rivet strength 1960 holding battery box

[Lothlorian]

My 1960 Overlander battery box is on the outside of the trailer behind the propane tanks. The battery is very heavy and has to be held by this box. I noticed when I drilled out the rivets on the old battery box the side rivets drilled very easy and the bottom rivets for the box and the stand for the box were very difficult to drill. I was wondering if the rivets at the bottom are a harder rivet. i was wondering if they were steel rivets.

Brian

[samb]

When I removed the original battery box on my '61 Safari all the rivets were aluminum. All these rivets were tight and I noticed no wear at the rivet holes. When I built a new battery box for 2 group 24 batteries I attached it the same way as the old box using aluminum rivets. I did use more rivets because it is just the shear strength of the rivets supporting the additional weight. I check it often and have noticed no wear or loosening.
Sam

[pgr32e]

A magnet will tell the difference....Phil

[Lothlorian]

Thanks guys! I am going to go ahead and rivet with aluminum rivets.

Brian