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MG MGA - Motor number conundrum

I purchased a "DE-fact o" number plate from CSR with rivets to match. Somewhere in the past the original was removed. I am trying to drill out the old rivets but boy are they hard. I have gone through 4 drills and have only a shallow hole. Is there a better way? Thanks, Tom
Thomas McNamara

I took the same route you did. Try punching the old rivets down in holes. The new rivets may need to be cut down to fit.

John
jbackman

That's an oops. The things are helical drive rivets. To get them out, cut a slot across the head and unscrew it with a big screwdriver. If damaging the old plate is acceptable, then you can slip a blade under the plate and pry the rivet upward to pull it out. If you cut the head off, you're kind of screwed. You might try electric welding the tip of a welding rod onto it to pull it out.
Barney Gaylord

If the rivet heads are gone as was my case, punching them down and drilling a bit did the trick.

John
jbackman

Hey all, if I punch the rivets down, won't they fall into the motor? Tom
Thomas McNamara

No. Those are blind holes, and not much extra depth.
Barney Gaylord

Tom,
You can also insert a sharp blade under the rivet head and pry the rivet up a little, then rotate with some pliers to remove it.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Hey all, I "punched down" the remains of the old rivets and it worked the charm, THANKS again. Tom
Thomas McNamara

This thread was discussed between 28/02/2012 and 29/02/2012

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