Radiator baffle screw or bolt size?

[Praxiss454]

Hi all,

I nabbed radiator baffles like these some time back, but never installed them. The side pieces connect to the radiator support with standard body bolts, but the top piece and the tops of the side pieces connect with what appear to be screws rather than bolts, something smaller than 1/4-20 it looks like. The holes are stamped into the sheet metal with like, a single thread. I can't for the life of me figure out what size fastener to use. I know I'm not the first person to ask this question here but I didn't see an answer. Hoping someone can weigh in.



I actually took one side piece up to Ace and spent 20 minutes trying to fit every screw and bolt I could into it, and nothing felt particularly secure.

[geezer#99]

Might be sheet metal screws like these.


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt...-204275064-_-N

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Might be sheet metal screws like these.


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt...-204275064-_-N

I tried a few different sizes of sheet metal screws at the hardware store but they didn't seem to fit very nicely. I didn't want to force them because they were the self tapping variety.

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

I tried a few different sizes of sheet metal screws at the hardware store but they didn't seem to fit very nicely. I didn't want to force them because they were the self tapping variety.

Well I think you were right after all. I just found a screw in my garage that fits perfectly. Don't know where it's from or what size it is but my caliper measures the outside of the threads to be .246" and inner diameter to be roughly .191". A coarse thread, about 10 per inch.

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

Well I think you were right after all. I just found a screw in my garage that fits perfectly. Don't know where it's from or what size it is but my caliper measures the outside of the threads to be .246" and inner diameter to be roughly .191". A coarse thread, about 10 per inch.

Looks like sheet metal #14 might be a winner. I will look for some stubby ones at Ace tomorrow and give them a try.

[Praxiss454]

Confirmed, #14 screw does the trick. Hope this helps someone else in the future with these specific baffles.