Fender replacement, half-way there, help me with the rivot, please

**ffball33323** · 09-11-2015

I'm replacing my front, driver's side fender. I bought 1 from someone parting a GP, same color. I got mine off this evening. I got stuck where it has rivet connecting the fender to the side skirit. I tried cutting it off with some wire cutters, but couldn't get it. Finally I was able to pop the fender off the side skirt, seperating it from the rivet point without damaging my side skirt.

Tomorrow morning, I'm going to put the replacement fender on, but I don't know what to do about the rivet. It's still there on the side skirt. Should I take my dremel to it and remove it that way. Can anyone please help advise or guide me how to go about removing the rivet from the side skirt? Thanks in advance...

Side note.... I'm starting to prep my headlights for a new retrofit that I'm going to do tomorrow/tomorrow night. I've had them before but I wan't to do them myself this time making sure everything lines up right. I'm also putting in Morimoto XB 5500k switchbacks in the turn signals and Morimoto XB 5500k T10/194's in the side markers and doing the "side marker delete" so they don't flash with the switchbacks. Hopefully it all matches the Morimoto 5500k bulbs going in the projectors. I'll post pics when it's finished.

**Scottydoggs** · 09-11-2015

use a small drill bit, drill into the center of the rivet. it will fall apart and its off then. install new rivet.

no idea what your working with, but that is how you remove a rivet.

**idrivejunk** · 09-11-2015

Scotty the rivet head is not accessible, its a wierd setup. GPs lol

I say yes ffball, use the Dremel tool but go slow so you don't soften the plastic from too much heat. This can be done with the wheels turned and inner fender shield loose. Probably best to use the cutoff wheel (thin brown) rather than try to grind the whole rivet away. I think it was designed to snap together once and not much thought was given to ease of replacement.

**Scottydoggs** · 09-11-2015

so he can only see the back of the rivet? thin grinder will take it off for sure.

**idrivejunk** · 09-11-2015

Yeah they install the molding retainer first and pop the molding in over it but it doesn't pop back out without ripping the molding after a decade of debris packing in there. Its genius.

**Scottydoggs** · 09-11-2015

thanks again GM lol

**ffball33323** · 09-12-2015

Thank you both. I'm heading to home depot for a rivet gun and then I'm gonna try and finish this.

**ffball33323** · 09-13-2015

Perfect advice. I shaved the rivet down flat with a dremel, then a couple seconds with a drill bit on it and the rest of the rivet popped right away. Thank you very much for the help

**HighOctaneRacing** · 09-13-2015

Interesting because I've never had to deal with rivets when it came to working on the fenders for GPs.

**idrivejunk** · 09-13-2015

The old SEs with no cladding have nothing there.

Thread: Fender replacement, half-way there, help me with the rivot, please

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