Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop

[VA72C10]

Looks great!
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[Rusbuilt]

Nice work! Very clean!

[Graham57a]

Very nice work. This is going to be a beautiful truck when you're finished. Might end up so nice you're not gonna wanna make it your DD

[CC69Rat]

Yeah, you're probably right ..

[Bennett68C10]

Looks good, I like the look of the gray with the black
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[CC69Rat]

Thanks for the compliments!
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[nlped]

Looks phenomenal!!!! Love IT!!!

[CC69Rat]

Dad is picking up an Air Chisel today..

What's the best way to get the rivets out of the Trailing Arm brackets? My cut off wheel / disc is just a 4 1/2 and I'm not sure drilling them out would be the best option? How do you guys get them out?

Dad had the trailing arms blasted yesterday and I think he painted them today. New Prothane bushings are going in and we'll mount them up as soon as the flip is finished up. By that time I hope the drop blocks and Ubolts come in.. But I gotta wait on my PB brackets and stuff.

One step at a time. ..

[nlped]

I used my Plasma cutter to get the rivets off on my '70 model last week. Just slice the head off and knock it through with a punch and Whammer.

[gringoloco]

Cut an x in the head, then use a flat bit to chisel it off. Chisel again with the pointed bit to push th through. They're easier to get to from the trans side....
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[big_al_71]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Cut an x in the head, then use a flat bit to chisel it off. Chisel again with the pointed bit to push th through. They're easier to get to from the trans side....
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exactly how we do it!!!

[69gmcc10]

I remove all of my rivits, trailing arm rivits included, by drilling a small hole in the center of the rivit about 1/2 way throug and steping up in size until I just knowck the shulder off the rivit and then I smack it with a mini sledge and a punch in the hole. they are easyier to get at from the trans side. I found grinders molest alot of steel and the result never looks good to me.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Cut an x in the head, then use a flat bit to chisel it off. Chisel again with the pointed bit to push th through. They're easier to get to from the trans side....
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This is how I do it too, I use an air hammer to chisel the head off and then switch the bit and use it to hammer them out. Works really good.

[NoNeck]

This is how I do it too, I use an air hammer to chisel the head off and then switch the bit and use it to hammer them out. Works really good.

I am with you. Chad and I tried the "X" method, drllling down the center, and the Makita grinder. All of them are a pain in the a$$ and take forever. After researching online, I watched YouTube videos of guys removing riveted ball joints in our trucks with an air hammer/chisel. This one guy removed the heads from 4 ball joint rivets, changed to a sharp pointed bit and knocked them out in less than a minute.

The transmission is still in Chad's truck, but the bed is off. It looks like the rivets are more acessable from the trailing arm side. The one thing that worries us is the gas line that enters the cab floor close to that passenger side bracket. We really don't want to be throwing sparks anywhere near that line. So, it just makes more sense to use the air chisel. We will still use a welding blanket to shield the gas line, but sparks should be at a minimum.

POP

[lolife99]

I have a couple $100 air chisels.
They suck for knocking rivet heads off.
I cut an "X" in the head and then use the air chisel to finish the rivet head and punch the remainder thru the hole.

I've heard from my buddy n2billet that the "high dollar" Snap On type air chisels will peel the rivet heads off with no problems.
But the air chisels are expen$ive!
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

[gringoloco]

I dunno, lolife. There are times I'd gladly pay that to not have to deal with the rivets. There's a vid around here from ridetech using the snap-on air chisel and it makes quick work of them. Hard to beat the $20 HF special though...
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[lolife99]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

I dunno, lolife. There are times I'd gladly pay that to not have to deal with the rivets. There's a vid around here from ridetech using the snap-on air chisel and it makes quick work of them. Hard to beat the $20 HF special though...
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Me too.
I hate rivets.
I always look for the "good" air chisels when I go to swap meets.
I may have to break down and buy a new one.

[N2TRUX]

I was with Keith (n2billet) one day when he did a rear notch. It took every tool he had in his well stocked box to get the rivits out. Yeah, that high dollar Blue Point chisle set did remove the heads nicely. Unfortunately some of the rivit bodies would not budge. We used quality step bits, real bits and BFH blows and they still fought us.
Rivits are evil, and there is no easy way to get all of them out. Plan on being there a while, and cursing a lot.

[CC69Rat]

Ive never dealt with them till we dropped this truck. Yes they are a pain. Ill probably just do the whole cross member swap on my stepside. Im somewhat of a perfectionist so I have a whole lot of patience.. we'll get them out.

Why is the Hotchkis anti-squat kit so expensive? Wouldnt the bracket flip do the same thing? I understand 1* of pinion adjustment per hole.. but do I really need their brackets?
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[NoNeck]

We have some friends that have offered to loan us a Snap-On air hammer, so that's the best option. Both Ricky (Flintstone Media Blasting, Flinstone, GA) and Tony (Tony's Auto Body, Soddy Daisy, TN) are always willing to help us out when they can. It's nice to have good friends! We will probably get a gift card to Summit or Jegs for the use of the air hammer.

Eventually, we will need to buy one because Chad is talking about notching his stepper next. Have I said that I HATE RIVETS?

POP

[RRC]

Originally Posted by NoNeck

We have some friends that have offered to loan us a Snap-On air hammer, so that's the best option. Both Ricky (Flintstone Media Blasting, Flinstone, GA) and Tony (Tony's Auto Body, Soddy Daisy, TN) are always willing to help us out when they can. It's nice to have good friends! We will probably get a gift card to Summit or Jegs for the use of the air hammer.

Eventually, we will need to buy one because Chad is talking about notching his stepper next. Have I said that I HATE RIVETS?

POP

Snap-On air hammer is the only way
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[CC69Rat]

Trailing arm brackets are off.. gosh I hate rivets

Hotchkis anti-squat kit on the way tonight. More coming soon
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[Bennett68C10]

Nice can't wait to see some updated pics
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[superflysteiny]

Frame looks great as do the notches

[CC69Rat]

I appreciate it fellas.

I have 1.5" blocks, new U bolts, shims, etc. on the way. The trailing arms were blasted and came out like new. Dad is finishing them up now. We're about ready to start bolting things back up.

When we were taking the brackets off, we kinda chewed them up in places so I just got another set. One of the guys on the forum had a set of the Hotchkis adjustable brackets, so I'm going with them on this truck. That kit is almost $300 from Summit, but you get extra U bolts, shims, and grade 8 bolts .. That I don't need (?) All I need are the brackets I'll get for $50. So, .. saved a little on the whole kit. He was using everything but the front trailing arm brackets, so it just workd out.

I'm just waiting on my bolts and blocks now, next will be the 5 lug swap over and mounting up my rear brakes, wheels, etc.

Dad is working on the initial sanding on my bedwood this morning. Spar coat #1 should go on today (on the backsides first)