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Jan 21st, 2020
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Joined: May 2019
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'Bolter
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All
What is the recommended lug nut torque
Thanks
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,698
Gearhead, Moderator for The Swap Meet and General Truck Talk
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Jack,
For your '48 3100 with original 7/16" x 20 studs and steel wheels, lug nut torque should be between 70-80 ft lbs. If you are using a wheel different than original steel style (like cast aluminum), you should confirm what that wheel manufacturer specs are and go by their requirements.
Hope this is helpful.
Dan
Dan
1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 (My Grandpa's hunting truck)
1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod)
2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver)
US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998)
Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Finally time to get to work on my Grandpa's (now mine) truck!
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Joined: Apr 2008
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'Bolter
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I have a 49 3100 6 lug 15" tires on steel wheels. My hand written maintenance notes say 50-60 ft lbs. Looked in my maintenance manuals but couldn't find the reference. I must have seen it somewhere but can't say where.
Last edited by Forty9; Mon May 22 2023 05:08 PM. Reason: Add info
Ed
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Joined: May 2015
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Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums
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50-60 ft lbs seems pretty light. Everything I've seen has lug nuts around 90-100 ft lb, but a generic bolt torque chart [ boltdepot.com] recommends about 55-60 ft lb on a 7/16 diameter bolt. I think the tapered seat on the lug nuts create more resistance, so a higher torque would logically be required to get the right bolt tension. If someone has an era-specific owner's manual, it would likely be in that.
Kevin Newest Project - 51 Chevy 3100 work truck. Photos [ flickr.com] #2 - '29 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. First car '29 Ford Special Coupe Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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'Bolter
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Did they even have torque specs back in those days? I realize they do now, but I always had the impression that back then you just cranked them as tight as you could, so they didn't come loose.
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Joined: May 2019
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'Bolter
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Thanks guys
I know 90 is too much because that’s when it broke
Torquing last of all 4 wheels
Looks like a clean break
Factory wheels
I’m going to go with 75
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If someone has an era-specific owner's manual, it would likely be in that. I checked the owners manual for my ‘52 and could not find it listed anywhere. I believe I went with 70-75.
Last edited by Phak1; Fri May 26 2023 01:36 AM.
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals1952 Chevrolet 3100 Project JournalsStovebolt Gallery Forum‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters “Three on the Tree” & 4:11 torque tube Updated to: 12v w/alternator, HEI & PCV
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Joined: May 2015
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Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums
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Thanks guys
I know 90 is too much because that’s when it broke
Torquing last of all 4 wheels
Looks like a clean break
Factory wheels
I’m going to go with 75 Yeah, that torque them down till they break and back off a half turn method doesn't really work very well.  I'd say 75 ft lb would probably be fine. Interesting that the owner's manual doesn't have anything.
Kevin Newest Project - 51 Chevy 3100 work truck. Photos [ flickr.com] #2 - '29 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. First car '29 Ford Special Coupe Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
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Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 3,187
'Bolter
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Interesting that the owner's manual doesn't have anything. Nor does the FSM. The way I deal with situations like this is to tighten the nuts with the lug wrench that came with the vehicle instead of using an impact driver or air gun. It's nearly impossible to over-tighten lug nuts using the tire iron manually unless you're Arnold Swarzeneger. After all, what farmer in 1950 was riding around with a torque wrench in his truck? He tightened the nuts as tight as he could by hand with the tool provided.
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom)
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck)
1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather)
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif)
1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red)
1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe
1979 Ford F-100
1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red)
1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 8,121
Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums
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Anyone that uses an impact wrench to install lug nuts needs to be drawn and quartered. 
Kevin Newest Project - 51 Chevy 3100 work truck. Photos [ flickr.com] #2 - '29 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. First car '29 Ford Special Coupe Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
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