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MG MGB Technical - 1/4 light rebuild

'72 Roadster - I have just had the 1/4 lights re-chromed. As part of the process the restorer removed the rivets holding the top pivot, which now needs reattaching. I'm not sure I want to be peening rivets with my lovely new finish at stake. Does anyone have experience of re-riveting this pivot, or using a less difficult attachment method, such as screws?
Richard Coombs

I had one of mine bust in a break-in, and just pop-riveted the new hinge half (on how many modern cars could you buy just half of the hinge?) to the frame leaving the glass in-situ. It's not the same as original of course, but hidden when it's closed. If you haven't yet installed the glass and seal I wouldn't have thought fitting a proper-looking rivet would have been out of the question, wouldn't the peening be done inside the channel?
Paul Hunt 2010

I totally stripped mine to send bits off for chroming and I did as Paul and used normal stainless steel pop rivets. You can't see them when the quarterlight is closed. Just make sure there are no little sharp edges on it (rub with some fine wet and dry) as these do rub against the rubber seal along the windscreen edge.
Simon Jansen

The pop rivets sound good to me. I was worried that there would not be enough space between the fastening and the glass. If the space is large enough I might also try stainless screws like the ones used on the lower pivot.
Richard Coombs

Whilst there were screws into the fixed frame originally there were rivets into the pivoting frame, I don't think there is enough thickness of metal for screws in that to gain purchase.
Paul Hunt 2010

Paul, you're correct about the peening being 'inside' but I was worried about holding the whole thing steady whilst tapping away at the rivet. I'll have to experiment.
Richard Coombs

Three or four-handed job, I suspect, with a hollow-nosed drift under the head of the rivet being the only point of support.
Paul Hunt 2010

This thread was discussed between 27/05/2010 and 29/05/2010

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