Cross member rivets - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

wdsteeves · 11-13-2006, 07:01 PM

I have 3 cross members to remove.What is the best way to remove the rivets? Thanks

msgross · 11-13-2006, 07:16 PM

get a $2 4" cutoff wheel and attach it to your hand grinder. Knicks em right off if you can get to em. punch the rivet out then with a hammer/chisel or air chisel.

ghetto_superman · 11-13-2006, 07:46 PM

we torch em.. starting from the top of the rivet and blow it away... no damage to the frame.

ghetto_superman · 11-13-2006, 07:47 PM

and it involves fire- which is usually pretty sweet!

67Fleet · 11-13-2006, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghetto_superman

and it involves fire- which is usually pretty sweet!

I take a grinder and cut an X pattern in the rivet, then use an air chisel and knock the head off. Then put a bull point bit in the air hammer and punch the rivet out.

ghetto_superman · 11-13-2006, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67Fleet

I take a grinder and cut an X pattern in the rivet, then use an air chisel and knock the head off. Then put a bull point bit in the air hammer and punch the rivet out.

pretty good idea! i just always used the torch cause im a pyro... it would be much easier not to have to get that thing out every time i suppose!

roj2323 · 11-13-2006, 08:29 PM

i've done it 3 ways and by far the easest is an air chisel. a bit that looks like a wood chisel "flat on one side with about a 30% angle on the other side." granted a torch is faster but also more dangerous to yourself and the frame if you don't know what your doing. i've also had great luck with a grinder with a 40 grit flap disk.

ondrew

*Shane* · 11-13-2006, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67Fleet

I take a grinder and cut an X pattern in the rivet, then use an air chisel and knock the head off. Then put a bull point bit in the air hammer and punch the rivet out.

Same here ... X with a Zizz wheel and then the ol' cold chisel and a big a$$ hammer!

Haven't found one yet that wouldn't come out using this method. Although some require a larger hammer than others.

SanitysBane · 11-13-2006, 09:33 PM

When in doubt, get a bigger hammer.

lilpup69chevy · 11-13-2006, 09:37 PM

on my 69 some jerk took a torch and cut the 3 spd crossmember out of it leaving part of it on the frame still with the rivets attached, why he didn't just blow off the rivet heads i do not know but thats something left for me now

leftcoast66 · 11-13-2006, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilpup69chevy

on my 69 some jerk took a torch and cut the 3 spd crossmember out of it leaving part of it on the frame still with the rivets attached, why he didn't just blow off the rivet heads i do not know but thats something left for me now

I did that on mine because I didn't want to get too close to the fuel lines which run inside of the passenger side of the frame if I remember correctly(haven't seen the truck in 4 months). Now that I read this thread I'm gonna go and cut them out with an airchizzle and a grinder, cuz I didn't know that method at the time.

ghetto_superman · 11-28-2006, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilpup69chevy

on my 69 some jerk took a torch and cut the 3 spd crossmember out of it leaving part of it on the frame still with the rivets attached, why he didn't just blow off the rivet heads i do not know but thats something left for me now

its actually pretty surprising how many ive seen done like that..

bagged69c10 · 11-28-2006, 04:50 PM

Im about to do this. I think Ill use the X method with an air hammer and cutoff wheel.

Jeremy536 · 11-28-2006, 05:34 PM

I have found that an air chisel can be the quickest and easiest way.

SCOTI · 11-28-2006, 08:57 PM

Try getting to those top rivets on that crossmember & you'll know why some people just cut it off flush w/the frame rail. You won't get a cut-off wheel or air chisel in there & not everyone has access to a torch.

On the few trucks I've done, if we didn't have a torch & the truck was completly assembled, we just cut the c.member flush w/the frame so that it was out of the way.

If the body was off, we removed all rivets & pieces completely.

11-13-2006, 07:01 PM	#1
wdsteeves Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Peachland Posts: 106	Cross member rivets I have 3 cross members to remove.What is the best way to remove the rivets? Thanks

11-13-2006, 07:16 PM	#2
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: Cross member rivets get a $2 4" cutoff wheel and attach it to your hand grinder. Knicks em right off if you can get to em. punch the rivet out then with a hammer/chisel or air chisel.

11-13-2006, 07:46 PM	#3
ghetto_superman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 1,982	Re: Cross member rivets we torch em.. starting from the top of the rivet and blow it away... no damage to the frame. __________________ -1947 3100 -1968 C10 -1970 K20

11-13-2006, 07:47 PM	#4
ghetto_superman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 1,982	Re: Cross member rivets and it involves fire- which is usually pretty sweet! __________________ -1947 3100 -1968 C10 -1970 K20

11-13-2006, 08:29 PM	#7
roj2323 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Somewhere Posts: 985	Re: Cross member rivets i've done it 3 ways and by far the easest is an air chisel. a bit that looks like a wood chisel "flat on one side with about a 30% angle on the other side." granted a torch is faster but also more dangerous to yourself and the frame if you don't know what your doing. i've also had great luck with a grinder with a 40 grit flap disk. ondrew

11-13-2006, 09:33 PM	#9
SanitysBane Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,121	Re: Cross member rivets When in doubt, get a bigger hammer. __________________ '96 Nissan Pathfinder '02 Firebird Trans Am. '88 K5 Blazer

11-13-2006, 09:37 PM	#10
lilpup69chevy 67-72 parts finder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: southeast mo Posts: 788	Re: Cross member rivets on my 69 some jerk took a torch and cut the 3 spd crossmember out of it leaving part of it on the frame still with the rivets attached, why he didn't just blow off the rivet heads i do not know but thats something left for me now __________________ 1969 chevy shortstep 2wd (under construction) 1981 chevy scottsdale lwb 2wd (parts chaser) 2004 pontiac gto (daily driver) 2004 pontiac grand prix gt (the ol ladys car) 1985 chevy short wide 1970 chevy c10 lwb (another parts rig) 1969 gmc lwb (rainy day project) 1968 chevy lwb c10 250 I6 3 spd (soon to be swb)

11-28-2006, 04:50 PM	#13
bagged69c10 soon to be bagged64sub Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW-currently phoenix Posts: 635	Re: Cross member rivets Im about to do this. I think Ill use the X method with an air hammer and cutoff wheel. __________________ 1969 c-10, bagged, Zd, 20" Boyds SOLD! 1964 Suburban COMING SOON Build threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=304726 1965 c-10 long bed 1993 Sierra x-cab 1999 tahoe-4/5 on 22s 2005 Chevy work truck

11-28-2006, 05:34 PM	#14
Jeremy536 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 7	Re: Cross member rivets I have found that an air chisel can be the quickest and easiest way.

11-28-2006, 08:57 PM	#15
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,066	Re: Cross member rivets Try getting to those top rivets on that crossmember & you'll know why some people just cut it off flush w/the frame rail. You won't get a cut-off wheel or air chisel in there & not everyone has access to a torch. On the few trucks I've done, if we didn't have a torch & the truck was completly assembled, we just cut the c.member flush w/the frame so that it was out of the way. If the body was off, we removed all rivets & pieces completely. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.* Last edited by SCOTI; 11-28-2006 at 08:59 PM.



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