What is this bolt? (1963)

[Patrick H.]

[Edward J.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

Pat about the only thing I can think of is the power steering control valve? The pinch bolt that holds it from rotating?

[Patrick H.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

Ed,

no power steering on this car, but I know the bolt you mean.

[Peter H.]

[Patrick H.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

Hi Patrick. That Particular Bolt Goes Into The Steering Coupler. At Least That’s Where It Is On My Car. Peter 

Hi Peter,

Note from my first post that it’s not a steering coupler bolt. Much smaller, and I have both of those.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

Patrick,
Just a wild guess...since it's a convertible, could it be one of the bolts of this type that holds on the rear decklid's front Guide pins? Three per side. This is from my '73. Bolt appears to be about the same size and definitely smaller than the one at the steering box coupler. Not sure if the same type bolt was used in '63.

[Edward J.]

[Patrick B.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

It looks like a bolt for aftermarket exhaust headers, those would be 3/8 coarse thread.

[Patrick H.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

No headers on this car.

Ed, I agree, nothing else comes to mind.

Jimmy's bolt is very close, so I'll have to look.
Currently, I'm not working on anything else so I have no idea how this bolt ended up on the table with the 1963 bolts. Usually I'm the guy who can look at a random fastener and tell you exactly where it goes on a car, so this is frustrating.

Thanks for the help so far gents.

[Robert B.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

I know you mentioned no PS but almost looks like one of 2 bolts that holds the two half together on a power steering control valve, but I think they have block washer ?

[David M.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

Generally 12 points in a GM are driveline related, Ujoints, steering shaft clamp at rag joint or reciprocating parts...unless its a Detroit Diesel in which case most fasteners are all 12s.
Here's where it goes:

[David M.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

Better pic, though not vette.

[Patrick H.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

It’s still not a steering coupler bolt. Please see my original post AND the tape measure.
If I were home I’d post a picture of the two together to show it’s about 60% of the size of a steering coupler bolt. Both steering coupler bolts are installed in the car; this bolt is not.
Jimmy’s convertible pin retainer bolt is the closest, but I don’t think it came from inside the car.

I can’t find any missing bolts right now, which I guess is good.

[Timothy B.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

Patrick,

I own a 63 and while it lived a few lives before it came to me I have never seen a bolt like that other than the header bolts that were on the car. It's for sure not a steering couplier bolt.

[Patrick H.]

Re: What is this bolt? (1963)

Patrick,

I own a 63 and while it lived a few lives before it came to me I have never seen a bolt like that other than the header bolts that were on the car. It's for sure not a steering couplier bolt.

Thanks Tim.

It might not be from the 63, but with zero other projects in the shop right now I’m just puzzled.

As long as I don’t see any open bolt holes I’ll just set it aside for now.