Radiator Installation Tip

[Bruce Boatner]

Thought I would pass along on a tip that I learned the hard way. I was up to 3:00 a.m. last before finally getting the fan shroud and radiator installed in my 1964 a/c coupe. I could not get all of the holes to line up just right in order to start the bolts through a/c condenser, radiator support and fan shroud to save my life. Finally, I thought about some 5/16 "body bolts" laying around. These are the bolts that come to a point with the point being threaded all the way to the end. I made peace with originality, said a little prayer, and was overjoyed when the bolts actually started and threaded in--piece of cake!

One could always go back and replace the body bolts with the "original" bolts one a time which should be easy when the body bolts have everything lined up. Personally, I do not think I will be ready to wedge my hands into cramped and uncomfortable positions again anytime soon and will let the original bolts take a breather for a while.

Hope this helps some other poor slob avoid a night of anguish and obscenities.

[Tracy C.]

Good tip Bruce...these could even be made with the

aid of a belt sander and a slightly longer bolt. I'll keep this in the back of my noggin.

thanks
tc

[Bruce Boatner]

Re: Good tip Bruce...these could even be made with

Tracy,

I tried grinding down the end of a "regular" bolt and re-threading with a die as you suggested, but trust me, it does not work! The "body" bolt has DEEP threads all the way to the point and that's what makes the difference.

Bruce

[John H.]

Re: Good tip Bruce...these could even be made with

Bruce -

Those are "roll-point" bolts; developed (and patented) by yours truly in 1969 in conjunction with the McLean-Fogg fastener company when I was an Assembly Senior Process Engineer at the Chevrolet Pilot Line in Flint. The guys next door on the Caprice front end sheet metal line at Flint Assembly just LOVED to see me coming down the aisle with a fresh box of prototype bolts to try out as we developed the thread-rolling tooling - the line repairmen knew they had an easy day coming

[Bruce Boatner]

Re: Good tip Bruce...these could even be made with

John,

All I can say is GOD BLESS YOU! I was considering suicide at 2:00 a.m. with still no bolts started. Not sure how I remembered that I had some "roll-point" bolts from my long-gone 1973 Formula Firebird lying around, but I sure am happy I did. Took me mere minutes to complete the job with the roll-point bolts vs. hours and hours fooling around with the others. You have a special place in heaven if it is up to me.

Bruce