E-Bodies.org Cuda Challenger Forum

Thanks Cody! This is some great information. The tool looks great but does it have enough reach to get to the two rivets in the back of the ashtray?
I plan to get the tool and post some pictures for other to see. Also, be cool to find out what rivets the e-body heater box takes and tools to replace them also. If anyone has experience with this please chime in.

Thanks Ken.

Hey Ken good to see you here...

     Cody great info...rather than pay the 200 bucks to buy that rivet system I'd be willing to pay you to reset the ashtray insert...Any interest in doing that for members that have their ashtrays replated ??? I think the ashtray reciever and insert would easily fit in a smaller USPS priority flat rate box for the ride..

Now that I look at the ashtray again, I probably need to have a "head die" of 3/4" (CA2005-12) as opposed to 3/8" since the rivets are recessed 1" on the back side. I'm assuming there is at least 3/4" of travel in the "ram".

Go to your lokal icehockey club gear man and borrow his rivet tool for skates
He proberly have right rivets too

I appreciate the offer of coming by and using your rivet tool Cuda Cody but I am located in the St. Louis area of Missouri. I have the rivets, I just need the tool. If you still have the die #'s, of the dies that you purchased (that I need to order) or the lengths of the dies, that would take a little bit of the mystery out of it for me.

Or, if you would want to sell your tool (if your done with it), I would be a buyer. Better yet, if I could rent it from you after first sending you the appropriate deposit ($200?) and return it for a refund of the deposit, less the rental and postage amount, that would be great if you would be open to that? I know it is a long-shot but I thought I would at least ask.

Thank you for your prompt rely and the information provided,

Bob Hunsel
St. Charles, MO

Here's  an idea.

I would like to do a Saturday afternoon Summer time, BBQ & Ashtray party.   :cheers:

Get like 10-12 people over.

Cost to join; a small payment to cover the tooling costs.

BYOA  Bring your own ashtray.

Got it. Just joined the other day and wasn't exactly sure what the protocol was. Ideally I should have sent a private message but wasn't sure how to go about that. I figured responding in the blog the way I did, he would get the message.

Update – thanks Cuda Cody for helping me find this tool and the correspondence.

Not wanting to compromise on the OE quality of the installation of my ashtray insert, I "bit the bullet" and purchased the Hanson HS-42E rivet squeezing tool ($145.00) directly from Hanson (pic below). This the same tool that Cuda Cody used with a 4" reach and a 2 inch gap. Along with the rivet squeezer I purchased a "head" and "tubular roll" die. The items I purchased were #CA2004-9, 3/8" head die and #CA2005-13, 7/8" "roll" die ($16.00 ea). The tool is of very high quality and works perfectly for achieving an OE look on the ashtray insert installation. A note here on use of the tool, the "ram" on the tool is adjustable so that you can customize it for the rivet and die you are using. There were no operating instructions provided with my tool. It took a little thinking and studying the tool until I realized, twisting the "ram" counter-clockwise lengthened the ram and clock-wise shortened it. With these dies to have the proper squeeze", you will have to have the ram extend ¾" (with the handle fully down). Because of the 2" heat shield on top of the ashtray, you will not be able to insert the tool into the ashtray insert with both dies installed on the tool. It takes a little "jiggling" around but the process I used was to not install the 7/8" die until I inserted the front part of the tool in the ashtray and moved the back part of the tool into position (head of rivet). Then I reached into the ashtray and inserted the 7/8" "roll die" into the front of the tool, then extended the "ram" to just make contact with the rivet head to hold it in place, made sure my "roll die" was seated in the rivet and squeezed. The results were exactly what I was looking for.

I am finished with the tool and plan to eventually sell it and the dies at a little discount on ebay to others wanting it for the same purpose. I figure the discount then will be the ultimate cost of getting insert installed correctly. Then whoever buys the tool can use it and pass it on at a slight discount to someone else and on it goes...

That worked out fantastic :worship:

Wow: Great job and great description.

Sorry I'm a little late getting to this thread, if any member would like to have their ashtray rivets installed, I also have the same tools as Cody I use frequently, send it to me and I'll install them N/C.   :cheers:

Good to know Mike.  :cool:

We also have the same tools here in North Central IA.  Feel free to come by and borrow them.