 09-13-2008, 12:08 PM

I am about scared to drill out these rivets until I hear from you!

jcfoote60 · 09-13-2008, 12:19 PM

I'll be dammed.....I was just in my shop getting ready to final paint my interior when I remembered my fresh air vents. upon inspection what's left of the gasket is not servicable...so thinking how the hell am I going to replace them? I set them aside to paint until I replace the gaskets and do my exterior...very weird that I come in while my comressor is building to see what's going on and see this post. Can't wait myself to hear the input from the gang!!

Jim

**bigdon-70blazer** · 09-13-2008, 12:31 PM

I guess it just goes to show that great minds, rebuild alike!

71jimmy · 09-13-2008, 12:57 PM

Yup, I'm looking at doing that too, so I'm interested in any replies. I too thought it would be an easy job to replace the seal. I've taken mine apart, the flaps are just tin, like an old soup can, pretty flimsy once they are apart. Someone must have done this before!

low'n slow · 09-13-2008, 01:46 PM

Spruce Aircraft or wicks probably has some aircraft rivets that are close to these. It probably entails an installation tool. You can probably rent the tool out to those on this thread after you buy it.

Musclerodz · 09-13-2008, 02:02 PM

It is a steel clutch or brake shoe rivet. Should be able to get them at a clutch supply house or maybe NAPA. To reattach them there is a tool, but you can use a large center punch to flare them and then a blunt punch to seat them. I do have a tool I might rent out if enough interest.

**jaros44sr** · 09-13-2008, 09:39 PM

Is the gasket/seal available from someone. You could bolt them together and then replace the rivets one by one. Any good industrial supply house should have rivets...MSC or McMaster Carr

LUV2XCLR8 · 09-14-2008, 06:03 AM

The PO did the ones on "GQ" I will try to see what he
used and get a picture later on today if I have time

Musclerodz · 09-14-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Is the gasket/seal available from someone. You could bolt them together and then replace the rivets one by one. Any good industrial supply house should have rivets...MSC or McMaster Carr

Yes the seals are available. I have some we bought from one of our vendors. They are cheap

litebulblsc · 09-14-2008, 10:52 PM

When most people think of rivets these days they only think of pop rivets, but those are a mechanical rivet. You just need the special chunk of metal with a dimple in it and some mechanical rivets. You put the rivet in the hole, hold the metal block with dimmple on the rivet and smack it with a hammer.

**jaros44sr** · 09-15-2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musclerodz

Yes the seals are available. I have some we bought from one of our vendors. They are cheap

Cool, looks like I should get one of your catalogs, I'm still saving up for my billet hood hinges

Old Chevy Mech · 09-16-2008, 06:30 AM

I used regular 1/8th pop rivits, made sure the large head side was out and painted the works flat black. Works great, cant see em real easy, no one ever commented.

Frank

Conroe trucker · 10-12-2008, 09:42 AM

Repops are available for about $80.00

I was going to use real short sheetmetal screws and paint them black.

09-13-2008, 12:06 PM	#1
bigdon-70blazer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Poplar Bluff, MO Posts: 1,502	Rebuilding the fresh air vents Has anyone rebuilt these? I thought this would be a breeze until I saw these little black rivets and how flat they were and realized that the rivets I have were regular pop rivets and they will leave a nasty looking obstruction on the back. These items are not that great and I can not be the only one that has to replace these seals, so dig deep boys and girls and help me. Where do I find these rivets? I am having the toughest luck with rivets these days! Attached Images

09-13-2008, 12:08 PM	#2
bigdon-70blazer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Poplar Bluff, MO Posts: 1,502	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents I am about scared to drill out these rivets until I hear from you!

09-13-2008, 12:19 PM	#3
jcfoote60 Active Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 263	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents I'll be dammed.....I was just in my shop getting ready to final paint my interior when I remembered my fresh air vents. upon inspection what's left of the gasket is not servicable...so thinking how the hell am I going to replace them? I set them aside to paint until I replace the gaskets and do my exterior...very weird that I come in while my comressor is building to see what's going on and see this post. Can't wait myself to hear the input from the gang!! Jim

09-13-2008, 12:31 PM	#4
bigdon-70blazer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Poplar Bluff, MO Posts: 1,502	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents I guess it just goes to show that great minds, rebuild alike!

09-13-2008, 12:57 PM	#5
71jimmy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,083	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents Yup, I'm looking at doing that too, so I'm interested in any replies. I too thought it would be an easy job to replace the seal. I've taken mine apart, the flaps are just tin, like an old soup can, pretty flimsy once they are apart. Someone must have done this before! __________________ '71 Jimmy, 350, SM465, NP205, 2in Tuff Country lift, 33s on rallies, TBI, softtop and hardtop "If life was fair you'd be able to afford one of each and a garage large enough to house them all."

09-13-2008, 01:46 PM	#6
low'n slow Too Dumb To Know Better Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 883	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents Spruce Aircraft or wicks probably has some aircraft rivets that are close to these. It probably entails an installation tool. You can probably rent the tool out to those on this thread after you buy it.

09-13-2008, 02:02 PM	#7
Musclerodz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 2,364	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents It is a steel clutch or brake shoe rivet. Should be able to get them at a clutch supply house or maybe NAPA. To reattach them there is a tool, but you can use a large center punch to flare them and then a blunt punch to seat them. I do have a tool I might rent out if enough interest. __________________ Mike Redpath Last edited by Musclerodz; 09-13-2008 at 02:04 PM.

09-13-2008, 09:39 PM	#8
jaros44sr Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,766	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents Is the gasket/seal available from someone. You could bolt them together and then replace the rivets one by one. Any good industrial supply house should have rivets...MSC or McMaster Carr __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim

09-14-2008, 06:03 AM	#9
LUV2XCLR8 The LuvShack Garage Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side) Posts: 30,468	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents The PO did the ones on "GQ" I will try to see what he used and get a picture later on today if I have time __________________ Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T

09-14-2008, 10:52 PM	#11
litebulblsc Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: LaSalle Mi Posts: 525	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents When most people think of rivets these days they only think of pop rivets, but those are a mechanical rivet. You just need the special chunk of metal with a dimple in it and some mechanical rivets. You put the rivet in the hole, hold the metal block with dimmple on the rivet and smack it with a hammer.

09-16-2008, 06:30 AM	#13
Old Chevy Mech Keepin it runnin! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Deep River, CT Posts: 1,036	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents I used regular 1/8th pop rivits, made sure the large head side was out and painted the works flat black. Works great, cant see em real easy, no one ever commented. Frank __________________ 1970 K-5 4X4 Blazer 1970 K-20 4X4 Long Bed "Liberty Means Responsibility, that is why most men dread it"

10-12-2008, 09:42 AM	#14
Conroe trucker SWBs: 67 2x4, 67 4x4, 70 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 483	Re: Rebuilding the fresh air vents Repops are available for about $80.00 I was going to use real short sheetmetal screws and paint them black. __________________ FINISHED Project thread: 67 SWB 4x4 FINISHED Project thread: 67 SWB 6 cyl cruiser Project thread: Road Toad 70 SWB Step, 4x4, 292, 3OT 01 C5 convertable 08 Z06

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