Peening a 3/8" x 1" rivet?

[Wincks2]

Am replacing a bent front stabilizer shaft frame bracket.



The official manual says the rivets are 3/8" x 1". They are pretty large compared to some other rivets.

Had read the correct way to put in a rivet by hand is by peening the rivet with a ball peen hammer. One author suggested heating the rivet to red hot before peening. Another did not.

Having just started with a large hammer and cold chisel then switched to a grinder to get the old rivet heads off, using a hand held ball peen hammer to peen the rivet doesn't seem like it will get the job done.

A frame shop suggested drilling a slightly wider hole in both the bracket and frame and using grade 8 bolts instead of the rivets.

Seems to me that GM may have designed with rivets and the holes of specific diameters for a reason.

How have you folks handled this situation?