MTFCA Forum

In the process of assembling the body sheet metal together on a 1921 Touring and have a question regarding the joining screws used to attach the rear center sheet metal to the side quarter panels. I would like to know what was used originally (i.e. slotted machine screws 1/4 by 3/4, square nuts). If anyone has photos of an original unrestored body that is together showing these bolts or screws would you mind posting it here, or sending me an email. Any other touring body from 1917 to 1922 would also be of great help.

I have an assortment of original screws/nuts the previous owner saved when disassembling the body and am trying to replicate what was used here. There are a total of 20 fastening points (10 on each side). Thanks in Advance for any help.

Dan Snell
Danielsnell2@twc.com
210-279-7864

my '23 used very short 1/4-20 bolts (as I recall). I think the heads were around 3/8 (5/16 ? they were unusually small heads) and there were square nuts. I lost a couple and had to make them and recall that they were not standard head sizes for the threads they had...I subsequently found the lost hardware and installed them

if you are still in a quandary, I can check tomorrow as the seat cushions are not yet installed.

These are on a later ('23 to '25) body. I hope it helps. What I thought was a '21 was spot welded. Not sure when the change was made.
Rich

Thanks Richard, are both sides with the screw head toward the side of the body and are the nuts all square? Just curious as to the method of assembly, perhaps it was somewhat consistent.

I only uncovered the portion shown. I assumed both sides were the same with the small bolt head on the center panel side. If I get a chance I'll try to get pictures of the other side and the rest of it. There are several panels covering it.
Rich

The above photos are what is in my 1925.

Here are some more pictures. It is a tough place to get a camera and keep my balance so excuse the poor photography. You can see they are the same with the small bolt head towards the center and the Square nut outside. My guess is the bolt heads are 7/16 and the nuts are 1/2 but someone who knows should verify this.
Rich

It's hard to see but it appears like they are slotted head machine screws with square nuts, correct?

No, they are hex head bolts. There are no slots.
Yes, they are hard to see in the photos. The heads are a bit rounded but are hexagonal.

These are the back panel joining screws on a 25 Touring I'm working on.

What size bolt, 1/4 × 20 x 3/4?

What size bolt, 1/4 × 20 x 3/4?

Anyone know about earlier models, I have a 1921, could be different?

The panels and the T-molding have the same number in the parts book for 21-25. Whether they used the exact same screws and direction is a good question. I see Ricks are assembled the other way. I doubt mine have changed since built. It could be any of those years.
Rich

Dan, I will measure the bolt head size when I get back to my shop. To Rich's point about the installation of the body panel bolts mine are also as originally installed. I can picture young guys spinning them in and cinching up the nuts at a rapid pace probably not caring which direction they go in. You mention you have a pile of original bolts from the previous owners' disassembly of the body. Any of those matching up to we are showing in our cars?

The direction the bolts were installed may have depended on if the installer was right-handed or left-handed.

Bolt dimensions: 3/8 x 1/4 x 20. The bolt is 7/8" long including the bolt head. The bolt pictured matches up to the bolts used to put my 25 body panels together. Interestingly, four of these were also used to attach the firewall brackets to the firewall. Its been my experience that a carriage style bolt is usually used for those brackets. My 25 was put together in the last week before they switched to the 26s. Might have been another case of "what do we have on hand" hardware.

Rick D

Here are the original 1921 screws/nuts that were removed from this car that I believe to be correct based upon the number I have, size etc. No other quantity of screws/nuts from the original stash fit the pictures sent. Size of these are: 1/4 x 20 x 3/4 and there are 18 of them. I'd like to know if anyone has pics of original early touring bodies 1917-1922. I think my 1924 had slotted machine screws like these if I recall correctly.

Sorry, forgot to attach

That certainly could be what they used in your '21. They won't be seen after it is upholstered so you can be happy with whatever choice you make.
Rich

I think the mystery is solved Dan. What you have is most likely what your car came with. I skimmed the Documentation section of the Encyclopedia about bodies to see if there was something specific in there. What I did find is that 1915-1921 open car bodies were built by 5 different suppliers. I think its fair to assume that some of them used their preferred hardware during assembly.

Thank you all for spending time to help me out, I appreciate you sharing your information.