Rivets

[Canadian818]

Are the supplied rivets aluminum or stainless? And roughly how many are needed? I'm looking to buy some coloured ones.

[Wayne Presley]

They are aluminum and you will need 500-600 short and 200ish long ones.

[Canadian818]

Thank you Wayne.

[first time builder]

They are aluminum, Speedway motors sell colored ones.

Kenny

[Hayai]

Wow, I like the idea of using colored rivets! I'm just imagining them all in an anodized red, or even green!

[AZPete]

Also check McMaster-Carr. I had a tough time finding 1/8" black rivets and they had them, plus lots of other fasteners. Lots.

[RM1SepEx]

the black coating on the mcmaster rivets rubbed off very easily

[Rasmus]

Must not be my thing; I think raw aluminum rivets are the best looking.

[first time builder]

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Tru-Rivets-Small-Head-1-8-Inch,1565.html
They have other sizes as well.

Kenny

[Canadian818]

There's no rivets on my parts list. Anyone have specs on them? 1/8? .5" length?

[Bob_n_Cincy]

There's no rivets on my parts list. Anyone have specs on them? 1/8? .5" length?
you should have rivets in box 4
see my BOM
24175

[Triathletedave]

Are the supplied rivets aluminum or stainless? And roughly how many are needed? I'm looking to buy some coloured ones.

Depending on the color you want, we might be able to double the order, as I was thinking of doing the same.

[Junty]

Could someone please elaborate on length, short and long is just a little vague...

[K3LAG]

These are the sizes that came in my hardware package. I presume everyone is getting the same.



Diameter
Length
Quantity


3/16
.300
20


3/16
.550
80


1/8
.500
200


1/8
.250
300




Larry

[Junty]

Thanks Larry, very much appreciated. I'll convert to metric for suppliers down in NZ and start searching.

[K3LAG]

Here is even more detail on the rivets. The actual packages/labels.

2467624677

Larry

[Xusia]

Funny you should post this. We stared at the 1/8" 1/2 and 1/8" 1/4 trying to figure out which is for the aluminum panels - the manual doesn't say which, but it looks like the 1/2 based on the thicknesses of the metals.

[Harley818]

anyone planning to use stainless rivets (stronger) or is it better to stick to aluminum with the aluminum panels? Is corrosion an issue with the aluminum rivets and potential salt in northern regions?

[Xusia]

Sure, you could buy stainless, but the panels are so thin (and are not stressed) the strength just isn't needed. It would be money spent strictly for the pleasure of having stainless rivets (which would be kinda cool).

I'm pretty sure aluminum doesn't corrode, so you should be fine.

[flynntuna]

There probably some galvanic corrosion taking place. Though the silicone should be an effective barrier to help prevent any problems. For those with OCD a little paint in each hole drilled to make sure. :rolleyes:

[ktm]

Just joking -- but do you really plan on driving this topless no heated wonder in the snow? More power to ya if you do. However we light weight, sniveling, pansy (and not to mention just plain wimpy) Southerners don't have those sorts of issues or the gumption to give it a try! :)

[Harley818]

No not planning to drive it in the snow, but up here there is lots of residual salt on the road until late spring. I do plan to drive it on sunny days during early spring and winter. Its not that cold here in Vancouver.
Also, Ive seen some pretty bad white corrosion on aluminum up here due to salt. I think I'll go Stainless just to be sure. I like what a couple guys did with the grey powdercoating on the panels and stainless or coloured rivets would look good.

[Xusia]

I did some searching. Wouldn't you know it, aluminum corrodes on the surface which forms a protective barrier against additional corrosion. This is a good thing. However, that natural protective barrier is somewhat porous and susceptible to things like salt getting in and causing additional corrosion. This is bad.

Good catch Harley818!

Vancouver WA or BC?

[Niburu]

Having grown up on Long Island, I can tell you if you live anywhere near the coast your car is being corroded by the salt in the air, I've had a scratch in the paint develop surface rust in about 2 hours in the middle of summer.
That said, you may have a decade or 2 before you have to worry about the rivets corroding out.

[Harley818]

Xusia,
I'm in Vancouver BC.
Its the whiteish film on the rivets I wouldn't like..... I think I'll go stainless.
I'm not really worried about them corroding out, but I have seen corrosion to the point where the surface is all white and I'm worried the rivet will come loose.

Harley

[Xusia]

You could also paint the rivets (and problem solved). I'm not trying to talk you out of it, rather proving ideas/options you might not have considered.

[Triathletedave]

These are the sizes that came in my hardware package. I presume everyone is getting the same.



Diameter
Length
Quantity


3/16
.300
20


3/16
.550
80


1/8
.500
200


1/8
.250
300




Larry

Just to clarify, the lengths listed on these rivets - is that the full length of the rivet, or the mid-point of the grip range needed? I can't see that we would ever need a 1/2" grip range on anything on this car. I'm trying to source coloured rivets here in Canada, but having no luck so far.

[Canadian818]

Perry mentioned that Edmonton nut and bolt sells them on Saturday. Maybe call them.

[Goldwing]

Those measurement are actual length, not the grip length. Good distinction! I'd also increase the number of short 3/16" rivets. You'll likely use them.

[K3LAG]

Just to clarify, the lengths listed on these rivets - is that the full length of the rivet, or the mid-point of the grip range needed? I can't see that we would ever need a 1/2" grip range on anything on this car. I'm trying to source coloured rivets here in Canada, but having no luck so far.

That is the over all length of the rivet itself. The grip range is shown on the package photos in post #16 above.

Larry

[Triathletedave]

Perry mentioned that Edmonton nut and bolt sells them on Saturday. Maybe call them.

No luck unless I want 1,000 of each size. Yikes!

[Triathletedave]

Those measurement are actual length, not the grip length. Good distinction! I'd also increase the number of short 3/16" rivets. You'll likely use them.

Thanks for the tip. Finally sourced some on ebay. I think I will have extras in both sizes now.

[Canadian818]

Did you get clecos yet Dave?

[Triathletedave]

Did you get clecos yet Dave?

Yup, borrowed some from a buddy. I also ordered the small rivet spacer you mentioned. Should come in very handy.

Cheers,

Dave