Instrument cluster rivets

[redfourjohnd]

Hi Everyone,

My gauge faces are rusty, so I have to remove them, blast, paint, decal, and reattach them with new rivets.

Lil Wendal said (in his awesome rebuild thread-thanks again!) to get the rivets from hanson rivets. I've removed some and measured them. All are 3/32" diameter with a 9/64" head. I believe they are the truss head type. Oil pressure gauge rivet length is 1/16" (this is also the combined thickness of the face and the body). Speedo is 1/4" length. Both lengths do not include the "clinch" material, that rolls over and secures the deal.

Hanson recommended Mcmaster Carr, they don't have anything this small either.

I realize I'm being picky here, but does anyone know where to get exact replacements? Should I just drill to a bigger diameter hole or something? Nuts and bolts? Epoxy? What do you guys think?

Thanks!

John D

[runningman]

John,

I got my rivets from Hanson's.  I can't remember the size that I got though.  I will try to find them and see what I got.

Matt

[redfourjohnd]

Runningman, that would be awesome!

I found some 3/32" pop rivets online at fastenal.com, which have the proper "clinch range". They'll even sell them one at a time.

I would like to get original style though, if possible.

Thanks again,

John D

[ktneifert09]

I just used pop rivets 3/32 and I had to slightly drill the holes out oversize.  Then I'll touch them up with a little black paint so you can't see them even if you stick your nose right up to the guage.  Oh - bought the pop riveter and rivets at Harbor Freight.

[redfourjohnd]

I was going to do exactly that, but couldn't get the pop rivets locally. I got some little 3-48 machine screws that fit pretty good. I'm going to try them with a lockwasher and a little loctite.

Thanks!

John D

[ktneifert09]

This seems like it would work as well.  Harbor Freight has a good website www.harborfreight.com and you can find almost anything.  I bought my engine stand and floorjack from them as well.  FYI.

[redfourjohnd]

I'm doing the faces now. In preparation I Called Dave at performance car graphics with some questions, and also asked him what they do for rivets. He said that they use the 3-48 bolts, and was surprised I found some at Ace hardware. Good to know.

Thanks,

John D

[ktneifert09]

FYI - I got my graphics from Performance Graphics and they look beautiful!  Painted the faces with Rustoleum flat black and you can't even see the edges.

[redfourjohnd]

Got my decals on too. They do look nice!

I had to call Dave AGAIN about my odometer wheel. He re-numbered it for me and I was having trouble getting the numbers to line up in the window properly. he told me how to orient them and it looks great. It was the third time I had called him with questions, and it was the third time that he was helpful, gracious, etc, etc..

Great people to deal with.

John D