Bolting front end to frame

[David H.]

Is there a correct bolt pattern when bolting the front end cross member to the frame?
There are eight bolts to each side, four bolts to the outside of the frame and four bolts to the inside of the frame.
Do all bolts go down thru or up thru or are some down and some up? My pictures show some of both but pictures dont show all the bolts.
If its going to be done, it might as well be the way it should be.

Thanks.

[Rod K.]

Re: Bolting front end to frame

David,

Per Dale Pearman & John Hinckley's BG seminar on the straight axle chassis in 2002, the inboard bolts would have the nuts on top, outboard would have the nuts on the bottom. This was to clear the bumper mounting brackets. That may have started with 1958s as my '57 had them all with nuts on the bottom.

[Joe E.]

Re: Bolting front end to frame

Just finished a 62 for an original owner that had never been apart and the bolts were as Rod said, Outboard nuts on bottom Inboard nuts on top.

[Richard M.]

Re: Bolting front end to frame

Hmmm, this is interesting.......If you look carefully at this never apart mid '59 front crossmember, the inboards on this one have the 4 pairs with the nuts "up" as described, however, both rear outboard pairs have the nuts "up" also, just like your pictured '62. I'll dig up a close-up photo of the "before" outer rears when I can find it but you can just make it out in the photo.

Do what you must, but I felt it necessary to put it back the way it was built. (uh, oh here we go again)

Plus IMO, it's easier to get the 2 outer rears tight with the nuts on top. I think if the boys on the line in St. Louis found a quicker and easier way to do a procedure, I bet they did it.(when the supervisor wasn't looking)

Rich
p.s. When I built my erector set steel building a few years ago, it was very explicit in the assembly instructions that when tightening a nut & bolt, and there were thousands of them up to 3/4" diameter, that it was important to turn the nut while keeping the bolt head rigid. Turning the bolt while holding the nut can cause excessive shear on the bolt and potentially fatigue it. Makes sense to me that the outer rears could not be tightened properly if the nuts were on the bottom. I'm not a 'degreed nut 'n bolt engineer, but it sure makes sense to me!


.....before......



.....after.

[David H.]

Re: Bolting front end to frame

I am inclined to put it back the way it came off also Richard.
My photos agree with you that the outer rears were nuts up.
Thanks for the input.

[Bill M.]

Re: Bolting front end to frame

My photos agree with you that the outer rears were nuts up.

That's the way my Dec. 58 assembled car is done, too...never been apart.