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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

how to remove frame rivets??

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Old May 16, 2009 | 04:44 PM
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how to remove frame rivets??

we tried grinding it but it just wont come out.. any ideas?
 
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Old May 16, 2009 | 05:15 PM
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How much did you grind off? If you grind the rivet down flush with he metal you should be able to press it out with a BFH and an appropriately sized punch.
 
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Old May 16, 2009 | 07:02 PM
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or you can drill them out
 
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Old May 16, 2009 | 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by DJdemon6696
we tried grinding it but it just wont come out.. any ideas?
I usually cut them off flush with a torch instead of grinding, but that takes a bit of finesse. In some cases you can heat up the frame around the rivet depending on its location. Drilling a 1/4" or so hole in the center of the rivet can help loosen them sometimes too. Drilling them completely out is also an option, just more time consuming. Also, when driving them out make sure that if there is something riveted on the opposite side of the rivet you're driving out that it is loose from the rivet, easy way to bend up cross-members and brackets.
 
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Old May 17, 2009 | 01:05 AM
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air hammer maybe?
 
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Old May 17, 2009 | 04:14 AM
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As blakem says the best way is to drill a hole into the rivet to "relieve" it. Just to the depth of the metal, not right through.
 
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Old May 17, 2009 | 04:44 AM
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I use a cut off wheel to slice an "X" pattern in the head and then use my air hammer to chisel the head off. Then swap the chisel to a punch on the hammer and knock it out.
 
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