MTFCA Forum

I’m making some serious progress in rewooding my Touring. I’m to the point where I’m fitting body panels and am looking ahead for supplies. Does anyone know a source for the rivets that attach the cowl above the #2 pillars? I don’t see them specifically listed in any of the vendor catalogs. Would they pull double duty somewhere else on the car? Or is there a source somewhere else that doesn’t require you to buy them by the pound? Any help is appreciated.

Try typing the size you want in the search box. They would be called flat head rivet. Don't get stainless steel. I would have to check the hole size so just did a quick search of 3/16 diameter flathead rivet and good number of listings. I am working on a 1925 too but am not going down that far, just enough to take the cowl top off and remove the pressed steel door hinge support pillar so I can do a quick wood replacement.

Just an FYI, I believe that the use of Phillips head screws in a Model T is prohibited under Federal law, punishable by imprisonment in a shuttered, former Ford assembly plant in your state for not more than four hours.

But seriously folks, since Big Flats Rivet Co. went away, the only place I know of that MAY have them is McMaster-Carr.

Perhaps Robinson screws with the square hole would keep one from detention. The Canadians used them in their T's. They are actually better than Philips heads, but Henry wouldn't pay the royalties for their use.

Allan from down under.

Jim, Try Classifieds |( Parts parts for sale) 6th post from the bottom, Tues June 24 ..25, Roger Erickson has 3/16 x 1inch truss head rivets....n

modeltspaz wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 01, 2025 10:22 pm

Just an FYI, I believe that the use of Phillips head screws in a Model T is prohibited under Federal law, punishable by imprisonment in a shuttered, former Ford assembly plant in your state for not more than four hours.

the Phillips screws bothered me too when I unpacked the body wood kit from Fordwood. All the nuts they supplied were hex head too. I spent a considerable amount of time cleaning/de-rusting my original hardware and am reusing as much as possible. I’ve used the supplied Phillips head screws in places that will be covered with body panels. Anything that will be visible after assembly will be the proper round and flat head slotted screws. I’ve probably spent just shy of $100 in slotted screws on top of the body kit.

Do you have the dimensions, length, and quantity needed? I think I have the ones you are looking for.

Hank

Like Hank, I probably have some in one of my coffee cans of odd sized rivets. Would need dimensions and type of rivet:

Round Head (Dome Head): The most common type, featuring a dome-shaped head that sits above the material surface.
Countersunk Head: Designed to sit flush with the material surface, often used for aerodynamic purposes or where a smooth surface is needed. Available in 100° and 90° angles.
Universal Head: A slightly rounded head with a lower profile than standard round head rivets.
Flat Head: A flat head that lays flush with the material surface.
Brazier Head: A wide, shallow head providing a larger bearing surface.
Modified Brazier Head: Similar to brazier heads but with a lower profile.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I think I may have found what I am looking for. Open car door hinge pins are 3/16” with truss heads. I’ve got some bent ones that I kept from a previous car. I doubt they’re hardened, so I should be able to cut them to length and use them. If that doesn’t work, I’ll reach back out. Either way, I’ll update here for future searches. I am also starting think that the rivets used to attach the windshield clamps to the front bow are the same size and head, just longer than needed.

Another double-duty fastener that isn’t explicitly listed by the vendors are the 1/4” bolts, 3/8” across the flats, with a tall head, used to attach the rear quarter panels to the rear center panel. They’re the same ones used to attach the Model A fuel tank to the firewall.

3/8 tall head 1/4x20 bolts: Those are the same ones that mount the firewall to the body mounting brackets.

You might try Big Flats Rivets for odd sizes. I don't have contact info.

Mark,

Last I heard, Big Flats Rivet Company has shuttered their business, sorry to say.

I honestly hope I'm wrong.

Mike Spaziano.

Yes I think Big Flats is gone. Been tapering down the last few years and didn't appear at Hershey last year. I tried to contact them to see if they had some specific rivets left. No response. Another supplier is gone.

Hanson Rivet & Supply 13241 Weidner Street Pacoima, California 91331. When I was selling T parts, this is the company I bought from.
800-777-4838. www.hansonrivet.com