Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

[Brandon T.]

What exactly is the finish of the 4 screws that holds these 2 vent grills down? I was at corvette expo today in TN and walked over to smartparts and the screws included in their kit was a stainless shinny finish.

would that be correct for a 68? I bought the kit actually because a couple of mine had some slight paint on them from the paint job a couple years ago and one wasn't matched to the others.

then I got to thinking surely shinny screws like that showing isn't correct so what were they originally?


1. natural/shinny?
2. painted same as car?
3. phosphate looking black finish?

every car you see seems to have them different ways, only one way is correct anyone know?
thanks

[Michael B.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

They should be black-oxide, flat-head (not pan-head) phillips sheetmetal screws.

[Terry M.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

I know there is a picture in the 1970-72 TIM&JG, and I believe the same picture is in the 1968-69 Manual. As they say on that other forum: RTFM

[Brandon T.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

Terry,

Thanks, I looked through my manual didn't see which is why I asked but I'll take another look and as I would tell that "other forum": STFU

[Jack C.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

Black oxide, flathead cross-recess screws.

[Brandon T.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

Black oxide, flathead cross-recess screws.

Thanks, I should have known better than to buy anything from that smart parts place it's all bad repro china junk.

[Jack C.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

7290k Paragon is what they list as what is needed.

[Brandon T.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

Just put them on order thanks again Jack!

was the same price as the incorrect junk I bought too $6..o well.

[Terry M.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

Terry,

Thanks, I looked through my manual didn't see which is why I asked but I'll take another look and as I would tell that "other forum": STFU

Brandon, I am sorry the picture I mentioned is not in the 1968-69 TIM&JG, but a verbal description of the screws -- as Jack C posted -- is on page 30.

[Brandon T.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

Brandon, I am sorry the picture I mentioned is not in the 1968-69 TIM&JG, but a verbal description of the screws -- as Jack C posted -- is on page 30.

You're right it's there but as you know that JM isn't exactly the best about it's index and where things are talked about in there which is why I thought it wasn't talked about in there.

thanks again


although paragons kit in the pic below to me looks to be pan head screws, allready ordered them so hopefully on the top they're flat.

[Terry M.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

You're right it's there but as you know that JM isn't exactly the best about it's index and where things are talked about in there which is why I thought it wasn't talked about in there.

thanks again


although paragons kit in the pic below to me looks to be pan head screws, allready ordered them so hopefully on the top they're flat.

The judging manuals were and are organized in the order the items are judged. I don't expect that will change since their first intended use is as a judging guide. Their second use is a technical guide. I took the picture int he 1970-72 TIM&JG, but that was pre-digital so I don't have anything to post.

Let us know how the Paragon kit works for you.

[Rich P.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

What most people don't realize is that this is a very unique screw and this is it's only Corvette/GM application. It has a counter sunk head with a flat on the bottom that fits perfectly into the vent grill. and the flat head of the screw sits flush with the grill. the screws in the repro kit are more than twice as long as the originals and don't have the flat on the taper of the counter sunk portion. Look at the picture of the originals I posted compared to the originals.

Another thing is the U-nut is a pretty unique item as well but we can save that for another post.

Rich.

[Brandon T.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

What most people don't realize is that this is a very unique screw and this is it's only Corvette/GM application. It has a counter sunk head with a flat on the bottom that fits perfectly into the vent grill. and the flat head of the screw sits flush with the grill. the screws in the repro kit are more than twice as long as the originals and don't have the flat on the taper of the counter sunk portion. Look at the picture of the originals I posted compared to the originals.

Another thing is the U-nut is a pretty unique item as well but we can save that for another post.

Rich.

and luck would have it I'm missing one of the original clips/nuts. What ticks me off is I'm 99% sure when I took the car in for paint it had the original screws and he just lost them and stuck whatever would fit in.

because it came back with shinny new long screws and what was in there looked black and original.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

...although paragons kit in the pic below to me looks to be pan head screws, allready ordered them so hopefully on the top they're flat.

Actually, those are what is known as a "crown head" or "oval head". Pan heads are not countersinking like these, but are flat on the bottom and near flat on the top. Flat heads are like wood screws...countersinking, but with a perfectly flat head surface.

See Rich's examples above...like he said, you'll probably only be able to find those exact screws on a donor Corvette. Buying screws represented as matching originals, but bearing only a passing resemblance to the originals, is a common problem with vendors; so much so that I would advise everyone to refinish/reuse original screws whenever possible.

[Edward J.]

Re: Rear astro vent grills on c3's...

Brandon, home depot had some black oxide pan head screws that I brought for my 72, they worked great and they were the right size heads. (3.00 for 8 of them) as for the j-nut? maybe its just slipped inside the recesses area there if you lucky, take a flash light and look in.