Tie rod castle nuts ?

[Craig O.]

what size were the original castle nuts for the tie rods, 5/8 or11/16 nut size?

[Scott S.]

Re: Tie rod castle nuts ?

what size were the original castle nuts for the tie rods, 5/8 or11/16 nut size?

Craig,

I think the slotted hex nuts are 5/8" across-the-flats, but I'm interested to know if others confirm.

I also read Joe Lucia's comments in the archives that the bottom of the "slots" on midyear Corvette slotted nuts should be rounded, but I recently noticed both "rounded" and "straight" slots in pictures I took of the '67 survivor used for the morning Judging seminar at McDorman's a couple years ago. I don't recall if Joe's post was recent or not, so I don't know if the 'rounded' vs. 'straight-cut' slot info is up to date.

[Craig O.]

Re: Tie rod castle nuts ?

Scott, I have 2 that are 5/8 with the rounded slot, I ordered a set from a major vendor and they are 11/16 with a square slot. so it would seem the 5/8 round would be the original ?

[Scott S.]

Re: Tie rod castle nuts ?

Scott, I have 2 that are 5/8 with the rounded slot, I ordered a set from a major vendor and they are 11/16 with a square slot. so it would seem the 5/8 round would be the original ?

Craig,

Two slotted hex nuts that were on my '67 tie rod ends are 7/16-20 thread, 5/8" across the flats, with the 'rounded' slot. I have one example from a 1969 P/S relay rod asm. that is also 7/16-20 thread and 5/8" across the flats, but with the 'straight-cut' slot. Unfortunately, I don't know for sure if either one is production line original.

[Joe L.]

Re: Tie rod castle nuts ?

what size were the original castle nuts for the tie rods, 5/8 or11/16 nut size?

Craig------


The nuts were SLOTTED nuts and not castle nuts. Castle nuts have a different configuration. Original nuts used for 1963-82, GM #102646, were 5/8" across-the-flats and 3/8" thick. They were PLAIN finish and SAE grade 5 material.

[Michael F.]

Re: Tie rod castle nuts ?

Joe or anyone, do you have pictures of the 2 nuts to show config difference? thanks.

[Joe L.]

Re: Tie rod castle nuts ?

Joe or anyone, do you have pictures of the 2 nuts to show config difference? thanks.

Michael-------



Yup. The nut shown on the left is a SLOTTED NUT. The nut shown on the right is a CASTLE NUT.


slottednut.pngcastlenut.png

[Michael F.]

Re: Tie rod castle nuts ?

thanks Joe.

[Alan S.]