 Rocker panel rivets, (Again) |
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| chmillman |
 Oct 16 2025, 04:56 AM
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#1
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Member  Group: Members Posts: 250 Joined: 15-June 24 From: Switzerland Member No.: 28,183 Region Association: Europe 
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Thinking about pulling my rocker panels and having them repainted - they are looking a bit dingy and grayish. Plus all the discussions here about looking underneath…
They are currently held on by the plastic rivets - I think - they don’t look great and probably not salvageable. I thought I would put the panels back on with pop rivets, which seem like a more solid solution - black ones are available - I don’t mind having to drill them out if I want to remove the panels again at a later date. I don’t anticipate doing it often. Is there anything that argues strongly against this? |
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| emerygt350 |
Oct 16 2025, 05:12 AM
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#2
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,407 Joined: 20-July 21 From: Upstate, NY Member No.: 25,740 Region Association: North East States |
I use aluminum rivets, drill out real easy. I have a grey car so the color doesn't matter. I pull mine once or twice a year.
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| bdstone914 |
Oct 16 2025, 05:14 AM
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#3
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bdstone914 Group: Members Posts: 5,206 Joined: 8-November 03 From: Riverside CA Member No.: 1,319 |
I just installed a set with aluminum pop rivets. I don't mind the aluminum look. It was quick ans easy. If it ever bugs me I will use a black paint pen on the heads
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| cassmcentee |
Oct 16 2025, 06:04 AM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 243 Joined: 12-July 18 From: Squaw Valley, CA Member No.: 22,304 Region Association: Central California
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I used Rivnuts and stainless hex bolts (same bolts for engine tin)
Easy to take on and off This corner is a little tricky...  |
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| Millerwelds |
Oct 16 2025, 06:06 AM
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#5
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Pleepleus Group: Members Posts: 736 Joined: 24-June 08 From: Grass Valley, CA Member No.: 9,206 Region Association: Northern California |
I am in the process of replacing all the miss matched hardware with M5 rivnut's. The rockers, front and rear valences, headlight covers, sill plates, etc. One allen wrench covers everything. Using black on mine.
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| 930cabman |
Oct 16 2025, 02:38 PM
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#6
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,355 Joined: 12-November 20 From: Buffalo Member No.: 24,877 Region Association: North East States
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I use aluminum pop rivets, a dab of black paint on the head.
done |
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| chmillman |
Oct 16 2025, 02:47 PM
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#7
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Member Group: Members Posts: 250 Joined: 15-June 24 From: Switzerland Member No.: 28,183 Region Association: Europe
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OK, thanks all, I can easily get black ones here anyway. Before I start pulling the old ones out - what diameter are they? 3.2mm? 4mm?
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| Front yard mechanic |
Oct 17 2025, 06:22 AM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,398 Joined: 23-July 15 From: New Mexico Member No.: 18,984 Region Association: None
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Black screws easy on and off ( stupid little plastic rivets are for people with little fingers)
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| rick 918-S |
Oct 17 2025, 06:33 AM
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#9
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Hey nice rack! -Celette Group: Members Posts: 21,140 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Now in Superior WI Member No.: 43 Region Association: Northstar Region 
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914 Rubber has the plastic Rivets
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| bdstone914 |
Oct 17 2025, 07:19 AM
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#10
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bdstone914 Group: Members Posts: 5,206 Joined: 8-November 03 From: Riverside CA Member No.: 1,319 |
QUOTE(Front yard mechanic @ Oct 17 2025, 05:22 AM)  Black screws easy on and off ( stupid little plastic rivets are for people with little fingers) Those take screws. He is talking about the rocker panels not the carpet strips |
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| Root_Werks |
Oct 17 2025, 09:31 AM
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#11
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Village Idiot Group: Members Posts: 8,862 Joined: 25-May 04 From: About 5NM from Canada Member No.: 2,105 Region Association: Pacific Northwest
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Dunno if this helps, I'm using SS rockers which are thicker metal than stock. I don't use rivets. Not needed. Sure looks cleaner and way easier to remove and clean.
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| FlacaProductions |
Oct 17 2025, 09:53 AM
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#12
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,104 Joined: 24-November 17 From: LA Member No.: 21,628 Region Association: Southern California
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@Root_Werks - did the stainless come pre-drilled or did you have to line 'em up and drill the mounting holes? How did you finish them?
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| Root_Werks |
Oct 17 2025, 10:12 AM
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#13
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Village Idiot Group: Members Posts: 8,862 Joined: 25-May 04 From: About 5NM from Canada Member No.: 2,105 Region Association: Pacific Northwest
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QUOTE(FlacaProductions @ Oct 17 2025, 08:53 AM) @Root_Werks - did the stainless come pre-drilled or did you have to line 'em up and drill the mounting holes? How did you finish them? Powder coated satin black. Holes on the bottom were drilled as well as the fender holes. No rivet holes were drilled. The panel is rigid enough the rivets aren't needed. Not a very good picture from years ago. You can sort of see no rivets: Attached image(s) 
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| Literati914 |
Oct 17 2025, 11:02 AM
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#14
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,165 Joined: 16-November 06 From: Dallas, TX Member No.: 7,222 Region Association: Southwest Region |
QUOTE(bdstone914 @ Oct 17 2025, 08:19 AM) QUOTE(Front yard mechanic @ Oct 17 2025, 05:22 AM) Black screws easy on and off ( stupid little plastic rivets are for people with little fingers) Those take screws. He is talking about the rocker panels not the carpet strips I used black screws in both places, worked fine and I prefer this solution for ease of R/R - but not before messing around with the infuriating little nylon rivets. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) |
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| Montreal914 |
Oct 17 2025, 11:10 AM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,971 Joined: 8-August 10 From: Claremont, CA Member No.: 12,023 Region Association: Southern California
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@chmillman
Not sure you got your answer on the hole diameter in the body for the rivets. I measured a few and got 3.3 - 3.5mm for the holes. I would assume more readily available(?) 1/8” (3.125mm) rivets could work. Then again these are probably made in China so would they actually be of metric OD? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) I was thinking about using the plastic ones. Good luck! |
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| FlacaProductions |
Oct 17 2025, 11:15 AM
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#16
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,104 Joined: 24-November 17 From: LA Member No.: 21,628 Region Association: Southern California
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@Root_Werks - thanks - that's helpful.
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| bkrantz |
Oct 17 2025, 08:04 PM
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#17
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 8,543 Joined: 3-August 19 From: SW Colorado Member No.: 23,343 Region Association: Rocky Mountains
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QUOTE(Literati914 @ Oct 17 2025, 11:02 AM) QUOTE(bdstone914 @ Oct 17 2025, 08:19 AM) QUOTE(Front yard mechanic @ Oct 17 2025, 05:22 AM) Black screws easy on and off ( stupid little plastic rivets are for people with little fingers) Those take screws. He is talking about the rocker panels not the carpet strips I used black screws in both places, worked fine and I prefer this solution for ease of R/R - but not before messing around with the infuriating little nylon rivets. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) I think screws are the way to go for anyone who plans to (or just doesn't avoid) getting their 914 dirty. In that case, removing the rocker covers with every serious wash. Garage queens can have rivets. |
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