Guess this is what Ken was alluding to Deve, this first link that I posted CLEARLY shows a bracket with four (close to 3/8”) rivets being hot riveted to an automobile frame. Couldn’t be more descriptive if the guys were standing in your garage explaining it in person. The “labels” even explain that they are using a pneumatic bucking bar. Once again:
I can understand where you’re coming from Deve, cuz I like to think that I’m a purest, at least a 95% purest. If, I had to replace rivets in one of my frames, they would be as the factory had installed, definitely not Bolts unless bolts were used originally. I could have used machine screws when I reassembled my 1950, 3604 grill but I chose to do it like the factory did with semi-tubular rivets. http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/1950_grill&page=all It cost a bit more than the $4.95 box of machine screws that most people use but I know what’s behind it and that’s what matters to me. To do your total frame restoration is gonna require you to invest a few hundred in equipment but if you spread that out over a few frames it doesn’t sound so unreasonable. That’s the way I look at the rivet equipment I’ve purchased.