'69 Radiator Top Bracket Hardware Silly Washers?

[Jamie F.]

Most of the Repro Houses sell a bolt kit that has 4 large flat washers, 4 external teeth sawtooth lockwashers, 2 bright plated bolts and 2 dark coated bolts.
I've searched through the archives and see where it has been noted that one of the bolts (upper passenger) didn't use the sawtooth lockwasher, but a spring lockwasher. I can deal with that, but my question is; why are the sawtooth lockwashers they provide in the kits so big? They Are so much larger than the bolt heads that it really doesn't do any "locking" and look really silly.
Some of the tooth of the lockwasher should be under the head of the bolt in order to provide some locking effect. With these washers, that does not happen and they are basically ornamental.
Are these what was really originally used?
Thanks!

[Jamie F.]

Re: '69 Radiator Top Bracket Hardware Silly Washers?

Here's a picture of the washers and bolts. Any C3 judges that could tell me if this is really what it should look like?
Those big lock washers sticking out like that???

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 Radiator Top Bracket Hardware Silly Washers?

Here's a picture of the washers and bolts. Any C3 judges that could tell me if this is really what it should look like?
Those big lock washers sticking out like that???

Jamie----


I don't know if the reproduction lock washers are accurate to within 0.0001" OD of the originals. However, these washers were originally sized and configured essentially the same as the reproductions. To the extent that ANY lockwasher is effective in accomplishing fastener system "locking", I'm sure these were similarly effective. In no way were they simply "ornamental".

Also, the right side bolt without the star washer used a SPLIT lockwasher and not a wave or spring lockwasher.

[Jamie F.]

Re: '69 Radiator Top Bracket Hardware Silly Washers?

Thanks Joe for the response. As to being ornamental, they effectively are. For a lock washer to lock some of the tooth part on a saw tooth lock washer, or the cut end of a spring type washer must be under the head of the bolt to keep it from turning.
If you look at these washers none of the "tooth" of the lock washer is under the head of the bolt. The bolt could turn on the smooth portion of the lock washer. Hence my question as to the size of the washer being correct. For a external tooth lock washer to actually lock this bolt head it would have to be half the size of these.
Thanks!

[Jamie F.]

Re: '69 Radiator Top Bracket Hardware Silly Washers?

But if as you say this is how they were, then that's all I need to hear!
Thanks Joe!

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 Radiator Top Bracket Hardware Silly Washers?

Thanks Joe for the response. As to being ornamental, they effectively are. For a lock washer to lock some of the tooth part on a saw tooth lock washer, or the cut end of a spring type washer must be under the head of the bolt to keep it from turning.
If you look at these washers none of the "tooth" of the lock washer is under the head of the bolt. The bolt could turn on the smooth portion of the lock washer. Hence my question as to the size of the washer being correct. For a external tooth lock washer to actually lock this bolt head it would have to be half the size of these.
Thanks!

Jamie-----


The "locking action", such as it is, of an external tooth lockwasher does not require that any of the teeth lie beneath the bolt head. That is true for INTERNAL tooth star washers, SPLIT lockwashers, and WAVE/SPRING lockwashers, but not external tooth star washers. Many external tooth star washers have none of the teeth beneath the bolt head.

[Jamie F.]

Re: '69 Radiator Top Bracket Hardware Silly Washers?

Interesting.
Thanks Joe!

[Joseph M.]

Re: '69 Radiator Top Bracket Hardware Silly Washers?

I also have the same bolt kit. My question is re the TR dark bolt (appears brownish/purple in my kit). Is this the correct plating or should it be cad. The color seems a bit odd.