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 Posted: Oct 22, 2020 09:52AM
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WOW, I was JUST thinking about all of this. I had the same issue when the large rivet gun. Marked up my fresh painted Rover arch on the first rivet. Not cool! I like the idea of a simple spacer to make up the difference. 
 
I am thinking of going the riv-nut way next time. Slightly hesitant to drill larger holes into the car though. Anyone have good luck going this route and can recommend a specific (thinking small) size that worked best? Also, how well do the rivnuts hold up? Reason I ask this is that Rover used them to hold the evap valve to the car...and one of mine required the aid of some vise-grips to get off. I have even tried to retighten the rivnut with the proper tool and it does the same.

 Posted: Oct 5, 2020 05:57PM
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Stainless screws are the way to go, because dirt builds up inside the arches and needs to be removed.

 Posted: Oct 4, 2020 08:04AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tothefloor
  • I just used screws too and they’ve lasted 30 years.
Ditto when I replaced the stock rover plastic flares. Where the existing holes in the wing did not hold the screw (one or two places), I put a metal tab behind the wing for the screw to bite into. Screws would also be better as you can tighten them "just right" - pop rivets pose the risk of applying too much force on the plastic.

I used prefinished black screws. I don't recall if they came with the new flares or I sourced them elsewhere.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Oct 4, 2020 08:02AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tothefloor
  • I just used screws too and they’ve lasted 30 years.
Ditto when I replaced the stock rover plastic flares. Where the existing holes in the wing did not hold the screw (one or two places), I put a metal tab behind the wing for the screw to bite into. Screws would also be better as you can tighten them "just right" - pop rivets pose the risk of applying too much force on the plastic.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Oct 3, 2020 10:53PM
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  • I just used screws too and they’ve lasted 30 years. I’ve just started thinking about taking them off but I put on 6 inch wheels.

 Posted: Oct 3, 2020 07:02AM
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That sounds like a much better/easier option. Thanks!

 Posted: Oct 1, 2020 06:20PM
 Edited:  Oct 7, 2020 01:11PM
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Or you could use stainless screws or bolts with riv nuts that way if you ever have to remove them it is easy peasy plus it looks 100% better imo.


If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Oct 1, 2020 11:03AM
 Edited:  Oct 1, 2020 11:13AM
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I highly recommend that you put padding or something around the pop rivet area so that when the nail breaks and the tool and what's left of the nail when it jumps, it doesn't scratch the paint. Been there done that!

"Retired:  No Job, No Money, Wife and I!  Will travel anywhere for Minis"

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 Posted: Oct 1, 2020 10:46AM
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Has worked well for me. Also works on the clips for MK 1 whiskers.Quote:
Originally Posted by hotelcalif
I cut a short piece of metal brake line. Like 1/8 inch. A spacer between the rivit head and gun.


 Posted: Oct 1, 2020 05:59AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hotelcalif
I cut a short piece of metal brake line. Like 1/8 inch. A spacer between the rivit head and gun.
Good Idea!

On my old pop rivet tool, (probably different than what you have), years ago for some other project, I ground down the rim of the tip to make it small enough to get in for the task. It was needlessly fat for standard 1/8" pop rivets.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Sep 30, 2020 11:47PM
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I cut a short piece of metal brake line. Like 1/8 inch. A spacer between the rivit head and gun.


 Posted: Sep 30, 2020 05:56PM
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You might need a rivet gun with an extended nose.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NPT74C/?tag=cb-global-20

"How can anything bigger be mini?"

 Posted: Sep 30, 2020 04:30PM
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Attempting to change my Rover mini wheel arches with the basic plastic ones and my rivet gun it too large to fit in the opening to attach the flares. Is there a certain rivet gun, or a trick to do this? Thanks.