Yeah, 'shear' strength using bolts is inadequate for riveted frames. Its not all that much difference, and it does work, but if you have a choice, there was a reason they used rivets with such thin metal in the first place. I also hear that if you put a V8 in these trucks, you should box in the original frame structure. This whole issue depends on if you want to do it right, or roll the dice. From the great responses I have gotten from this thread, its not that hard to just re-rivet with a small investment in tools.
