C1 bolt head marking

[Joel M.]

Can someone give me an education on WB bolts? Just curious as to who WB was/is and the significance of the various 1C/2C etc recessed head marks. I am on a current mission to find 8 WB2C 3/8 x 24 x 3/4 or longer and shooting blanks at this time.

[John H.]

Re: C1 bolt head marking

Joel -

"WB" was the Wales-Beech Corporation, in Rockford, Illinois.

[Jack H.]

Re: C1 bolt head marking

WB = Wales Beech. The Corvette Fact Books from MF Dobbins have a nice recitation regarding fastener head marks, supplier identification, and typical vehicle usage locations. Unfortuantely, Dr. Dobbins didn't author a fact book series for C1 cars....

Paragon typically offers a pretty complete selection of reproduction fasteners for the various applications, but beware. Vendor's screw machine tooling DID wear out and undergo replacement. Some judges are pretty darn clever at knowing and being able to spot a given head mark and gauge it's time of manufacture based on the specific font + head placement of the vendor ID mark. This means some will detect a fresh reproduction fastener from Paragon vs. the factory original of that item.

Those who are really serious about their restorations often make scrap yard runs just to collect original nuts/bolts. But, that's a 2-sided coin.... You can wind up with real McCoy original fasteners that are tired out, unsafe, if you don't have a good feel for what you're doing!

[Joel M.]

Re: C1 bolt head marking

John and Jack -----Thanks for the Wales Beech info. The 3/8 x 24 WB2C application I have is for the rear leaf spring front mount to frame on a 57. Of coarse these are typically weak when old and a chore to get out intact. Paragon offers a recessed head only for this application and Central's is just an unmarked flat head as I recall. Have been hoarding period correct bolts for years but am coming up blank on finding eight of these. Have looked thru various other period GM brands in salvages for the use of these and am striking out so far. The quest continues!!!!!!

[James F.]

Re: C1 bolt head marking

Joel,
I recall the rear leaf spring fron mount to frame uses two different lengths of bolts. The upper bolts are slightly shorter (think I'm right about this, without going to the cold garage to look). Regards,

[Joel M.]

Re: C1 bolt head marking

Jim ----- I agree with you ------ Should require both 3/8 x 24 x 3/4 and 1 --- Got lucky yesterday and found 8 NOS at 1". A few minutes at the lathe and I'll be ok. Thanks for reply. Still would like as and educational matter to know what the significance of the 2C etc mark means. Grade? Thread pitch? Daimeter? Finish? ----- Got any idea?