The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop (Help - need lugnut stud advice) problem solved

Hi - My 1940 1/2 ton truck just started making all kinds of noise and banging... turns out that my lug nuts must have been loose and broke all but two of the studs on a back wheel.

My local Classic auto parts store doesn't have any in stock. Napa has no data to ID which are needed. And my truck is out on the street.

Does anyone have any guidance for finding the right studs so I can do a rapid road side replacement?

thanks! Doug

phew! roadside replacement? even if you had them, that'd be one helluva job to tackle. aside from using a thread gauge to verify what they are, your best bet at finding them is to take the remaining nut, or a nut from another wheel, and take it to the store to see what thread it is. and measure the length of the remaining stud in order to match it to what the store has.
good luck

You'll also need to knock out the remaining part of the stud out of the hyb so that they can measure the shank length and knurl size to match it up.

pretty hard to match 1 up unless you have one out
worse scenario is to take 2 out of the other side
but odds are that those studs are the same size right on up through the years
If you have any older Gm psrts around you might be ucky and get a pre computer parts man who would know without having to look at a computer screen. tire shops may sometimes carry a supply of wheel studs if not ask them as they are the ones who more than likely change quite a few and they may have a source.
are the studs on your truck l and r/hand thread?.
ron

Thanks guys for quick advice. I found two lugs that were supposed to be for a '40 and put them in. With those and the last half chewed through lug in place, it was enough to limp home. (just a few blocks in granny gear)

You were all correct about the lug matching issues - the shank on the new ones is a little longer and so the wheel doesn't fit perfectly flat. (at least not I have the old ones out to match.)

All in all, the "emergency situation" only took about an hour to get the parts and install them and was easier than I thought. I feel Lucky.

Thanks again - Doug

good go. count yer lucky stars

at least you can get them machined to fit if necs
ron