Chrome cross-recessed screws

[Erv M.]

I need to replace or rechrome these screws in the tail lights and fuel door. Does anyone sale these? I have checked most of the vendors and they only have zinc plated screws.

If you rechrome the originals how do you protect the threads so not to be distorted or filled in during the process?

[Joseph K.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

I don't know if this helps but the screws in my rear lights were not Chromed but looked like they may have been stainless steel. I cleaned them up with steel wool and they looked like new. The lights were the original lights and the screws looked original also.

Joe

[Joe L.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

I need to replace or rechrome these screws in the tail lights and fuel door. Does anyone sale these? I have checked most of the vendors and they only have zinc plated screws.

If you rechrome the originals how do you protect the threads so not to be distorted or filled in during the process?

Erv-----


Joe is correct; the tail lamp lens screws are stainless steel. They will clean up perfectly with steel wool or, even, just a good chrome polish.

The fuel door bezel and hinge screws were chromed steel. They have a "habit" of rusting even in a non-corrosive environment like California. I replaced mine years ago with stainless steel. Neither of the original screws was ever available from GM in SERVICE.

The bezel screws are oval head, countersunk, phillips drive sheet metal screws and are #8 or #10 (I'm going to have to check on that) X 1/2".

The hinge screws are pan head, phillips drive, machine screws and are #10-24 X 1/4" with an external star washer.

Get the above in stainless, polish the heads, and no one will know they aren't original except a guy with a magnet.

Where to get them? McMaster-Carr would be once source.

[Erv M.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

The TIMJG on page 30 states "Each tail lamp lens has three chrome cross-recess screws"
My old screw look as if they were chrome as there is still parts of the plating intact.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

Erv:
Put them on a magnet and you will know for sure if they are steel or stainless. If they are steel you know they were chromed. If not, just polish them.
Jeff

[Erv M.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

I stand corrected. Magnets do not lie: stainless.

What about the statement in the TIMJG?

[Joe R.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

I stand corrected. Magnets do not lie: stainless.

What about the statement in the TIMJG?

Just another correction in the saga of getting the Judging Manuals more correct each year! Turn it in to the judging guru for correction. Notice I used the correct term (more correct).

JR

[Joe L.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

Erv-----


Here's some further information on the fuel door screws.

As I mentioned previously, I replaced both the fuel door hinge and bezel screws on my 1969 years ago with stainless steel screws. The original hinge screws were chromed, pan head #10 X 1/4" screws with an external tooth lockwasher. That's exactly what I replaced them with, except in polished stainless steel.

I am less sure about the bezel screws but I THOUGHT they were chromed, oval head phillips, countersunk-style #8 X 1/2" sheet metal screws.

According to the AIM, the original screws used for the hinge door were initially GM #164418, changing in very early production to GM #9428929, and changing again not too longer after to GM #9428928. However, all these screws were supposed to be used with a PLAIN (i.e. flat) washer.

The AIM says that screws GM #3849634 were used for the bezel screws throughout the model year as well as for 1968 and 70-74.

I do not have specs for any of these screws. Also, none of these were ever available from GM in SERVICE.

Today, I went over to a see a friend's original owner 1969. His car was built in October, 1968; my original owner 1969 was built in September, 1969. I am 100% certain that the hinge and bezel screws on his car are original to the car.

Here's what I found on his car:

hinge screws: truss head, phillips machine screws of #10 X 1/4". The finish was zinc plated and there was NO washer of any kind used.

bezel screws: oval head, phillips sheet metal screws of #8 X 1/2". The finish is black oxide or painted black.

The difference in the finish of the hinge screws between his car and mine may very well be explained by the changes described in the AIM. His car probably has the GM #164418; mine probably had the GM #9428928. However, his car had NO washers under the screws and my car had external tooth lockwashers. So, neither of our cars, as built, conformed to the configuration shown in the AIM.

Also, I may have been wrong about the finish on the original bezel screws on my car; I just don't remember that, for sure, as it was a LONG time ago I changed them. They may have been black-finished instead of chrome.

Attached are photos of the screws I inspected today.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

Joe:
You used the term "truss head" screw for the hinge screw. I believe the screw you have pictured is a pan head. I use truss head screws in my cabinet business all the time and they are used to attach door/drawer handles to cabinet doors and drawers. These have oversized, shallow heads so as to cover the hole made for the handles. I don't mean to be picky but if someone were to go to their fastener supplier and ask for truss head they would have the wrong design.
Jeff

[Erv M.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

This is excellent information, enough to really get myself in trouble. If I bought pan head #10 x 1/4 steel and had them chromed would the process distort the threads and render them unusable?

[Michael G.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

GM often used stainless screws for such exterior applications. The print allowed the supplier an option of either "polishing" the stainless head or a applying a "Chrome flash" over the stainless. This would explain why you may see "parts of the plating intact", even on a stainless screw.

Mike

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

Erv:
Having screws chrome plated will not affect the usability one bit especially since this is not an area where any stress at all is put on the part. However, let me tell you what my experience with these screws was at the Novi regional. I re-chromed these screws myself (using Caswell "CopyChrome) and got a deduct because the plating was TOO NICE! Go figure.
Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

Joe:
You used the term "truss head" screw for the hinge screw. I believe the screw you have pictured is a pan head. I use truss head screws in my cabinet business all the time and they are used to attach door/drawer handles to cabinet doors and drawers. These have oversized, shallow heads so as to cover the hole made for the handles. I don't mean to be picky but if someone were to go to their fastener supplier and ask for truss head they would have the wrong design.
Jeff

Jeff-----


Yes, I meant to say PAN HEAD (the term I had used earlier in the post). I can't edit it now but PAN HEAD is what it should read for the hinge screws.

[Erv M.]

Re: Chrome cross-recessed screws

Erv:
Having screws chrome plated will not affect the usability one bit especially since this is not an area where any stress at all is put on the part. However, let me tell you what my experience with these screws was at the Novi regional. I re-chromed these screws myself (using Caswell "CopyChrome) and got a deduct because the plating was TOO NICE! Go figure.
Jeff

What a catch 22. If they are old and rusted you get a deduct and if they look too nice a deduct. I guess within lies the mystery of "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

I have never heard of the chroming system. Sounds like it worked very well for you. Any pitfalls to the system you would like to share.