MTFCA Forum

As I restore my 1914 Model T I have noticed nuts, bolts and screws that are different than they should be, but I am not sure what they should be. Sometimes it is two bolts next to each other that are different and I don't know which one is the correct one....or if either is correct. Sometimes I find missing nuts, bolts and screws and I know I could find something that works, but would like to find a reference so I can figure out what should be there.
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Is there some sort of guide that shows exploded views of assemblies that would also include the type of fasteners used?
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Thank you...

Gail Rodda's parts guide volume 1 has a section on the correct bolts and fasteners up through 1914.

https://www.modeltford.com/item/PART-G.aspx

The beauty of this problem is whatever is considered incorrect down the track, it is easily corrected later on. The best way to get somewhere near to correct is to reference another good original car or one restored from a good original. Then you will still find things that are not 'correct', replace those, and then find there was a transition period when both types are 'correct'. Or, you could ask a purist for his advice, and still be prepared to make adjustments. Let it be a learning curve as you go.

I know this may be of no help.
Allan from down under.

The basic question here is "What's correct?" As any car contains dozens of different fasteners, there are dozens of answers. Here's one.

Two 3/8" bolts. One is an original Ford bolt, easily recognized by its taller head. The other is a modern bolt from the local farm supply store, adapted because I didn't have enough originals. The adaptation: 1 Drill the cotter pin hole; 2 Grind and buff the modern markings off the head; 3 Strip away the cad plating with muriatic acid because paint will flake off the plating; 4 Prep the stripped bolt with phosphoric acid to etch the surface for paint adhesion; 5 Paint and bake.

This list gives you the sizes of many chassis fasteners, but not all the details. Details? An example would be the ¼-20 carriage bolts holding the coil box to the firewall in my runabout. The head is slightly smaller than on a normal ¼-20 carriage bolt. If you use a normal bolt you have to grind a little flat place on one edge of the head to make it fit.


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I have been collecting original nuts and bolts for years. It is important to me, but not to many, which is a shame. I built a 1925 Ford pickup from the ground up using original bolts. It is a fun part of our hobby.

A 14 model probably had water outlet and inlet bolts at the block which had much thicker heads than later ones. There's a start for you.

Allan from down under.

Bob Bergstadt almost correctly reproduced the water inlet and outlet bolts. For some reason he always has them threaded up further than the originals. I don't understand why.

Original Smith wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 09, 2021 11:01 am

Bob Bergstadt almost correctly reproduced the water inlet and outlet bolts. For some reason he always has them threaded up further than the originals. I don't understand why.

Could he possibly be selling the same bolt for another application? I wouldn't make two different bolts just so that something that doesn't show would be "correct?"