VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Body - Sheet Metal, Paint & Wood What are these?

Not sure if I’m in the right forum here but…

What are these? What are they called and where can I find them?

These “nuts” are used on the original part of the stake bed on my 1946 Chev truck.

The bolts look to be normal ¼” carriage bolts installed from the inside, so tightening must be done with these nuts from the outside. That means of course that these are NOT the normal T-nuts you see used with wood in other applications. And there is no sign of the prongs that T-nuts have that stick into the wood.

Sales info says they were used to prevent damage to any tarp or cover used to secure a load.

I’ve looked at McMaster Carr. They might be there, but I couldn’t find them.

If anyone out there can help me on this, it would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

Those are similar to what some people call “spanner” nuts. You use a wrench that has short pins sticking out to tighten them.

They are also used as “security” nuts.

I would start checking with places that supply hardware for stake bodies on trucks. It would not surprise me if there was a modern equivalent.

Thanks!

Any suggestions for a hardware store to try?
Don't think there are many places up here on the prairies that supply that sort of thing.

Crazy price, but the right idea.
Like saw handle nuts, but I wouldn't want brass.
Will require just the right bolt length!
Google on!
WL

https://www.macsautoparts.com/blind...msclkid=d86b2e5f8ebb1ef842f24e6c936a48c1

Ole,
The sideboard sets I have use the same arrangement and as you noted, they are original for factory Chevy sideboards. There is a thin lock washer under the nut. I made a wrench from a cheap 3/8 drive socket by cutting away the face and leaving just the three pins. Rust is the enemy here so a lot of soaking will be involved to save them if required.
What is the size of your bed?

Mike

Hi Mike
Thanks for this.

The back half of my bed (4 panels) is original and the dimensions as manufactured are below (hope they are legible). The truck is a 3/4 ton by the way.
The front half has been rebuilt at some point. The curved metal corners are gone, the wood dimensions aren't quite right to match the originals, and the hardware is different.

I thought it unlikely I would find the curved metal corners, so I thought I would just rebuild the front half of the bed with square corners as that is how the 1947 and up beds were done anyway.
My intention is to try to "weather" the wood to match the "patina" of the existing original wood, as this is an unrestored, weathered, but pretty good original truck. (It's my avatar.)
I found matching corner brackets, and carriage bolts are easy to find, but I can't find the proper nuts (and apparently the thin lock washer you describe).

What do you have?
Thanks

Hi Ole,

I agree that you will not find these at any local hardware store. I did a couple of quick Google searches that showed a few ideas to follow.

As I noted before I doubt if you will find an exact replacement parts. My search results listed multiple sources for stake body hardware as well as some vintage/classic vehicle hardware suppliers. I would encourage you to have some conversations with those potential sources. You might be surprised what they can offer.

An alternative is to have a local machine shop make them for you. It would be fairly easy to turn and tap them out of low carbon steel or aluminum round. Then just drill the three shallow holes in the face. This may not be the cheapest solution. It would give you the part you really want.

Another idea would be to have someone 3D print the parts. This would be especially great to reproduce the brackets.

I think you are right.
I may well end up "manufacturing" something that looks right from the outside. :-)

PS
I actually found brackets that look exactly like the originals!
Same dimensions.
A little muriatic acid to remove the plating (unless they were originally plated??) and they will be ready to paint.

Maybe some of these, and then get a machinist to run an end mill at them to change the holes to the u-shaped slot in your picture?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-1-4-in-Zinc-Plated-Standard-SAE-Brad-Hole-Tee-Nut/3012548

Yes!

Thank you, thank you!

I'd even try a fine hacksaw and a small file!
A few washers, maybe a small collar...

I think that would work!

I'll wait to see what Mike has first, but this looks like something that would work.

Thanks again!

PS
And I can get them up here!

Look up McMaster Car. If anybody has them, they do.

Fastenal is another potential source of hardware.

Another place that might be able to help you - Spae-naur in Kitchener Ontario. Google them - their catalogue is on line.

Thanks everyone!

And thanks kaygee...
I just looked up Spae-naur and they have nearly exactly what I need!

Again, thanks all!

Often called blind nuts or T nuts. I change all windshield regulator nuts out to those so if the regulator fails, you can remove the regulator without removing the upholstery on the face.