1936 frame rear cross member

B

Bruce/CT

Well-known member
Hi,

My car was in a fender bender years ago before I bought it. The rearmost cross member was pushed in. I have a replacement from Precision Coach Works in MA. It is well made.
My question: It came with bolts. It was originally riveted. I could weld it on.
I have no riveting skills so I don't think that it is a choice.
Do I use the bolts that came with it or weld? Why did Henry rivet not weld? I wonder if a little flexing at the rivet was desireable.
Thanks,
Bruce in CT
 
Henry was just economical (cheap?). Rivets probably sold for pennies a pound and at $5 a day labor (not cheap at that time) probably was 1 minute for a guy to knock the rivets. Welding required equipment, electricity, shielding for both the welder and anybody else on the assembly line.

Unless your a points car bolt, then weld for a stiff frame.

When I get back to Ct (Mystic) in the spring I like to come see your project
 
Here are some links from the Model A forum. I feel that riveting is best.

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83712&highlight=frame+rivet

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showpost.php?p=34921&postcount=5

I also have the DVD from Big Flats Rivet. Procedure is to get everything bolted up tight and square. Then, remove one bolt at a time and replace it with a rivet. DVD shows put the rivet in place, heat it up with oxy-acetylene, set it with a hammer and then form the head with an air chisel. Altenate method is to get the whole rivet hot, place it, set it and then form the head. Rivets have the advantage in that when they are set, the shank expands to fully fill the holes in the two pieces being joined. Also, as they cool, the shrink and get really tight. They won't loosen and they won't let the two pieces sort of slip as can happen with a bolt, even when it's very tight.
 
Rivets are still used today in places where vibration will work a bolt loose. Rivets fill the hole tightly. That's why you still see some steel bridges and buildings over a hundred years old still in service. As long as they keep in check the corrosion deterioration, the stuff will last much longer than bolted structures.

Welding would be the next best thing with bolts coming in last. When bolts or high shear pins are used in aviation, the bores they fit are painstakingly reamed to a very close tolerance for fit to make them last as lng as possible. When one works loose in service, an oversize replacement or the next larger size is carefully fitted.
 
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