Installing rivet in a tight spot

[dmw16]

I am putting hood pins on my race car and the hood pin sits in a carrier that is attached by 3 rivets.

The front 2 rivets are easy to get to, but the back one is much harder due to the u-shaped segment of the pin assembly. I've included a picture below.

The nose of the rivet gun can't sit against the rivet so it won't squeeze it and I can't access the backside because the hood has a formed back section.

Can I use a narrow piece of tube as a spacer between the rivet and the nose of the gun to allow the gun to draw down on the rivet?

If not, do they make narrow/extended nose rivet guns? I am using a basic Arrow rivet gun right now.

I guess a regular nut and bolt might be an option, but even that is tricky.

 

[Bigplum]

Use a mushroom headed Allen bolts, lot nicer than pop rivets

 

[zx2slow]

Been looking for a answer to this question myself.

 

[454ragtop]

Might try stacking some small washers on top of the rivet, should be fine long as the pull pin is long enough to reach the jaws.
Jim

 

[454ragtop]

Use a mushroom headed Allen bolts, lot nicer than pop rivets

Actually called button heads, would work well long as you have access to the back, available in SS too.

 

[ranger302]

Why not put the rivet in from the bottom? You can get closed rivets that look okay.

 

[Jure]

what about this?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IUSTOQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.toolaid.com/content/14-super-duty-riveter-extended-nose

$50 @ amazon

 

[dmw16]

Why not put the rivet in from the bottom? You can get closed rivets that look okay.

No access from the backside. There is a drawn frame on the backside.

 

[larry_g]

Might try stacking some small washers on top of the rivet, should be fine long as the pull pin is long enough to reach the jaws.
Jim

As above or something like a small piece of pipe or an electronics standoff that will raise the surface the tool presses against above the interference point. You may have to find some rivets with longer pull nails.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[mshell56118]

how about drilling and putting nutsert in then a button head allen

 

[ilovevocs]

Rivnut, screw + Locktite.

 

[dmw16]

As above or something like a small piece of pipe or an electronics standoff that will raise the surface the tool presses against above the interference point. You may have to find some rivets with longer pull nails.

lg
no neat sig line

Going to try this first.

how about drilling and putting nutsert in then a button head allen

Rivnut, screw + Locktite.

And yep, this will be the next move.

 

[The Cobbler]

get some longer rivets, exchange the mandrel into the shorter rivet you are going to use. make up a pipe spacer to slide over the mandrel and voila! if you can't find mandrels long enough, try welding an extension onto them,

 

[jsaw]

I would try the tubing. . I remember reading a tech tip in a magazine years ago the guy used the cap hat threaded on to the top of a spark plug.

 

[ckblum]

Used to do this all the time, use a small piece of aluminum tubing, chunk of brake line, whatever you got around. I would also just grind the head down a bit on the mandrel to fit in tight clearance areas. Pop rivets are easy, monel cherrymax's and hucks are the real challenge.