72 frame rivets?

[72blue]

Hi all! my name is James and I have a 72 k10 swab pickup. I got the truck back in 06 and have put a ton of time and money in it. The engine (sbc 383) is currently out getting a roller cam (last one was not ideal for street) so I'm tying up loose ends on things I never finished (glove box, ac, etc.)

To the matter at hand. I had the body off early on in this build, frame completely bare and cut ALL rivets off frame and powder coated the frame brackets and painted the frame. Brackets are bolted back in with grade 8 bolts (7/16). I've been told by some that I shouldn't have done this cause rivets are stronger/tighter fitting. Did I mess this up? Should I look for a place that can install new rivets? I am not concerned with the engine and trans cross members, however the front, rear, and main crossmember (the one that holds the frame together and the rear axle front spring hangers).

Help what should I do?
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[Bigdav160]

Bolts, like rivets allow some flex in the frame. That's a good thing.

Rivets, however, can't fall out like bolts.

Rivets are available but I don't know how hard they would be to install.

I'd use bolts with loctite and check them for torque occasionally.

[vidman]

Of all the builds that I have done in the last 40 years that I have cut off the rivets and replaced with bolts, I have had O problems with them falling out. Just use some blue loctite and some grade 8 hardware and you will be good to go..

[CUSTOM/10]

I have done both, bolts & rivets. But I used wheel studs nut regular bolts. For one the head looks like a rivet, two they are knurled so if you have the correct size they press into the whole making a very tight fit. But they are expensive and you have to get the right ones.

I have also replaced rivets, not easy but can be done. I made a tool to peen & form the back side of the rivet the goes into my pneumatic hammer. The rivet needs to be cut to just the correct length so when peened it fits tight ! The rivet also expands making it very tight. You need to have a way to clamp the rivet in place, heat the back side cheery red and peen it. It may take a few tries to complete but looks original when done. I used ( Still have a box ) of 7/16 rivets, the originals were 11/32 I believe, but very hard to find.

I never had any issues with either !

Hope this helps !
Gary

[72blue]

Thanks to allof you for your replies. This gives me some confidence in what I have already done. Now wish me luck in getting my engine back together and the truck out on the road (or off roading)

James
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