Re-attaching Drip Rail 1930 Fordor

[ryanheacox]

In my ongoing battle with rotten wood, I discovered that the driver side drip rail is beginning to detach at the front of the car. I first thought that it was nails pulling out of rotting wood but I then discovered that someone reattached the drip rail with pop rivets at some time... surely because the nails pulled out and now the furthest front one has loosened up. It hasn't pulled out completely but it has allowed about a 1/8" gap to open up.

Wondering what the best way to go about reattaching it would be? Actually first what would the best way to remove the old pop rivet? The paint on this car is nice but it really does seem like they put lipstick on a pig


You can see in the photos where it pulled away and how much. The next fastener in line is tight. Was thinking I’d try to sneak a hacksaw blade in there and cut the rivet to get it out? Still no idea how to reattach it though.