15 replies to this topic

[Mini V]

Hi folks... tryin to put on the standard mini wheel arches after gettin them sprayed and its SOOOO tricky to rivet them on! Im using a hand rivet gun and cant even access some of the areas behind the bodywork... and for the back arches its the actual bodywork under the wheel. thats in the way!

Is it worth just takin it in to a mini mechanic? Or is my manual hand rivet gun ok?

wots the best way to tackles this? any suggestions... cheers

[Rob]

Use self tappers instead. So much easier and you can take them on and off as you please. But use the flat faced type because the taper ones can crack the plastic.

[bluebottle]

no more nails!....... :cheese:

[Mini V]

no more nails!....... :cheese:

lol! no way blue bottle?? u can not be serious!?

[Mini V]

Use self tappers instead. So much easier and you can take them on and off as you please. But use the flat faced type because the taper ones can crack the plastic.

hmm self tappers... sounds good i guess but my previous holes for the old rivets r kinda large and id have to do a lota filler work id imagine to get the screws in. Plus, theyd be easy for some1 to nick! :-o lol!

good idea tho rob! thanks.

[Woody]

I have used alen headed bolts , first you need a rivnut gun , this puts in a rivet type thing with a tread in it into your wing/rear 1/4, then fit your arches with alen headed bolts , no cracking and you can remove then if you want (if you use pop rivets and try to take them off they will be knackered)
self-tappers are hard to find with a small head but with a threaded section large enuf to grip on the sides of the hole left by the rivet .
although i did once see an arch fitted with wood screws and rawl plugs

[Cir-clipalot]

Im using a hand rivet gun and cant even access some of the areas behind the bodywork... and for the back arches its the actual bodywork under the wheel. thats in the way!

Not sure what you mean, rivets are designed for use when you cant reach the areas behind the panel! I prefer them to screws because once youve drilled the holes you can paint them to stop em rusting (bit harder with screws which will always cut and start rust), plus i think it looks better (depending on the type of arch if the fixings are visible).
Buy good quality rivets and gun and i cant see you having any problems?

[Dan]

That's what I was going to say, you don't need to get to the back of the panel with blind rivets. You should use the genuine wheel arch blind rivets as they won't crack the arches which some tighter pop rivets can do and they have a coloured head so they hide better.

[Mini V]

hmm... im pretty sure ive got the riveting business all messed up! doh!!

ive been putting the rivet head bit on the outside and pushing the pin bit thru from the front of the rivet towards the inside of the panel and then putting the rivet gun on the end and squeezing it! (nothing happens by the way! doesnt snap off or anything...)

Might have to get back to you guys with some pics of the rivet bits and the rivet gun heads if thatl be easier to explain it....?

And then id very much appreciate if you could be so kind to help me explain what goes where! LOL

[screech]

put the rivet in the hole, with the long pin sticking out, then slide the gun onto the pin, from the outside, and squeez squeez pop!
Don't need to gain access to the INSIDE of anything, all from the OUTSIDE.

[miniman5]

isnt it posible to do it with the wheel off? if the worse comes to the worse use some screws, thats what i did

[Cir-clipalot]

Sounds like yer doing it right, but you need to get the nozzle right up to the saucer-shaped part of the rivet and squeeze really hard, youll hear a loud snap and hope you dont have your fingers between the gun's handles.

[Pooky]

I tried this but my pop riveter's head wouldn't fit into the groove in the arch!

I think i nut 'n' bolted all i could then screwed the rest!

[Mini V]

i may be a tad useless when it comes to minis but every once in a while i like to show off my artistic skills... lololol

is this correct chaps? (screech?) attached pic

cheers me dears...

p.s. the rivet seems to have vanished in the pic. lol. its between number 1 and 2 along the arrow! doh!

Attached Files

•  lol.jpg   65.69K   5 downloads

[Pooky]

I put my rivets in the gun, then in the hole, then squeeze squeeze squeeze but i suppose it doesn't matter!

Can you get your rivetter in the grooves in the arches?