Hi guys.

Anyone have luck with a Riv-Nut tool? I found a multitude online, but I'm not sure what I should be looking for. Any advice? I want to remove the sheetmetal screws my body shop used to attach my overfenders, and while I'm at it, I'd like to add threads for my sideskirts and rear bumper tab. Any idea of what sizes I should use? I've used my helicoil kit in the past to great result. Is this the same tool, or something else?

 

when my threaded inserts broke on my hardtop I purchased the replacements that I wanted then I just used a simple home-made tool to put them in, it's so simple that it is funny. My hardtop thread repair was perfect and I never had an issue. Once you find the size you want, buy an appropriate sized bolt, use an over-sized nut with a couple of washers on top with a bit of lube on the washers to reduce friction, then just put in the bolt and start to tighten with a ratchet, you will know when the threaded insert is fully compressed. Some of the tools I saw were priced over $100 and up to $300. I actually have a cheap tool that I could have used but you always have to buy the appropriate sized mandrel depending on the thread size you need, and my home-made tool actually worked better than the cheap retail tool. The cheaper tool kits come with sof aluminum inserts, with my tool I was able to buy some nice plated steel inserts which were much stronger and had some grippy splines on them. My home made tool squeezed down the steel inserts perfectly.

Here's a pic of my home-made job beside the inserts that I used :

 

I've been using riv-nut tools on a recent install job for work, but its been for larger size bolts... M8's and 3/8" bolts to be exact. The tools we have do come with smaller inserts for smaller bolts too. I believe one of ours was purchased from Grainger... think the brand was Mason. Can't remember what the other one is, but it is a bit higher quality than the Grainger one.

 

Correction: the Grainger one is branded Marson... it is Grainger part #4BB23. You have to buy the appropriate nose piece for the size bolts you want to use... such as item #1CJL9 for 10-32 bolts.

 

KD or Lisle brand for a quality tool that wont kill the wallet. You can get the Snap On brand if you have money falling out of your ears. In your case I would probably stick with M10, keep the 10mm heads with the rest of the bolts holding the car together. Keep your body man happy.

 

You mean M6 with the 10mm head.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. I found this article onlineModified Spoon Overfenders. They used "16mm M5*0.8 stainless button head bolts"

 

I saw one of these tools at Harbor Freight. I have not used it, do not know the quality. Price was very good.

Some stuff from HF is well made and fine for DIY work, other HF is total junk. Its hit or miss.