Bedside fender brace hardware set up?

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Can anyone confirm the bed brace hardware set-up for the fender side? The bed brace runs from the fender, front of tire, to a bed rail.

I believe it's one bolt, one washer and one nut. The bolt slides in from the inside, and there's just the nut on the outside. Edit...Incorrect. The restorations I've seen were wrong.

Thank you.........

It's the details.



The correct assembly, working from the outside of fender in:

1. Bolt with integral washer (head faces down). Assembly reads "SCREW & WASHER ASM".

2. Fender

3. Fender brace

4. Lock washer

5. Nut

[ramsey]

Subscribed

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

I B knowin someone B knowin this.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Brace, correct hardware placement?

[FirstOwner69]

OK, I'll try...

I'm about 80% sure I reinstalled mine as they were installed new. Those that attach to the lower lip on the bed are head down then the bedside, washer and nut. Those that attach to the cross sills are head forward, then cross sill, washer and nut on the inside of the cross sill. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the bolts were installed pointed both ways by the humans working on the assembly line. If you are going to be that anal, be sure to use the correct original nuts and bolts.

Oh, by the way, 32K is probably about right! Also, multiply the amount of time you expect it to take by 3!

Jim

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

The nut is on the outside of the fender on the few I've seen. I failed to confirm the washer set up.

The bolts to the bed rail have been an experience. I had a body bolt on one side, and a regular bolt and washer on the other, which was loose. I ordered a used set, and both were a regular bolt and washer. I was thinking the body bolt was correct.

[FirstOwner69]

I just went and actually looked at mine. First, there are no washers per se. All 4 bolts are the body type bolts with an integral/captured washer. They are 5/16" X 3/4". The lower bedside bolts are the ones I am almost 100% certain are installed as they came from GM. All 4 are, in fact, the original bolts and it wouldn't make sense to use bolts with integral washers if they weren't oriented with the washers against the sheet metal. Also, I installed load assist air bags in the rear coils when the truck was less than a year old and ran the valve stems vertically through that lip in the bedside just ahead of the bolts. If the head had been up, I'd have been constantly wondering if I was grabbing the bolt rather than the valve. Incidentally, today GM always has the bolts in a similar location installed head down.

I apologize for describing it incorrectly in my 1st post. Here's a pic of mine.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Alright, I'm looking at my assembly manual. First off, you're correct. The bolts comes in from the outside. Meaning the few I've seen on restorations were wrong. I did find it odd the nut was on the outside. At any rate, according to this book, the correct assembly, working from the outside working in:

1. Bolt with integral washer (bolt head down).

2. Fender

3. Fender brace.

4. Lock washer or washer. I'm guessing a washer. Edit: Wrong.. it's supposed to be a lock washer

5. Nut


As for the brace to rail........I suspect you're right, it's the same bolt.......That said, the bolts on my fender are about 1/8" shorter than the two sets I've seen for the rail. Couldn't tell you.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Alright, I'm looking at my assembly manual. First off, you're correct. The bolts comes in from the outside. Meaning the few I've seen on restorations were wrong. I did find it odd the nut was on the outside. At any rate, according to this book, the correct assembly, working from the outside working in:

1. Bolt with integral washer (bolt head down).

2. Fender

3. Fender brace.

4. Lock washer or washer. I'm guessing a washer.

5. Nut


As for the brace to rail........I suspect you're right, it's the same bolt.......That said, the bolts on my fender are about 1/8" shorter than the two sets I've seen for the rail. Couldn't tell you.

I am sure mine never had washers or lock washers. Since the integral washer is cupped slightly, and compresses to some extent, it probably acts much like a lock washer. I don't recall seeing lock washers with those bolts in other applications on these trucks.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

I don't have a soft copy handy, but per the assembly, there should be a washer between the brace and nut. In fact, it's supposed be a lock washer. Just learned to read the manual (ha!)...... reads "L WASHER".

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

I don't have a soft copy handy, but per the assembly, there should be a washer between the brace and nut. In fact, it's supposed be a lock washer. Just learned to read the manual (ha!)...... reads "L WASHER".

I have a copy of the assembly manual, but have not looked at it for this. That's good info. However, I am almost my truck never had washers other than the captured washers on the bolts for the bed braces. When I disassembled the truck, I placed all the hardware in baggies labeled with usage location info.

I'm not trying to argue. I'm just stating the facts as they pertain to my specific truck. The bed was never touched except for a repaint by Chevrolet due to a paint adhesion problem.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Wouldn't be the first time GM assembled a truck without all the hardware.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Wouldn't be the first time GM assembled a truck without all the hardware.

Yup. It could have also varied by year and/or plant. We'll never know for sure.