Hood lever tightening

[Steve McMahan]

Has anyone tried to tighten the lever on the hood release? It’s held on with one rivet with a pinned (I think that’s what they call it) swedge. What have others done to tighten the lever? Mine moves up and down about 1” at the end of the lever.

 

[Sheriff41]

Try putting it in a press or use a BFH and an anvil to re-swedge it.

 

[Steve McMahan]

I was wondering if anyone removed the rivet and replaced it with a bolt or something?

 

[Sheriff41]

You could probably make that work.

 

[tony-muscle]

I tried pressing the rivets on the hood hinge and they didn't budge. That said, I probably need a bigger press!

 

[Steve McMahan]

Well, here’s what I did. I ground off the upset, pulled it out, remove the rest of the upset so it was “flush” with the top of the lever. Then I drilled a hole to enable a 3/8” bolt to go through it. A bolt, washer, lever, rivet (using the old rivet as a locator), and then a side crimp nut, to hold it without a lock washer (that way I could tighten to a firm lever).

 

[Sheriff41]

That looks like it'll work well.

 

[Cleveland Crush]

I've personally not done this repair. But as an additional suggestion to what others already stated: use a "Button head" style bolt as the pivot pin, this will present a cleaner more finished look then a hex bolt.