The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Vent Window Weatherstrip Rivets

Could use some pointers on installing the rivets for the vertical vent window weatherstrip. I have the rivet setting tool and have tried using the vise and a hammer and am not getting it done.

Who has done this and can share a few suggestions?

Would like to get this done this weekend.

I found a clean piece of steel the thickness of the channel and put that in the vise to sit the channel on for final flattening .... still not easy, and it helps to have a second pair of hands as back up

Bill

I used the vise to set the rivets. Your vise needs to be able to open far enough to fit the end of the rivet tool against one side, and the vent frame against the other. Put the rivet through the weather stripping with the head on the vent side, and use the vise to slowly "set" the rivet.
A second pair of hands is certainly helpful, I made my daughter help.

Those are great suggestions. I have some 3/8 and 1/2 plate I can cut a backing drift from.

The original also had the vertical window channel stripping riveted to the frame using the same rivets. Did anyone repeat this or just set that stripping using adhesive? The rivets I have do not look long enough to go through both pieces of stripping.

I just used some kind of black silicone adhesive, there isn't much stress on the window channel anyway.
By the way, just wait until you try to set the rivet on the vent upper pivot!

I did what what red58 said.I used a 1966 door hinge and tightened it in the vise.I slipped the channel over the hinge edge and set a rivet,slid it down set another rivet.
To set the upper vent pivot,i used the flat surface of my vise.You might want to have someone hold the vent assembly when setting the pivot rivet.Take your time,they will turn out great.
I also used the rivet setting tool that you have.
Good luck !!

I just did mine...vise grips works the best...I powered it flat using my hands and grips...as for the seal, I went to lowes and bought pop rivots...and put it in like it came...easy just take your time...

I cut the rivit tool to about 3/4" long and welded it to a set of vice grip clamps.I welded a piece of 5/16 flat to hold against the head

Wow, I am a few months out from doing the same thing and from what I read don't look forward to the experience. Has anyone pictures they can post on the steps to making this work?

Got the first vent assembly done except for the pivot. Scratched the new paint a bit so a minor touch up in the morning and finished soon after lunch I hope. The second assembly is now dismantled and taking an acid bath. I am taking pics of this process to help the next lucky bolter.

I tried the pop rivets also using 1/8 dia x 1/4 long rivets. They had to go in from the front side which left a significant 'tail" in the window channel. After grinding this down the rivet lost any retaining force. I moved up to a 3/16 dia rivet and found that it would hold after grinding down the back side but the head did not set down in the stripping enough for my taste. It would work that way but it would rob me of the full experience.

One trick I found if you use the vise is that if your vise does not have enough throat on it you can cut down the rivet setting tool to get enough clearance. I also did a couple using the swinging press and the results were acceptable also. a short length of 3/8 thick plate works well as a backing drift also.

The vertical window channel will get anchored at the bottom by a pop rivet and use adhesive along the rest of the channel to keep it in place.

Thanks for the suggestions.