Replacing stock ECJ5 bumpers, to rivet or bolt?

Welding up the hex in the button head Allens is a great idea! They're just gonna get powdercoated or painted anyway. The first thing I'm going to try before I remove the original rivets is putting a rosebud tip on my torch and using a BF hammer to try and beat the bumpers back into an acceptable shape. Maybe I won't have to replace them after all, they're not that bad, just dented up, and bent a little, and drilled full of holes, etc.

Thanks!

 

Your standard aircraft rivets like im used to dealing with are usually tween 3 and 5 32'nds. And theyre aluminum. Your looking at about a 3/8 steel rivet. Bucking that would take a ginormous hammer and buckin bar. Just use bolts.

 

Here's a Gr 8 carriage bolt. They are available in Gr 5 also. Kind of beefy tho.
http://www.nuttycompany.com/g8shaker.html

 

Beefy? Who you callin' beefy? I represent that remark!