My FJ45 relationship - It’s complicated

[leafsprung]

Sure but I don’t think they are super special

would you consider selling some of those rivets?

 

[leafsprung]

Finished the pressings in the crossmember and started riveting today. The dies we made to match the factory rivets is working well and holding up great. Check it out

 

[leafsprung]

Rivets!!

 

[middlecalf]

You’re good. Understatement.

 

[leafsprung]

Aww you are too kind - thanks - just wanna fix it right

You’re good. Understatement.

 

[FJ45VTOZ]

that is so good! I want to do this to one of mine. Is there any chance you could run me through the process? can message me

 

[leafsprung]

Sure happy to help!!

that is so good! I want to do this to one of mine. Is there any chance you could run me through the process? can message me

 

[JLawson]

That is impressive! Nice work. Might be good to make a tutorial on riveting in a thread by itself?

 

[leafsprung]

Riveting complete!! Pretty happy with how it turned out. Here’s a before and after too Now to finish the bed!

 

[tahoe40/45]

Nice work on the rivets !! Could you show what parts you used, or where you got them?

 

[leafsprung]

The rivets are 3/8 x 1 inch steel rivets different thicknesses were used in different places so we just cut them to length. I measured the original rivet heads and made the dies in the mill and just TIG welded the forming die to an old air hammer chisel which I then heat treated. I used an old snap on air hammer to set the rivet when they were hot which I heated with a small welding tip on my Oxy rig. I used two bucks one chonky boy made from a hydraulic cylinder ram and another short one welded to a lever to fit inside the chassis rail where it attaches to the rear crossmember. Typically the formula for trimming the rivet to the correct length for proper forming of the rivet heads is 1.5xDiameter plus the grip range but we found the volume of the original rivet head was more like 1.25xD so they formed a bit nicer a tad shorter. I do a lot of riveting for work so it was a fun side project.

Nice work on the rivets !! Could you show what parts you used, or where you got them?

 

[jomelo]

This is looking really good!

 

[cruisermatt]

Great info. Very riveting

 

[leafsprung]

Bed repair

 

[Hogan]

Nice work, just love these type of treads. Thanks for sharing.

 

[leafsprung]

Many thanks I’ll keep them coming

Nice work, just love these type of treads. Thanks for sharing.