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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => The Lows (Lowering/Drops) => Topic started by: chevy99 on August 25, 2010, 02:04:05 pm

Title: lowering back
Post by: chevy99 on August 25, 2010, 02:04:05 pm

Hey guys have the 79 chevy longbed getting ready to lower the back 4". What is the best way to take out the factory rivets? Thanks for info.

Title: Re: lowering back
Post by: got2haul on August 25, 2010, 02:38:36 pm

I used an air chisel to remove the rivets holding the hangers on.  Mount a 1/16th inch thick cutoff wheel on a grinder and slice a cross through the rivet heads.  The air chisel will then make short work of taking the heads of the rivets off.  Then using the punch attachment to your chisel, pop the insert through the frame.  I had a little trouble maneuvering the grinder into place around the fuel tank.

Title: Re: lowering back
Post by: Old77 on August 25, 2010, 04:10:03 pm

haha....you think a cut off wheel and a fuel tank full of gas might be bad??? hmmmmm  ;D

Title: Re: lowering back
Post by: Captkaos on August 25, 2010, 04:30:03 pm

I would think he would be cutting the rivets off with the gas cap on.

Title: Re: lowering back
Post by: got2haul on August 27, 2010, 08:39:39 am

I used a large, thick piece of cardboard molded around the tank to shield it from sparks.  If I remember correctly, I couldn't get to two of the rivets with the grinder, so I had to use the chisel exclusively for those.

Title: Re: lowering back
Post by: junkman. on September 19, 2010, 01:26:53 am

Maybe there's no gas tank because the rivets fell out  ::)