The Ford Barn

FirstA · 05-10-2012, 02:30 PM

I just started on my first Model A project, a 29 closed cab pickup. I am presently taking the box apart. It is very solid but rusty and needs to be sandblasted. My question is, what is the easiest way to remove the rivets? I have tried drilling, then knocking the rivet out with a punch or knocking the head off with a chisel, then the punch. I don't want to grind the rivets off for fear of doing damage to other parts.
I know there is always an easier method. Help is appreciated.

Huckster Dave · 05-10-2012, 02:50 PM

Center punch and drill the head. Just finished with same problem.

ford1 · 05-10-2012, 03:46 PM

like dave says, drill the head, but not all the way thru the rivet, you want the end of rivet to be there so the end of the punch has something to push on when you drive it out, if you need to cut whats left of the rivet off use a metal chizel that has only one tapered face, like a wood chizel, with the rivet drilled there will not be much metal left to cut

FirstA · 05-10-2012, 03:56 PM

Thanks for the help. Its good to know I was using the right method.

Mike V. Florida · 05-11-2012, 12:21 AM

My son did the same as you. Worked great!

TommyCoupe · 05-11-2012, 06:57 AM

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Most of the rivets I removed, I ground with a cut-off wheel. I only grind on the side of the part that i'm replacing.
In some cases, I center punched and drilled the head.
You can also find a tool from most of the Model A parts suppliers that centers the drill on the head of the rivet. Looks like this. I did not need to use this though.

eagle · 05-11-2012, 01:43 PM

Make sure you use the right size drill bit. If the rivets won't pop out after drilling them, try a slightly larger bit. Don't oversize either as it will remove the head before the drill is deep enough and then it won't come out easy either.

Dune Country · 05-11-2012, 02:05 PM

Just finished doing mine, drill and hit, a little heat (very little) helped on some.
Taking the sides off of the sill plates was a chore, rusted solid in places, I carefully cut them apart with a 12" sawszall blade ( it bends) find the proper rivets, round head.
Waiting for the rivet setter tools to come.

BashawT · 05-11-2012, 03:10 PM

All in all removing rivets is a pain in the ass. Use a good chisel and a nice sharp drill bit. Good luck!

05-10-2012, 02:30 PM	#1
FirstA Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Three Forks, MT 59752 Posts: 71	Removing rivets I just started on my first Model A project, a 29 closed cab pickup. I am presently taking the box apart. It is very solid but rusty and needs to be sandblasted. My question is, what is the easiest way to remove the rivets? I have tried drilling, then knocking the rivet out with a punch or knocking the head off with a chisel, then the punch. I don't want to grind the rivets off for fear of doing damage to other parts. I know there is always an easier method. Help is appreciated.

05-10-2012, 02:50 PM	#2
Huckster Dave Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ronan, Montana Posts: 158	Re: Removing rivets Center punch and drill the head. Just finished with same problem.

05-10-2012, 03:46 PM	#3
ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: oroville ca. Posts: 1,554	Re: Removing rivets like dave says, drill the head, but not all the way thru the rivet, you want the end of rivet to be there so the end of the punch has something to push on when you drive it out, if you need to cut whats left of the rivet off use a metal chizel that has only one tapered face, like a wood chizel, with the rivet drilled there will not be much metal left to cut

05-10-2012, 03:56 PM	#4
FirstA Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Three Forks, MT 59752 Posts: 71	Re: Removing rivets Thanks for the help. Its good to know I was using the right method.

05-11-2012, 12:21 AM	#5
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Removing rivets My son did the same as you. Worked great! __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

05-11-2012, 06:57 AM	#6
TommyCoupe Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 204	Re: Removing rivets Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Most of the rivets I removed, I ground with a cut-off wheel. I only grind on the side of the part that i'm replacing. In some cases, I center punched and drilled the head. You can also find a tool from most of the Model A parts suppliers that centers the drill on the head of the rivet. Looks like this. I did not need to use this though.

05-11-2012, 01:43 PM	#7
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Removing rivets Make sure you use the right size drill bit. If the rivets won't pop out after drilling them, try a slightly larger bit. Don't oversize either as it will remove the head before the drill is deep enough and then it won't come out easy either.

05-11-2012, 02:05 PM	#8
Dune Country Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Winchester Bay OR Posts: 93	Re: Removing rivets Just finished doing mine, drill and hit, a little heat (very little) helped on some. Taking the sides off of the sill plates was a chore, rusted solid in places, I carefully cut them apart with a 12" sawszall blade ( it bends) find the proper rivets, round head. Waiting for the rivet setter tools to come.

05-11-2012, 03:10 PM	#9
BashawT Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Pere, WI Posts: 290	Re: Removing rivets All in all removing rivets is a pain in the ass. Use a good chisel and a nice sharp drill bit. Good luck!