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stainless screws

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tahoe healey

tahoe healey

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I raised the rear view dash mirror a while ago and tried to use the original screws. They are too short and back out. Where can I get longer stainless screws that fit the nuts mounted the car? The local hardware store's are a different thread. Or will lock tight work when they only go into the nut part way?
Thanks.
 
Hello TH,
you will probably need to find a specialist fastners supplier. In the UK there are several that sell to the Classic car market, but I don't know what is available in your part of the world. Some large specialist such as Moss may stock a range of fasteners however? Your first job is to identify the original thread. If it is about 3\16" diameter it well could be 2B.A. (British Association) I don't know if that is a common thread in America. It's most popular use is in electrical equipment.
You may get away with using Locktight if you have 1\2 a nuts depth or so.

Alec
thirsty.gif
 
I assume you want to stay authentic and not tap the nuts? Would be far easier to use a standard US thread but perhaps yopu can not get a tap in that area.

I would take the original to a good hardware store or mechanic and see if they can tell you the size and thread pitch.
 
Tahoe

Funny, my Home Depot had the correct length 10-32 screws. The heads were Philips (x) style, I don't recall if they were originally slotted or Posi, but the countersinking Philips look good. Lowes also has a drawer of 10-32 screws in stainless. You'll probably be able to find something nice there.
 
Most of the big box stores (Home Depot, Lowe's) are getting out of the fastener business. Not enough profit I suppose. I had real good luck going to an ACE hardware store, also Handyman is a good bet. They stock stainless screws in various sizes, nuts washers also.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by ThomP:
Tahoe

Funny, my Home Depot had the correct length 10-32 screws. <hr></blockquote>

If the originals are 10-32 then most hardware stores and any marine/boat store will have them.
 
I took the screw in and they couldn't match it's thread. I'll bring the car in since the nut seems to be part of the car.
Thanks all.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by tahoe healey:
I took the screw in and they couldn't match it's thread. I'll bring the car in since the nut seems to be part of the car.
Thanks all.<hr></blockquote>

Does anyone know if the threads should be 10-32? The question always comes up if the screws that are now there are correct? Who knows what previous owners have done.

I thought that England, during WWII, was more or less told by the US to change from Whitworth to US so equipment could be repaired easier. Wife's tale or true? I would guess not all industries did this right away if true.

I wonder if someone did change the threads on those screws? If someone has a good pitch gauge you should be able to tell the pitch and that would certainly tell if they are US standard or not.I have a gaugee with about 30 pitchess on it and it covers about everything.
 
Don Lenschow, President of the North Texas AHC makes and sells a BJ mirror riser, viewable on www.ntahc.org under Healey Regalia.

He also has the screws. You can probably talk him out of a couple.
 
T.H. Regarding the mirror support screws-Solution retap the nuts in the dash to 10/32.FWIW--GNB

[ 05-05-2004: Message edited by: Keoke ]</p>
 
10-32 screws work. The thread shape for british screws are different, not the pitch. Additionally, I'm pretty sure they invented the 0-12 screw numbering system for size. In a non critical application, like holding the mirrior, it shouldn't seriously compormise the application by mixing the thread types. Mixing the two thread types isn't recommended in applications that require maximum holding strength.

I'm not surprised that the help at the store couldn't find what you needed. I often find things they can't, I think that's because I want it and they don't care (it's not their car).
 
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