Removing and reinstalling tallight panel

[Ben's Z]

I want to take my taillight panel off to paint it. Looks like when you open the hatch you have to drill out all those rivets. What does everyone use for hardware after that to reinstall?

[bpilati]

I thought they were plastic, and just pushed through. It's been a while though.

[EScanlon]

Identifying the year of your car will go a long way towards getting a meaninful answer. Put your Year info in your signature block via your User Panel.

Thankfully, for the majority of the Z's, they're plastic rivets with a pin spreader. Push the pin through the rivet (and retrieve it if possible), and then carefully pull the rivet up and out. Take care on the bottom edge of the finisher as it's held to the body with a sheet metal grip that's unobtainium. You should be able to just pull it out of it's teeth, don't use anything to spread it's jaws.

FWIW

E

[ZCurves]

Ben,

Here is a link to the thread I used when I refurbished mine:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?13593-Color-for-grill-rear-tail-light-panel&p=90742&viewfull=1#post90742.

Your company sells fasteners that are almost exact replacements. Just follow EScanlon's instructions for removal.

I repaired cracks and such with JB Weld and sanded prior to painting. I have spares if needed.

[SeafireXV]

Don't drill them out! Just push out the small round pin in the center with a small punch. Save the pins and you can reuse the rivets. Done it millions of times.

[pwd]

You can also press the center pin out with an appropriate diameter drill bit.

[Diseazd]

Over the years, some have been pop riveted. If so, just drill them out. When going back together, order the plastic rivets from MSA and reinstall with those.