ElCamino vent windows, are held to the frame with a small rivet. This is the rivet that is sold to replace the one I had to drill out to remove the glass/chrome frame. The end is hollow. Does anyone know how to install/crimp this rivet? Special tool? Certainly not any type of rivet, I've used.

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee335/wrrose/100_2098.jpg

Those are called tubular rivets and they take a special tool that rolls the hollow end of the rivet outward to set it. You can get the installation tool from McMaster Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com/), page 3226.

Tom

Bill, Your local Harley Davidson dealer uses a tool to crimp rivets on their tour packs, that's what I used on my El Camino. I heard those tools are not cheap.

Bill that looks almost the same as the rivet that I had made for my rear quarter window. All I did was use a metal peen to compress it.
http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Window%20Guide%20Roller/th_6713.jpg
(http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Window%20Guide%20Roller/?action=view&current=6713.jpg) http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Window%20Guide%20Roller/th_8b3b.jpg
(http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Window%20Guide%20Roller/?action=view&current=8b3b.jpg)

Long story made short..
I had to replace a window roller today that had the same hollow rivet.
At my friends machine shop, we used a press with a pointed cone going into (inside) the middle.
Used that to begin the pressure on it and then finished it with a punch and hammer.

Brad, where did you get that roller??

Long story made short..
I had to replace a window roller today that had the same hollow rivet.
At my friends machine shop, we used a press with a pointed cone going into (insdie) the middle.
Used that to begin the pressure on it and then finished it with a punch and hammer.

Brad, where did you get that roller??
Fred you described it much better than me but that is the same way I had to smash mine.:D
Which roller?
This one that I had to replace?
http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Window%20Guide%20Roller/th_e937.jpg
(http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Window%20Guide%20Roller/?action=view&current=e937.jpg)

The problem I'm gonna have, is the vent window frame is on the car. There's no way to wack it with a hammer. Plus the little thing the rivet goes through is pretty delicate. I was hopping for a hand held tool of some sort. I would also be interested in different ideas, as far as the type or rivet to use. I don't have to use the one I pictured, but it has to look nice because of where it located.

http://www.hansonrivet.com/w82a.htm
http://www.hansonrivet.com/w78.htm
http://www.hansonrivet.com/index.php4
http://www.hansonrivet.com/w02.htm

Bill, call these guys,^^ they can help you out. 800-777-4838
Another idea is to use a small C clamp to squeeze the rivet and use a die made from a cut off piece of a roll pin punch.
BillL

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000370a~Z5Z5Z5AAHJN~ P10.00~~~~S2JG1CMZYS65119223216e~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000 370a

Click on the thumbnail picture.


For $10, it is worth a shot.
Either that or take it to a machine shop and use a press.

I bought the Hanson Rivet hand cincher tools (more like a punch). Works well if your part can take the hammering. I used them to install the rollers on the window sills. The aluminum rivet in your picture may not take as much impact to roll. The Hanson hand tools are expensive, at least for one-time use.

Thanks for all the feedback fellow TC'ers. I think I have enough to work with, with all this info. Not sure if I will try a different rivet, or get one of the tools, but one way or another, it will be riveted back on.

bill .......... please don't laugh but I modified motorcycle chain breaker to do the job ....used a drill bit ground to match on the rounded side with a steel backing & a little creative grinding on the flair side .... although one of my friends told me it would have been much easier to use one of the flaring ends out of a cheap tube fairing set :D ...P.S. it worked /still does & it didn't require removing it from the car