VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Grille 3 pieces

Hello, I have a 1932 grille shell thats all apart and polished. Its in 3 pieces. what is the best way of reassembling it. Does it need welting between any of the pieces. whats the best way to rivet it back together without wrecking anything. does anyone sell all the rivets for this.
Any help would be great.

Thank You,
Luke

I used what I call "blind" rivets. The rivet consists of a male and female rivet that screws together. They come in various lenghts. I used those on my 1930 radiator shell and they look great. From the outside of the shell you can hardly tell that they are not the original rivets.

Also the Filling Station sells bolts that have a rivet looking head on them. I used these on my 31 coupe for the radiator shell and also for my hood handles. They look just like a rivet on the outside and a very easy to work with.

If you google rivet several rivet suppliers can be found, Hansen Rivet, McMaster-Carr are among them. I have purchased rivets from both of them in the past the stainless radiator shell rivets are among them. Don't remember which supplier supplied them. If rivets were originally used I use them in the restorations. Occasionally you will have clearance problems with the nuts on the the back of the bolts or screws but not the rivets.

The "blind" rivets don't use nuts. They are flat on both ends so there is no clearance problem.

JYD,
Where do you get the blind rivets?

One place that you can get a form of the "blind" rivet is at a office supply store. Ask for "Chicago Screws".