What do you guys do to remove frame rivets?

[Jefferson-Mo]

What's the best way to remove the rivets that hold crossmembers and body mounts?

without damaging the frame..............

Cutoff wheel? Drill? Grind? Torch?


I'm gonna need to remove abot 20 or so and I'm lookin for the easy way out

 

[55Willy]

I'v always just used a 4.5" grinder and a center punch.

 

[bbck5on37s]

TORCH!!!!

 

[big83chevy4x4]

I'v always just used a 4.5" grinder and a center punch.

same here, for the ones i can't reach with the grinder, i use the torch.

 

[cbbr]

Yep. Grind off the heads and pop them out.

 

[RockinChevy]

Use an electric 4.5" grinder. I used the air die grinder but it was wayyy too slow so the electric one was much quicker.

 

[neverendingproject]

I always used a small drill bit (1/8) in the very middle of the head about a half inch deep, and then hit it with a 1/2 drill bit till the head comes off. Hit it with the punch and out it comes. Takes me about a minute per rivet.

 

[MTChevy]

if you got a lot to do, use a torch... it saved me i can tell you that... just gotta be very very careful

 

[lar300mag]

When me and a buddy was working on my truck, he used a cold chisel and a BFH. didn't take him long either, intill he hit his hand and broke it. Then we used a torch

 

[stevos67k20]

When me and a buddy was working on my truck, he used a cold chisel and a BFH. didn't take him long either, intill he hit his hand and broke it. Then we used a torch

LOL. does anyone have a pic of how they used a torch? i have a torch and alot of rivets to take off and i dont want a hole in my frame. do you just hold the torch flush to the frame? its seems so risky...

 

[Snowman1000]

heat the head of the rivet then on a low angle with a small burst of oxygen cut away the head of the rivet until you get down to the frame Very easy just watch out for fuel lines and anything else

 

[muddermilitia]

I always used a small drill bit (1/8) in the very middle of the head about a half inch deep, and then hit it with a 1/2 drill bit till the head comes off. Hit it with the punch and out it comes. Takes me about a minute per rivet.

this is how its done! the best way hands down, and no damage to the frame

 

[nova]

Air hammer and a good chisel!! I have done many rivets with this method with no problems. Its way fast with no frame damage.

 

[blasphemous]

Air hammer and a good chisel!! I have done many rivets with this method with no problems. Its way fast with no frame damage.

I've got the hardware, but what do you classify as a "good" chisel? Sources for that?

 

[ramjet gmc]

grinder and punch and for the ones i can not get with a grinder a drill and punch i do not have a torch

 

[lar300mag]

lay the torch on its side and "wash" away the rivet head, little at a time. It can be a risky, but for a no risk way, use an angle grinder, air chisel or cold chisel. You can also drill out the heads, it was mentioned in an earlier post. One of the things I have learned is to take your time, if you rush things, something always messes up, it does to me.

 

[bear76]

Drilling, IMO, is the easiest.

 

[rdn2blazer]

I just look at each rivet with a scowl and point at them with one hand and a clinched fist with the other. they pop out with fear and jump right into my trash can, works everytime.

 

[gmc4cw]

grinder and punch and for the ones i can not get with a grinder a drill and punch i do not have a torch

same method for me. I use a flap wheel on the grinder so that it doesn't cut into the frame or bracket.

 

[roadnotca]

I just look at each rivet with a scowl and point at them with one hand and a clinched fist with the other. they pop out with fear and jump right into my trash can, works everytime.

Just don't be around when does that,all your fillings will fall out.
Chuck Norris doesn't hang-out in So Cal either.