I'm getting ready to replace my front cross member on my 1934 DB frame. Has anyone experience with replacing riveted cross members? What should I look for? Any pitfalls? Anything to watch out for? Is it as simple as it looks/sounds?

Thanks

Crossmember replacement is relatively simple if you have means to properly peen the rivets. I use a tool that goes into a air hammer.

The process is to remove the old rivets. I center drill the old ones or grind off the end flush to the frame member. The choice of which depends on the tools available and ease of access to the rivet. I then take a blunt ended punch to push out the rivet (either with hammer and punch or tool in air hammer). Once the rivets are removed then the crossmember can be removed. Make sure that the mating surfaces are flat on both the frame rails and the replacement crossmember before putting it in place. Align the parts using a few rivets. I use a few "C" clamps to make sure the two pieces are tight (you can also use some proper sized bolts in a few of the holes and after some rivets are installed replace the bolts with rivets). Then check all the holes to make sure they all line up. After some new rivets are installed is not the time to discover a problem with alignment. Peen the new rivets in a varying pattern with either hand or air hammer. Make sure to buck (hold the head of the rivet firmly in place) until it is set. Most rivets are installed cold. Check with the rivet supplier if you want to install with heat.

It is relatively simple if you have the proper tools. Only takes a few minutes.