1960 Acorn Nut
Unfortunately when I was adjusting my soft top frame 4 years ago, I dropped one of the two acorn nuts inside the car. Looked for an hour and used a magnet, no luck. I have started looking for an exact match for this nut and discovered that might be impossible. The nut is a high crown stainless steel 5/16-24. Several fastener companies sell 5/16-24 high crown, but they do not have what I am calling the "thread depth limiter". The outside of the original nut has a stamped square on one of the shoulders and it is dark. I thought it was paint, but it would not come off. I notice inside the nut at about the same depth as the square on the outside, there is "blemish" in the threads. I believe that interior thread blemish prevents the bolt from going all the way to the end of the nut. Will an off-the-shelf 5/16-24 acorn nut work just as well? I suppose I could pour epoxy inside the acorn nut to limit how far the bolt travels. Any thoughts?
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Re: 1960 Acorn Nut
After looking at the side of the nut with a magnifying glass, I see that a hole was drilled through the shoulder of the nut and a pin driven through the shoulder. The pin extends through the threads just enough to limit how far the screw advances. Once I locate a hardware store that sells 5/16-24 acorn nut, I will drill through the nut and insert a pin. I don't know if the acorn nuts solde by CC or Paragon have this pin or not. -
Re: 1960 Acorn Nut
Did you pull your seats to see if the nut is under there? I am missing a nut on one side and with a trouble light can see it down on the floor behind the seat. I will be pulling the original seats that have never been out of the car to also clean up and lube everything.Comment
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Re: 1960 Acorn Nut
I recently removed the entire seat frame sliding rails from the floor board; no acorn nut! A disappearance I will probably never solve. I located 5/16-24 chrome plated acorn nuts at a local hardware store.Comment
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Re: 1960 Acorn Nut
Joe, 5/16-24 SS acorn nuts are not that difficult to find. Now the height of the dome may be an issue though.
Try McMaster Carr. Part #92994A330 Specs: 5/16-24, Width 1/2",
Height 17/32, Thread depth 5/16'. Type 316 SS
Another one from McMcaster Carr. 18-8 SS. 9/16 width, 17/32 hgt, 5/16"thread depth. 91855A032.
Recap: One SS acorn take 1/2" wrench and the 2nd takes 9/16" wrench. I don't know the specs on the original.
But since judges like magnets and you at least have a nut that is SS I would go for the SS rather than chrome plated hardware store variety.
Trouble with McMaster Carr is you have to be a CEO of a major company to get a catalog. I bum them from friends. But they do have their catalog on line.
I don't need one if anyone is being kind but thanks anyhow.
Meanwhile Joe go on line and just type in SS acorn nuts and you will be amazed.
With enough shopping you may turn up the original dead nuts so to speak.
Plan B is to have them made and then sell them. John DComment
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Re: 1960 Acorn Nut
Not sure about 58/60 acorns but from what I have seen 56/57 use a shorter acorn that is painted frame color. This special nut has a somewhat flattenned area on the top of the acorn. The plug( if you will )in the side has a hard plastic insert pressed in that serves as a locking device against the screw that enters it. 62 on the otherhand uses a tall acorn nut that has no flat on top and is plated however the origs still have the plastic insert in one side as a thread locker.-------------Regards Joel Miller 620Comment
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Re: 1960 Acorn Nut
The acorn nuts on my 1960 are the tall versions, 17/32", 1/2" wide shoulders, 9/32" thread depths. Thanks for the info on what was inserted into the hole in the side of the nut. What is the purpose of the plastic insert?Comment
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Re: 1960 Acorn Nut
Joel, I reread your post and see that you answered my question. My acorn nuts are the tall pointed version and were painted black; so they must have been in place when the frame was painted. I guess for $2.40 I can afford to order them from CC and see if they are the correct size. If not, I know that McMaster Carr sells the exact size and I can add the plastic insert.Comment
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