Nuts and Bolts
 

Silly seeming new guy question. How do you know what size nuts and bolts were used for all the various bits of the truck to keep it together??

I need to attach cross sills to the fleetside bed on my 64 and went to buy bolts and realized i have no idea what i am looking for. I know there is a better way than 'eye ball it'

thanks

Re: Nuts and Bolts
 

The parts book gives you some information on the sizes, but if it's a specialty fastener it will only give you a part number. Next time you see a truck similar to yours, pay attention to the fasteners. When you disassemble anything, take a picture and get yourself some plastic parts trays, place the different fasteners in each compartment and label the compartment as they go in. You can get these containers at the dollar stores or higher end ones at Home Depot, Lowes etc.

Re: Nuts and Bolts
 

Like aerotruk63 said, bed bolts are kinda a specialized item if you want to go back pure stock. The sills and thru-the-board bolts are mostly carriage bolts. What's really different about them compared to OE is that the washers are offset and with a star kind of center. If you're not a pure-stocker, just go to your local Tractor Supply and pick up a couple bags of carriage bolts in different lengths.

Re: Nuts and Bolts
 

The bolts for the bed strips were splined as compared to the regular carriage bolts we use today.

Re: Nuts and Bolts
 

This parts book you speak of... i am new new. everything i have removed i have tagged and labeled but these parts were apart when i got the truck. Where might i acquire this book of great knowledge?

Re: Nuts and Bolts
 

Hard to find, Ebay or if you know of an old dealership, if they haven't thrown them out allready. There is a GM fastener specific book, but you have to know which fastener your looking for, because they don't give the application, smart eh! Sorry eh, went Canadian on ya, eh!