vent windows rivets tool?

[rddaves54]

I am replacing the rubber in vent windows with new rivets.

Can the rivet tool seen in LMC or the Truck Shop catalog purchased at a local parts store and if so what would it be called and what do I need to look for?

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by rddaves54

I am replacing the rubber in vent windows with new rivets.

Can the rivet tool seen in LMC or the Truck Shop catalog purchased at a local parts store and if so what would it be called and what do I need to look for?

Never seen one in a chain store. They do not do a good job IMO. We have used a tapered punch first of to kind of start the rivet with a curve. The tool does not work good with a straight sided rivet and can flatten out real easy. Using a series or tapered punches then the tool will work OK most of the time. They will tend to split sometimes. You can make your own if you know some who has a lathe or drill press with a tool holder.

[leddzepp]

I just did my vent windows. Use a pop rivet gun and make your life easy. On the "pivot rivet" on the frame, I just left it alone and removed the front brace holding it to the frame. Much easier to pop in 2 rivets than using a tool to flatten out the one that pivots.
If you do remove the pivot rivet and need to install a new one, you can use the rivet punch tool in a vice to press it on. It worked for me, but it was a lot easier to just remove the bracket and replace those two rivets instead.

I have never seen the tool in a local parts store either.

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

I just did my vent windows. Use a pop rivet gun and make your life easy. On the "pivot rivet" on the frame, I just left it alone and removed the front brace holding it to the frame. Much easier to pop in 2 rivets than using a tool to flatten out the one that pivots.
If you do remove the pivot rivet and need to install a new one, you can use the rivet punch tool in a vice to press it on. It worked for me, but it was a lot easier to just remove the bracket and replace those two rivets instead.

I have never seen the tool in a local parts store either.

That probably is alot easier

[cdowns]

craft stores may have a suitable tool if they carry leather working tools//my hardware store carries rivet setting tools

[71 super]

Just rebuilt a set for my brother today and used the pop rivet method instead of the tool designed for the job. I ws finished within 2 hours while the set I did for my truck in the winter used the rivot tool and took two days. the pop rivet gun is the way to go. I used a small tack hammer and bradded the back of the rivets before installing the window fuzzy and eveything went in without a hitch. Also as Scott stated, the bracket is much easier route to do than the pivot rivet. Take your time and look at it as you take it apart and only do one at a time.

[rddaves54]

What you are saying is take the rivets off from the frame where it pivots but not the pivot rivet and then slide the window up and out.

Put rubber in place and pop rivet everything back in place. Then you said “. I used a small tack hammer and bradded the back of the rivets before installing the window fuzzy.” Does that mean you flattened the back side of the pop rivet to make fuzzy fit?

Did you use blind rivet or the ones that comes from LMC or Truck Shop? What size rivet did you use or did you just get on to fit the hole. I got rivets from LMC but not the tool.

[leddzepp]

We used pop rivets...available at any home depot or lowes. They are different than the ones sold by the truck parts vendors. I used I believe 4mm and 3mm ones (width measurements). I had to grind down a few of them before installing so that they would not be too long when set. They some in short, med, and long lengths. I found that the short ones were too short, and the med ones were too long, so I grinded some of the meds down to fit.
I believe Harold flattened his out on the backside of the frame, so that the channel liner would sit flush inside the channel....also keeps the window from hitting on them when rolling it up and down. I put some rivets in from the front, and some from the back...just depended on how I could get the gun in there.

[mbgmike]

These work great

[71 super]

Scott is right on the money. The rivets I used were a fuzz too long so I used a small hammer to flatten the rivets down so the fuzzy would sit flat. The pivot bracket will come off much easier than the pivot rivet will go back in.