MTFCA Forum

connect this little bugger through the leather pieces into the lower hood ends. I do not have any tool small enough to flatten the little supplied rivet.

Any input would be great and Thanks in advance.

Support the rivet head on a buck, use a center punch to flair the rivet, then a ball peen hammer to form the mushroom.

The proper tool is a rivet clincher. It is designed to role the edges of the tube rivet over (used on Model T ignition switch rivets). You could try to use a some punches, one to spread the tube and the other to flatten - chance of success about 40%. Or just replace the tube rivet with a split rive (washer optional).

Note….You don’t rivet them on the way they come out of the package. They are folded where the rivet goes through 4 pieces.

This is the proper fold.

Thanks for the pictures and that piece of paper work...I used to have that somewhere when I opened the package last year, per usual just getting to it now. I will try Langs ect for that rivet punch.

I just applied a little silicone adhesive on both sides and clamped it in place with a small wood block on either side. Two years on the leather is holding great.

An EXCELLENT source for rivets and the proper punches and tools to install them is "Hanson Rivet and Supply Co" of Pacoima, California. Their phone number is 818-485-0500. If you use the correct tools for the rivet you need to install, it will be done in 5 seconds, and will look perfect.
Or you can half-mule it, and look at those results for the next 40 years.
It's your choice.