7/16 x 20 castille nut on tie rod

[Al R.]

I called all the local parts stores as well as the tractor farm supply, Lowe's and the Fastenall store trying to find 2-- 7/16 x 20 castille nuts for the tie rods on my 59. No one has them. Zip lists them at $2 ea. but this is not enough for a min order. Anyone have any other suggestions on where to look?

[David L.]

Re: 7/16 x 20 castille nut on tie rod

You can try your local GM dealer. GM # 9440271 (7/16"-20, 301M castle nut) currently sells for $1.07 each (list) in a package of 5. You can also check your local hardware store. Aubuchon Hardware in N.E. sells fasteners for cars. I believe that Hillman is the manufacturer.

Dave

[Al R.]

Re: 7/16 x 20 castille nut on tie rod

Thanks David, that will give me something else to go on. Al

[Al R.]

Re: 7/16 x 20 castille nut on tie rod

Got them at Volunteer Vette on Wed.

[John D.]

Re: 7/16 x 20 castille nut on tie rod

Al, Is castle nut and castille nut the same thing?
I do know that the castle nuts you buy today aren't even close to original in configuation.
But like I said I don't know if we are talking about the same kind of nut. John

[Jim L.]

Re: 7/16 x 20 castille nut on tie rod

NAPA web page lists a 7/16-20 grade 2 castellated nut in the Rockford product line. Part number is RFD 4261032. I'm not real sure I'd want to use a grade 2 fastener in a suspension application, though. Jim

[Al R.]

Re: 7/16 x 20 castille nut on tie rod

John, yeah castle was what I meant. Wasn't sure how it was pronounced or spelled. The ones I bought use a wrench 1 size larger than the original nut, but for now that will work until I run across 2 correct ones on an old car somewhere.

[Fritz W.]

Re: 7/16 x 20 castille nut on tie rod

Corvette Central has them for 95 cents each, no minimum order.

[Joe L.]

Re: 7/16 x 20 castille nut on tie rod

I called all the local parts stores as well as the tractor farm supply, Lowe's and the Fastenall store trying to find 2-- 7/16 x 20 castille nuts for the tie rods on my 59. No one has them. Zip lists them at $2 ea. but this is not enough for a min order. Anyone have any other suggestions on where to look?

Al------


Castle nuts have absolutely NO applications on a C-2 or C-3 Corvette and, as far as I know, they were not used on C-1 Corvettes, either. The nuts used on Corvettes are SLOTTED nuts. These are configured differently than a castle nut.

Virtually all the castle or slotted nuts available today from sources like hardware stores, industrial suppliers (e.g. Grainger, McMaster-Carr, etc.) and even auto stores are SAE grade 2 or un-graded. If they are zinc plated, you can almost bet they fall into the garde 2 or ungraded category. These are NOT to be used in a strength-critical application (like just about any suspension application).

I recommend using ONLY the GM #9440271 that Dave mentioned. With these you KNOW you have the requisite strength.

[Jim S.]

Re: 7/16 x 20 castille nut on tie rod

GM Parts Direct shows the 9440271 nut as available for $0.62 (list $1.07). Don't worry, they will get it back in the shipping.
So the nut is still in the GM parts system.
Jim