Hi:

I am going to replace my factory light brackets with PIAA brackets. I noticed that they are riveted in - whats the best way to get them out?

Also, will the PIAA's fit in the same holes or will I have to re-drill?

Thanks

 

the best way is to drill the revits. thats the cleanest way to do it.

 

Drilling out the rivets is not a difficult job, but make sure you do not "pop" through and damage the hood on the upper rivets. Use a !/8" drill or 5/16" depending on what size rivet they used. Get a set of "stop collars" that are little rings that go on the drill with a set screw to fix the length. Set it to about 1/4" long so that you can not drill past that distance and harm the outer skin of the hood.

 

Sorry to Hijack - Joe, hows the light bar project coming? Pics?

 

RE: The light bar

I am taking a weeks vacation the last week in January, and hope to get it done then. I purchased a Yakima Fairing that I may or may not use, depending on the amount of wind noise. The brackets are painted and the bar is polished - I need to weld the mounting tabs and make the wiring waterproof, but that is not a big problem. Currently I have two Wipac driving lights on the hood, and will add two more Wipac driving lights, and two PIAA 520 chrome Fog lights on the bar. I put the Hella 4000's on my Land Rover since they were just too big and heavy to put anywhere on the Mini.
I will take pics when it is done, as well as some construction shots along the way.