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I have a problem with a hood popper repeatedly pulling out from the trim. The rivet hole has gotten larger and larger as I try different solutions to secure it - none of which have worked. I have tried different length rivets, a screw and finally had to move up to the next sized rivet because the hole got so large. I had to grind off part of the rivet head to fit inside the popper. But the rivet doesn't catch enough of the car body to hold. I am thinking of drilling all the way through the trim to the interior of the car and passing a tiny bolt through the popper, trim, car body and inside of the trim, then hiding the end with an acorn nut so it won't look too obvious.

Any other suggestions?


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1980 Pageant Blue DHC with removable hardtop.

I had the same problem. The thing is that the pop rivet sets too low in the popper head. When you try to set the rivet, it pulls up a little and reduces the amount of the rivet sticking through the hole. When I went to a larger rivet, as you, I too had to grind off some of the head diameter of the rivet.

The answer is to place the pop rivet through the popper hole and into the hole in the car. Now, before putting the tool on the pop rivet stem, place a very small diameter washer or two on the stem (i.e. The little head of a drilled out pop rivet that stays on the drill bit works well for this task). It is very important that you use washers that are small enough to fit down into the hole in the top of the popper and that stick up a little over the top edge of the popper. Now, place the tool on the pop rivet. You will be compression the rivet against the washers thus keeping the rivet/popper pressed against the car body. Before you set the rivet, wrap a shop towel around the area as the broken piece of the stem has a great affinity for the paint on you car and will make a great dent in the paint.

[url="http://www.jclay.me/jclay/New_Hood.html#4"]See photo at bottom of page[/url]

Clay

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I accomplish something similar to clay. I put a rivet washer on the backside, holding it on with contact cement. I line it up by putting the rivet through. Let the glue set. You will have to probably use next larger length of rivet unless the washer is thinner than regular. This could be done by sanding it down with fine emery. If longer rivet used it will hit the back side of trim so you have to start the rivet compression then push the rivet back in all the way and complete the pull. As always care must be taken when the shaft brakes so you don't scratch the paint. Don't know if this will work better than Clay's method or not.

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

Same as above but I used a nut instead of a washer.

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I did the spacer thing when I was setting them originally. I took a small nut and ground down the sides until it fit inside the popper. Then there was good leverage to press the rivets in place. But I think this hole got enlarged when I drilled out the original rivets to take off the trim, so the new rivet didn't grab. Now the hole has gotten even bigger by my screwing around with it. I have a couple new ideas to try, so I'll report back...


[/img]
1980 Pageant Blue DHC with removable hardtop.

If there is space to hide it behind the body/trim try a rivnut of a suitable size and then you can screw the popper in place.this may not of course be practical and I must admit I have not looked too carefully at the way the poppers attach.steve..