VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 '31 Running Board nuts

Fitting the RB's to my '31 Coach and using the special bolts purchased from the FS. They supply them with plated square nuts. However, the deep recess in the outrigger support brackets makes tightening the nuts problematic. Appears to me GM could have used hex head nuts. Also notice parts book appears to indicate square nuts used in all of this area, including apron/fender connections. Anyone used hex nuts and been judged as not original?

I use all square nuts during restoration where required. Square sockets can be a little harder to find than 8 point. The bolts should've been step bolts & not so long that you would need a deep well socket....Joe

Try some different sockets to fit the square nuts. A size larger and smaller than the nut size.....

Also, try the metric sockets. I find that these fit a lot of my "odd" nuts.

Lastly, there is a new socket style called a "spline", which fits dang-near everything. It replaces the 6 point, 12 point and other mixed size configurations. It also fits square nuts perfectly.

Take one of your nuts (?) to either Harbor Freight or Sears and try it on one of their spline socket sets.... Chances are, you'll go home with a set.

Good luck.

--Bill

Thanks guys. I'll leave the sq nuts on the RB's but plan to use hex on the connections to fenders and aprons, no peeking!

Have you checked your parts book to see what nuts are required?

Yes I have. I've made an executive decision to use stainless steel nuts and bolts in most hidden spots. One of the challenges in disassembling the car were the heavily rusted standard 1/4" fasteners, and while I don't expect the car to see a lot of wet or salt (other than the salt air here in NS), made this decision so I don't have to deal with rusty connectors down the road. Cheers.

Sounds like a good decision to me......especially considering the salt air in your location.

A 7/16" 8 point socket has been a fixture in my tool box for over 40 years. Works perfectly on the 1/4"-20 square nuts. If the bolt length is a bit too long then just disengage the socket a bit. If you have 1/2 or more of the square drive in the socket it will work just fine. Deep 8 point sockets are a little tough to find. 12 points just round off the corners of the square nuts.

I actually got a set of 8pt Sockets Dirt Cheap on ebay when Sears starting closing down stores. Some guy had bought out stock in his local store and was selling tools on eBay. Paid about $4 for a set of them, and man they are great for working on the 1929 !!

You can still buy 8pt from Sears catalog.