The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk column shifter to steering column bolts - '59 1/2 ton

porkchop here-

so i'm going to be posting quite a bit and more than likely they are amateur questions so i apologize in advance.

i'm trying to attach my 3 speed column shifter to my steering column using 1/4-20 bolts see attached. For whatever reason they seem hard to thread in and i don't want to strip or damage anything. Are these the right bolts? if so is it okay just to spray the threads to help guide them?

porky-

Are they the originals or something you picked up at the hardware store? If you have a hardware store close just buy a couple of each 1/4 bolts in several thread pitches. It may be a 1/4-18. Throwing stuff out there til something sticks.🛠

porky,

Are they the original screws/bolts?
If they are not, see if you can thread a fine-thread bolt in the threads (UNF 1/4" x 28).

If you are sure they are the original screws/bolts, do you have a tap and die set?
If you do, carefully clean the threads with a tap.
If you do not have taps, you might want to buy a cheap set (not for tapping; for cleaning/"chasing" the threads).

Or, use Bubba's thread cleaning/chasing technique (view to the end - use a tap)

No, I don't own that series, but, they don't look right to me. The dead give-away is the lack of a rounded crown. I would go to a bone yard to capture the real thing and not use those fasteners. In addition, that is a critical attachment point so you don't want to 'buggar-it-up' by throwing different size fasteners at it. Someone should post soon with the correct fastener, if not, hunt for the real ones, don't guess.

Those look like the door hinge bolts. I will try to look at mine in the morning and see if I can find the ones that fit.

yes, they do look like door hinge screws and that's what happens when i wait 15 years to put the truck back together.
thanks guys..
porky..

The correct screws are 1/4-28 x 7/16" Oval Head Chrome...p/n 451181.

Mike B