54' Fastener Question

[John Lanning]

I have what may be a simple question. In the process of disassembly of my 1954 Corvette I have encountered a number of screws in various locations on the car's body. These are not slotted head screws or the torque type with the "star" head. Instead these fasteners have a somewhat "hour glass" shape or various sizes in locations on the license plate bracket and door latch. Have not been able to find these sockets at the local tool shop.
Anyone know the correct term for this set of sockets and where I may locate a set so I may contiue with disassembly.
Thank!
John Lanning

[Dale S.]

Re: 54' Fastener Question

I have a set of these in a old Duro-chrome tool set from the 60's. There are about a half dozen different sizes. I dont know the name of them, maybe some one on the post will. Dale

[Terry M.]

Re: 54' Fastener Question

Those are called "clutch head" fasteners. I believe the different sizes are graded by fractions. They are no longer a common fastener, and you will likely have to go to a Snap-on, MAC, Caldwell, McMaster Carr or the like supplier of tools to professional mechanics in order to find sockets for them. Just to explore, Snap-on has a good on-line catalog which will give you a sense of what is available, even if not economical.




Snap-on Clutch drivers

[Joe L.]

Re: 54' Fastener Question

John-----

As Dale and Terry have described, these are clutch head screws. You may find them at various locations on a C1, so "C1 guys" should probably have a set of sockets or clutch head screw drivers. Mostly, they are used in applications in which a screw driver would be sufficent for removal/installation.

By the C2 era, I think that these things had pretty much disappeared from Corvettes and other cars. They were used for some Holley carburetor screw applications at least until 1968, though.

Running into these miserable things can really put a "dent" in your progress on a repair or restoration job. As Terry mentioned, you're not going to find these in the vast majority of tool supply stores.

I recall back in 1968 I needed to do some "emergency repairs" on my Holley carburetor (after the Chevrolet dealer in Eagle Rock, CA told me that the carburetor on my 6 month old Chevelle SS 396 was not among the items covered under warranty). The clutch head screws stopped me in my tracks. I searched all over Los Angeles and could find a clutch head screw driver nowhere. If it was hard to find these things in 1968, you can imagine what it would be like today. I finally went to a carburetor shop to see if I could get one (or, just use one) and the fellow told me that he didn't have one, either. When he ran into them, he just jammed an appropriately wide, flat blade screw driver in the slot. So, that's what I did. But, I don't recommend it now. As Terry mentioned, you can get these from specialty tool suppliers.

[mike mccagh]

Re: 54' Fastener Question

Clutch Head Screwdrivers:Snap-on definitly has them and i think crafstman still sells them although you may have to get them thru the sears catalog. mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 54' Fastener Question

Mike-----

I don't think they have them in the stores, but they may have them in the catalog or the Craftsman Industrial Catalog. Another interesting tidbit here is that for these clutch head screw drivers, there are some "oddball" sizes. The Holley carburetor application is one of those oddball sizes. I recall now that when I was looking for that elusive clutch head screwdriver in LA 38 years ago, I did find some of the sizes in tool stores. However, the one for the Holley carb (and, perhaps, some of the C1 applications, too) was impossible to find.

[mike mccagh]

Re: 54' Fastener Question

Joe: the set of clutch head screwdrivers i got off the snap-on truck 10 or 15 years ago included the driver for the holley carbs. mike

[Pierre J.]

Clutch Head Fasteners

Corvette Central has them in sets of four. Also, If you search Google you'll find truck loads of them.

Pierre #34410

[Garry Barnes]

Re: Clutch Head Fasteners

There is a four piece set of clutch head screwdrivers on ebay right now. I think I saw them listed under 57 corvette. I have also been able to obtain some of the more standard size clutch head screws through Paragon Reproductions.
Garry

[mike mccagh]

Re: Clutch Head Fasteners

chevy cars and trucks of the 40's and 50's were loaded with clutch head screws if you have a boneyard locally with old gm cars and trucks. mike

[John Lanning]

Re: Clutch Head Fasteners

Hey - thanks to all for the advise and sources for the clutch head drivers and fasteners. I need to take a closer look through my pile of Covette parts catalogs now that I know what I am looking for. You have all been a great help.
Thanks!
John L.

[Kent K.]

Re: Clutch Head Fasteners

John --- Last time I checked at our local Sears, they sold sets of clutch head screwdrivers but most likely were missing the special size for Holly carbs.
Kent #6201

[Gary Bishop]

Re: Clutch Head Fasteners

I made a couple of sizes using bolts and grinding down the sides to fit. The bolt heads fit a socket and worked well.

[Dave Suesz]

Sears Hardware has them in

the hardware / tool area as bits for magnetic chucks in several sizes, they should have anything you need.

[Clem Z.]

the holley size is 5/32" clutch head *NM*