The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk What Type Fastener(s): Fender to Bed

I am starting to put together my 1930 1930 Chevrolet AD Universal - Canopy Express Truck And putting in the bolting through the straps, I am looking for

1. 1/4-20 UNC Step Bolt 4.00" and 6.00" Long. Have had no luck in finding a supplier to date, can find up to 3.00" all day long.
Step Bolts are the bolts going Thru the red Strapping (Primer), need a few more to complete installation.

2. What type of fasteners/ hardware were used to hold the fender to the bed side ??
Fender hardware are the bolts that will go through the black plate and wood into fenders, which have a through hole in them. So it will have to have bolt, washer, nut. Just not sure what type of hardware, fender bolt, square head bolt, coundet sunk machine screw, etc... There are about 8 holes on the OD of the black plate inside that I will use flat head countersunk wood screws to hold the plate to the wood and make for a flush clean looking installation, just not sure on the 3 bolts that hold the fender. I was thinking of using countersunk machine scerws to keep a clean look and smooth surface, or use carriage/ step bolts.

Here are some pictures of what I am talking about...
Huckster: Bed

Can't help on bed bolt size, but try McMaster-Carr for the other bolts you need. Just google them. They have excellent service and will ship very quickly.

Ok... I have updated and loaded some pictures to clarify what I am working on. In the newly posted Pictures all the green circles represent the Bolts that go thru from the inside of the bed (Inner Fender through Wood through Rear Wheel Fender) to hold the Rear Wheel Fenders. The red circles show where the wood screw are to hold the inner fender to the wood (Inner Fender into Wood), do not go thru.

I am looking at using slotted flat head wood scerws for the red circles and then debating on the green circles, as these have to be a machined bolt so I can nut the fenders on. Figure either a carriage or a slot flat head machine for a clean looking install. I am leaning towards the Carriage bolt, as that seems to be the common bolt on this truck. Just makes it harder to assemble something that you personally did not take apart. Considering I got the truck in pieces, (Yeah most of the parts were in boxes) It is a challenge to put back together.

I found great info on the bolts, Carriage, Step, Elevator, and Timber. Here is a link to the catalog with great fastener info American Fastener Catalog Page 42-43 has all the specifications for the bolts. Good Reference Info !! Shows the specification of the head for these bolts and many more.

I can find the Step Bolts in lengths up to 2.50" or 3.00" for 1/4-20 UNC, but I need to get 4.00" and 6.00" for the head and foot of the bed, that is the hard part. I have looked up McMaster Carr, Fastenal, MSC, Grainger, etc... No such luck :?

If you post a picture of the hardware you want AFTER you take one off the truck, so I can see what you want, I will help you. The explanation and pictures do not help. Get pics of the hardware by itself, close up.

Try AG. suppliers or Fastenal Bolts,Grainger, Mc Master Carr etc. they can get them if they are still made.
From the picture you show of the bolt it looks like a Carraige Bolt.
62Blue
Don

Material Search Company, MSC 1/4" diameter 20tpi 4" & 5" carriage bolts (stainless steel). Call them about 6".

1/4" x 8" 20tpi (cut it down?)

1/4" x 6" 20tpi

Ok, I can get 1/4-20 carriage bolts all day long in most materials from local vendors, Steel, zinc coated steel, Stainless, 18-8. Lengths from 1/2" - 18.00"

My questions were what hardware was originally used on the trucks from the factory cab/ bed suppliers. Trying to do as close as original as possible with availability !!

Per my Question #1: Bolts used to hold the bed planks together & Down with the metal strapping. What the resto shop was using was step bolts. they LOOK like carriage bolts but have a larger shorter diameter head. See specifications below:

Bolt Specification: Carriage
Bolt Specification: Step & Elevator

In Regards to Question #2: I was looking to find out what type of hardware/ fastners to use for this application, actually 2 different ones in this case.

1. If you cannot find step bolts long enough, you might have to weld threaded rod onto the end of a bolt with the correct head. Do you need for the nut to go far up the bolt? How far?

2. You will have to continue to hope a person responds with a 1930 panel body truck who has original fender to bed/body bolt(s). No sense for anyone else responding with speculation.

as for the welding, looks like that is what they did, but guess it was not that great of a job, asmany ofthem have broken apart at the weld. RUSTed up. also being .250-20 UNC they are small in dia.

Looks like there are carriage bolts all over this thing for the front fenders and panels, so it makes sense that carriage is the bolt of choice. Very few variety of fasteners were used then, versus now.