Threshold aluminum strips 55 Speedster 80370

[mac arnett]

are the screws slots or phillips ???

I have seen 3 Speedsters all 55 that were phillips but mine has slots .

Stoddard looks like slots

thanks mac

[Julian Hardy]

Hi Mac,
My 1955 # 80612 has all sloted screws.The tool kit does not have a phillips screws driver. The 1956 cars had phillips screws.

Julian Hardy
Bosch Horns Restored

[mac arnett]

Thanks for the info. I guess I have not seen a 55 tool kit.



Thanks for the info. I guess I have not seen a 55 tool kit. We are just starting to put this car togather and I am trying to get all bolts and screws to the correct type. Looking at other Speedsters dose not seem to be the way get it correct. I looked at a different 55 today and it had things different. Funny their are a lot more Speedsters around here than I though.

[Bruce Baker]

Here is a picture of a '55 Speedster at my shop yesterday that I posted to show a unique mirror adaptation, but if you look in this picture, you can see one slotted screw on the aluminum strip. The man who owned this car also restored it. As a machinist, he did his homework and the car is very accurate (from as much as I know, which is limited).

[Tom Scott]

It is my understanding that Phillips screws were not generally available until 1956 and that there wasn't an immediate change over to using these when they became available. As a general rule, although not absolute as nothing is on these cars, 1955 and earlier used slotted, oval and flat head, machine and sheet metal screws and later years used Phillips. Of course, all Fillister, and most pan head screws, were slotted and used on all 356's.

Dr. Screws

[Kevin Murray]

Does anyone know of a source for the slotted screws for a) threshold trim strips, b) door panels, and c) hinge covers?

[Tom Scott]

Kevin, et al. If you are going to work on any 356 you will need to locate a metric hardware supplier who has the correct size and type screws, bolts, nuts, washers, cotter pins, etc. etc. There are several such suppliers on line. The screws you will need for the threshold trim (the vertical piece), hinge covers, hood seal, etc., the correct size is M 2.9 X 9.5, sheet metal, oval head. The flat, or horizontal trim piece, should have M 3.5 X 9.5 or 13, oval head, and are sheet metal also. The screws used on the metal rail located in the lower threshold seal are M 3.5 X 9.5 or 13, slotted pan head, sheet metal. These should be chrome plated, except the pan head, as originally used by the factory, but if you order stainless steel you can polish the heads on a buffer and obtain close to the same results.

Here is a handy chart of the DIN (Deutsch Indentification Numbers) most commonly used screws used on 356's

Sheet Metal (Self Tapping)
Head Type Slotted Phillips
Pan 7971 7981
Oval 7973 7983

Machine
Pan 85 7985
Oval 964 966
Cheese 84 N/A

Dr. Screws

[Bruce Baker]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_ ... Cr_Normung
The DIN is like our SAE for standards. Thought a quick explanation by Wikipedia might help.

[Brad Ripley]

It sounds like the original question has been answered. However, Tom Scott brings up the question of where to get such screws. We stock the following SCREW SETS which are usually stainless and sometimes zinc plated. BTW, the stainless can be endlessly polished with Simichrome and the zinc can be lightly polished to give a similar look but can be polished off if done repeatedly.
NLA 551 001 00, Threshold hold strips, for both narrow and wide, for one car
NLA 551 003 00, Threshold U-channel screws, for one car
NLA 531 004 00, Hinge covers, for one car
NLA 511 001 00, Hood seal including correct finishing washers, for one car
Plus many more screw sets for the car.

And another By The Way, we have to purchase these screws by the hundreds, there are no onezes twoezes in the fastener business.