Hood scoop mesh removal and repainting questions

I am looking to remove and repaint the mesh in the hood scoop of my hood. I know how to remove it but my main question is how to reinstall it. When you drill out the plastic rivets, i dont know how to replace them. The mesh prevents from being able to hold a nut for a bolt. I thought about a short screw but am iffy about it.

Has anyone done this? If so how did you do it?

 

@MESO made a new actual metal replacement for it. Take a look in his build thread

 

You could just rivet it back in place when you're done with metal rivets.

 

So i have a rivet gun, but havent used it. Can i get short rivet so the metal wont be exposed on the back side?

 

They make rivets in various sizes, just to find one that fits as you want it.

 

I removed mine and painted it, I got tired of the chipping paint. I think I ended up epoxying a nut to the metal and going that route. I have a rivet gun....not sure why I didn't just use it guess I didn't think of it.

 

What kind epoxy? because it will be metal to plastic

 

I used gorilla epoxy and some small machine screws/jam nuts#6, or maybe #8 I think. From what I remember it worked OK. I think I over tightened one of the bolts and broke the epoxied nut loose....so a rivet would probably be the better choice.