The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Is a specialty screwdriver needed?

Greetings! This past weekend I began replacing the window regulators in my 63 pickup. When I got to the screws holding it in place, I was greeted by a set of screws I was not familiar with. Each looks like a standard flat head, except the groove is about a quarter-inch long and about twice the width of a standard flat head screw. Sort of like a squashed oval in the head.

The folks at my local auto parts stor say it must have required a specialty screwdriver 45 years ago, and they have no idea what it would have been...however they are happy to sell me the items needed to rip out the original screws and put new standards in.

Before I did so, I was hoping some of y'all with experience and an appreciation for using original tools, rather than ripping out and replacing, might be able to help me.

Did this require a special screwdriver. If so, where the heck would I find one?

Many thanks!

If you are refering to "clutch head" screws, then:

You can get just the bits, with 1/4" hex to use in an insert type screw driver, from McMaster Carr.
http://www.mcmaster.com/

page 2755 in the on line catalog, all 5 sizes for less than $6 total.

part numbers for the short ones:
7188A31
7188A21
7188A23
7188A24
7188A32

longer ones available, look at the page mentioned above.
I have one of the Snap-on ratcheting screw drivers, and these bits work great with that.

If you want the best you can get go for the Snap-On clutch head screwdriver set. I have used some and they are very nice.

Grigg

If it looks like an hourglass it's a clutch head like Grigg said. If it's an oval I can't help, I've never seen one.

If its a clutchhead NAPA auto parts sell them. Also most of the mail order truck parts have them.Chevy Duty,etc.

if you think a clutch head screwdriver will get them out you can find those screwdrivers at the vendors but also at Lowe's, HomeDepo and I have seen them at Ace Hardware. Just check around a few places. You can get a set of 3 or 4 for about 15 bucks most places.

I thought GM had done away with clutch heads by the 60s.
If your truck is anything like mine just take your drill and drill them out. That's probably what you'll need to do in the long run and you will probably want to replace them with new screws.

I was in Harbor Freight the other day and I ended up buying a 100 piece screwdrive bit set, just for the 3 clutch head bits it had!

I bought a set of Three from Snap-on. A set of three different sizes which work great in my 1/4 " drive screw type handle. Work great. I maybe paid ten dollars per unit or thirty dollars for the set.

The snap-on insert bits are even guaranteed...

But if you want the same thing for less, and no guarantee, try the McMaster Carr ones I listed in the second post (above), less than $1 each. I have yet to see a cheaper way to get a complete set of clutch head bits or screwdrivers than what McMaster Carr offers.

Grigg

Thanks for everyone's input. They were indeed Clutch Head screws, but rendered nearly oval by someone before me. Managed to get two of them off, but the other two had become rusted into place. Eventually just drilled them out.

But at least I've got the replacement regulator in now.

Many thanks!