1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

[Clark E.]

The A M identifies the washers used to attach the rear tail light and backup light assemblies to the body as "Spl. Washers" part # 606404. Unfortunately, the original 1/4" washers were discarded due to their condition when the assemblies were removed so I don't have a reference. I think "Spl" stands for "split" but I've also seen "L" washers "lock" referred to as "split" elsewhere. Is "Spl." the same as a 12 point "star" washer or should I sign up for Washer 101? What washer is correct for this application? Thanks. Clark

[Gary C.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

Clark,

Could be wrong, but always understood "Spl. Washer" meant Special Washer. JMTCW,

Gary
....

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

Clark,

Could be wrong, but always understood "Spl. Washer" meant Special Washer. JMTCW,

Gary
....

Gary and Clark-----


That's what it means-----"special washer". These are usually washers which differ from standard washers in some way. For example, they might be substantially thicker, be serrated, or have some other unusual feature. Many times, these sort of washers will not be cataloged in the group 8.9 "standard parts catalog" but, instead, will be cataloged in a specific parts group of the P&A Catalogs.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

Clark, I believe those lamp assys.used flat washers and speed nuts,the flat washers were just a little bigger dia. because of the speed nuts were flanged.So the typical 7/16 dia. washer maybe to small.

[Clark E.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

Thanks. I know the side markers use speed nuts. The tail and backup lamp assembly has two 1/4 by 20 machined studs and the nuts I removed were standard. Having owned the car since 1972, I believe them to be correct. Clark

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

Thanks. I know the side markers use speed nuts. The tail and backup lamp assembly has two 1/4 by 20 machined studs and the nuts I removed were standard. Having owned the car since 1972, I believe them to be correct. Clark

Clark-----


The nuts used for attachment of the tail lamp assembles were, indeed, standard hex nuts.

[Clark E.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

As always Joe, thanks. Any sense of what a "special washer" looks like? Am I making too much out of this?...Clark

[Mike F.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but this is what my 70 look like.

[Bill L.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

I am not positive but I think in the case of the tail lamps the "spl" washer is a washer with a slightly larger ID. I had an original and bought what I thought were similar washers to replace some that were missing and they would not fit over the stud. I ended up buying the correct OD washers and drilling them out to the ID that fit and matched the originals.

I found you could get the correct OD washers or Correct ID washers from AMK but not both the ID and OD.

Don't know if that helps or anyone else has had the same experience but that is what worked when re-attaching the rear harness.


Bill

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

As always Joe, thanks. Any sense of what a "special washer" looks like? Am I making too much out of this?...Clark

Clark-----

The GM #606404 is a small flat washer. It is 0.050" thick, 0.280" ID, and 0.500" OD. It had a plain finish. It was once available in SERVICE but it was cataloged only for some MD/HD truck applications and, as I previously surmised, was cataloged in non standard parts, tachometer-related parts group. It was discontinued without supercession in October, 1983. A photo is attached.

The GM #120375 was a standard hex nut of 1/4-20 thread size and 0.22" thickness. It was similar to the GM #134551 which is pictured. Both were supposed to have originally had a zinc finish although this original example appears to have had either a plain or phosphate finish.



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[Clark E.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

Thanks Joe. I'm amazed you were able to come up with these pictures. If you don't mind me asking, is there a source whre information of this type is readily available?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

Thanks Joe. I'm amazed you were able to come up with these pictures. If you don't mind me asking, is there a source whre information of this type is readily available?

Clark-----

The source is ME and I can't always come up with this sort of information. But, in this case, I could.

[Clark E.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

I got a little trigger happy and didn't finish my thread. I looked closely at the pictures Mike sent of the right tail light and backup light housings. The lower stud on the tail light does not appear to have a visable washer. The others had clips that made it difficult to make a determination. I removed the housings over two years ago and dispite ample amounts of penatrating oil, several of the studs broke off. I kept all the pieces from all four housings and none had loose washers. What I did find was the studs were pressed into the housings and on the side that goes against the body a washer was an integral part of the stud. I drilled out the broken studs and replaced them with 1/4 x1" flat head bolts (don't tell anyone) that won't be visible when the lens are installed. Could it be that the washer was pressed onto the stud and not loose?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

I got a little trigger happy and didn't finish my thread. I looked closely at the pictures Mike sent of the right tail light and backup light housings. The lower stud on the tail light does not appear to have a visable washer. The others had clips that made it difficult to make a determination. I removed the housings over two years ago and dispite ample amounts of penatrating oil, several of the studs broke off. I kept all the pieces from all four housings and none had loose washers. What I did find was the studs were pressed into the housings and on the side that goes against the body a washer was an integral part of the stud. I drilled out the broken studs and replaced them with 1/4 x1" flat head bolts (don't tell anyone) that won't be visible when the lens are installed. Could it be that the washer was pressed onto the stud and not loose?

Clark-----


No, they were loose. Keep in mind that there's always a chance that a washer or washers were left out on the assembly line. I don't think it was typical of factory production, though.

[Les G.]

Re: 1970 Assembly Manual Terminology - Spl. Washer vs L. Washer??

I just removed my tailights from my 1971 LT-1 couple of studs broke off even with massive amounts of penetrating oil. I purchased 1/4 x20x1 screws ground off the top used JB weld to hold them. The taillights did have flat washers and I compared them to the ones I purchased the looked and fitted the same. I saved the good nuts and washers will clean them up when I put the car back together.