The Ford Barn

Fe26 · 03-04-2014, 05:38 PM

Rivets are a little softer than Grade 5 bolts. The additional 'working up' of the grain structure would help a little. The advantages of hot rivets are; the rivet shank expands to fill the hole (which ideally should be reamed) and if the rivet has been properly heated (not just the headed part but the shank right down to the other head) then as the Rivet cools the shrinkage causes an incredible clamping force. Both of these factors add to the superior performance of rivets compared to bolts.

The reason Low Carbon steel is used is twofold; the first requirement is that as the Rivet cools the shank mustn't be so hard as to create a stressed rivet. Second, the softer rivet will move with the chassis in service in a more compatible way than will a bolt.

03-04-2014, 05:38 PM	#21
Fe26 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 949	Re: Crossmember Rivets Rivets are a little softer than Grade 5 bolts. The additional 'working up' of the grain structure would help a little. The advantages of hot rivets are; the rivet shank expands to fill the hole (which ideally should be reamed) and if the rivet has been properly heated (not just the headed part but the shank right down to the other head) then as the Rivet cools the shrinkage causes an incredible clamping force. Both of these factors add to the superior performance of rivets compared to bolts. The reason Low Carbon steel is used is twofold; the first requirement is that as the Rivet cools the shank mustn't be so hard as to create a stressed rivet. Second, the softer rivet will move with the chassis in service in a more compatible way than will a bolt.