Riveting into fiberglass

[Jdav]

Per the FFR instructions, you are to rivet the hood hinge bracket to the hood. I've tried a few times and they keep pulling out once I add the struts and open and close the hood a few times.
Any advice? Any better, more secure way to mount the bracket?

[edwardb]

Not good... Your rivets should be going into a steel piece that's under the glass in that area. Not just going into the glass itself. Maybe not using long enough reach rivets?

[cgundermann]

Agree with Paul, try some longer rivets - they should swag against the internal steel piece...

Chris

[Jdav]

Hmm, I used the ones that were in the baggie with the latch, they look like .5, but they definitely aren't catching on anything and bulging right at the surface. I can't see any metal inside the holes, but I'll try again with longer rivets and hope that was the issue. Thanks guys.

[cgundermann]

You should be able to tell/see/feel the internal steel piece. Not aware of FFR missing that when they laminate the outer & inner together...

Curious.

[SerpantFL]

Maybe use a small magnet to locate the metal? JMO

[j.miller]

The metal is aluminum so a magnet won't work. If you are not sure you can drill an extra hole in the center of the pattern and you will see metal pigtails come up. As for the rivets ..the shaft should be 5/8ths long. Not sure why they started giving the short ones, I keep boxes of the ones I like in the shop...da Bat

[steno]

Many have also bonded the brackets in addition to the rivets. Can’t be too careful!! It also can make the attachment look a bit more finished.

[edwardb]

Many have also bonded the brackets in addition to the rivets. Can’t be too careful!! It also can make the attachment look a bit more finished.

That's what I've done on my builds. Rough up both surfaces, healthy dose of HSRF, plus the rivets. Before paint and then gets painted over. I do the same on the trunk brackets. But there need to be careful to have them in the right place since they're designed to be adjustable. Does end up with a nice clean installation.

[Olli]

I bonded and riveted the brackets to the hood. It does however add extra work when it comes time to painting, i.e. careful masking.

Olli

[Olli]

or just paint over them like Edward... nobody will ever notice

Olli

[steno]

If you wish, you can mask the area around the bracket. When you’re done riveting, tool the stuff that oozes out with your finger and then remove the tape. Done!!

[Jdav]

I have some longer rivets and HSRF on order and will go at this again later this week.

Thanks!