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The four hood panels are now painted. I need to install the side strip, hood hinge on the two top panels. The ones that was there originally was riveted. I'm trying to find rivets (chrome plated if possible). Does anyone out there know of a good source and is there a tool that I can use other than my 4 pound ball peen hammer (LOL)?

All ideas and suggestions are welcome on this part of the restoration.

I suggest u use slotless mach. sc. Heads look like rivets.
restorationstuff.com/
And their SS so if u want u can make them look chrome.

As my Pappy used to say: Never put something together u cant take apart.

I've used the blind head screws as well (only flat like the original rivets which fold against each other). Once I had a hood set up and when my back was turned some knucklehead decided they weren't tight enough so he wrenched them down and screwed the whole thing up. He was management's favorite and fortunately spent most of the day sleeping or smoking. Of course he was paid tons more than me just like in a corporation. I didn't care as long as he wasn't screwing with my area. In fact I thought they should have let him stay home and send him paychecks in the mail. Of course management came in and bxtched, but when I pointed at their pet they said it great.

Anyway, the screws need be only tight enough to compress the lockwasher. Once you have the hood on the car and everything is set up, apply penetrating loctite (green) to each nut and let sit overnight. Those hoods were riveted in a jig to exacting specifications with soft rivets. Forget about that one - it's another one of those Packard secrets.

Packardberry & Tim,

Thanks for your inputs. I was leaning toward a blind screw type approach. However, I thought that I would be well advised to call on others for their thoughts & input.

It will definitely cut down on the chances of messing up the paint.

Thanks for your quick response.