This topic is covered in some posts in the archive from about 5 years ago, but I have further questions, so I'd like to revive it. Like others in the previous posts, I have a front mudguard that's come loose from all but one of the rivets. I've successfully drilled out the rivets and the holes don't look too damaged. The question now is how best to re-attach?

Several posters suggested using stainless steel screws with loctite or nylon lock nuts. Sounds good, but I can't for the life of me see how to get my hand behind the fender liner to hold the nuts. Any further details on how to do that?

Other posters suggested using sheet metal screws and those little clips that provide a "threaded" hole for the screw to grab. Also sounds good, but at least in my model year (1996 850) the holes in the fender are located too far from the edge of the metal for these clips to work. In fact the bottom hole is over an inch away from any edge.

Perhaps the easiest is to get the replacement rivets from Volvo, but I am a little worried that the holes have been enlarged and they won't hold anymore.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,

jjmcc

I bought one of these riveters from Harbor Freight and its done the job.
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If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?

I have heard to use a common rivet tool from the Home Depot, but I've never searched for one -Like ones used for rain gutters. There might also be a Pep Boys, Autozone, or Strauss offering. My missing rivets were at the very bottom, and I could reach them with regular nuts 'n bolts. They seem to be holding
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'97 855na, Mobil 1, K&N, various IPD's and eBay's

I used the screws that come with the license plate holder and just screwed it in the rivet hole, used a black sharpie to cover the silver and you can't notice it unless you know its there