Proper fasteners for heater control

[70SwingerGuy]

Wondering what the proper fasteners are to secure the non-ac heater controls to my cluster/bezel in my 70 Swinger rallye dash. Im pretty sure Ive got some mickey mouse action going on in there.
thanks FABO

 

[CFD244]

Lets have a look at what you have. The controls bolt to the aluminum (pot metal?)cluster frame.

 

[halifaxhops]

Your IPB will have a pic.

 

[RAT ROD AL]

Could it possibly be these ????? I don't remember what I got these off of.

 

[70SwingerGuy]

Lets have a look at what you have. The controls bolt to the aluminum (pot metal?)cluster frame.

Could it possibly be these ????? I don't remember what I got these off of.

Your IPB will have a pic.

And what is this magic book of which you speak sir?

So this what I have, and I guess they may be correct, looks like RRA has the same screws, I cant remove the nuts off of mine though.

 

[70SwingerGuy]

So it looks like what I have is probably correct for the application, next question is, Im guessing that these little studs should probably be installed permanent into the cluster housing, then just have the heater control holes slip over them, then attach the nuts, would I be correct in assuming this, or should they keep coming on and off like they have been doing?
And I dont imagine anyone makes repops for these either?

 

[halifaxhops]

IPB Illustrated Parts Book MYMOPAR has them online if you need to look.

Parts Manuals – MyMopar

mymopar.com

 

[CFD244]

I'll take a closer look at a spare cluster I have here today.

 

[1MeanA]

I have yet to put mine back together so I will have to take a look at the dash and bag of parts. I don't recall seeing any studs but mine could have been butchered.

Ps I checked and no studs just screws. I have no idea if this is correct or not

 

[CFD244]

^^^^^^^What he said^^^^^^^^ Mine has 3/16 bolts.

 

[70SwingerGuy]

@CFD244 @1MeanA
Do you guys have the same types of bolt/screws that I posted, with a machine screw thread on one end, and a "lag" type thread on the other that screws into the cluster housing? Or do you just have regular bolts? Since @RAT ROD AL posted the same bolts that I have, Im given to believe that these are factory.
Since my nuts are securely fastened to the studs, the only way I can install them is to treat them as a regular bolt and put the heater control against the housing, then screw the bolt/screws in, leaving the machine threads useless except to thread the nuts onto. I just makes way more sense to install the "lag" thread part of the stud into the cluster housing, leaving the machine thread exposed, then slip the heater controls over the exposed studs, then screw on the nuts to hold it securely. If Ma Mopar wanted us to install them just like a bolt, Im sure she would have just used a bolt, not a special two thread stud.
Am I wrong in thinking this??

 

[CFD244]

Well, the stud that RRA posted shows a "screw/lag pitch" almost like a sheet metal or wood screw. The bolts that hold mine in place have machine threads. Right or wrong, that's what I have.

Maybe if the previous owner stripped the machine threads in your housing, they decided to use the lag thread studs to bite in??

 

[70SwingerGuy]

Well, the stud that RRA posted shows a "screw pitch" almost like a sheet metal or wood screw. The bolts that hold mine in place have machine threads. Right or wrong, that's what I have.

Yes, and those are the same as what I posted as well, just that mine have a couple of nuts fastened down to them, probably so a previous owner could use them as a bolt

 

[1MeanA]

I could see a threaded stud with a sheet metal nut being used to hold the control plate on. If that is what is used I don’t have them. I had a look at the parts book….pretty useless for this.

 

[CFD244]

I suspect that those lag threads on your studs would ruin the machine threads in my housing if I tried to install them.

 

[CFD244]

I just checked 2 unmolested units from 70 and 71. No studs on either......Both utilize a small machine threaded bolt to attach the controls to the bezel housing. It would seem that those nuts on the studs would keep the control housing from attaching flush on the bezel housing.

 

[70SwingerGuy]

Well thanks for all the info guys. Now Im not sure, I thought I had original stuff cause of what RRA posted, but now Im not sure; I was even able to get the nuts off of the studs just now without any damage to the studs. Now I wonder if I should drill/tap to the next size up machine screw rather than use the studs. And I agree, the parts manual is useless for this.

 

[70SwingerGuy]

Well, the stud that RRA posted shows a "screw/lag pitch" almost like a sheet metal or wood screw. The bolts that hold mine in place have machine threads. Right or wrong, that's what I have.

Maybe if the previous owner stripped the machine threads in your housing, they decided to use the lag thread studs to bite in??

Thats what I was thinking too, maybe these studs were a quick fix for stripped holes

 

[RAT ROD AL]

Mine must have come off a 73 Duster. Just to clarify.

 

[1MeanA]

Looking at the heater control frame in the dash I see a couple of thread holes on the top side. These are threaded for #8-32 screws. Again I have no idea if its all stock.

 

[70SwingerGuy]

Looking at the heater control frame in the dash I see a couple of thread holes on the top side. These are threaded for #8-32 screws. Again I have no idea if its all stock.

Ill go have a look at mine too

 

[70SwingerGuy]

Looking at the heater control frame in the dash I see a couple of thread holes on the top side. These are threaded for #8-32 screws. Again I have no idea if its all stock.

What size screws hold your frame to the cluster, 3/16 like Troy, or 8-32? I have no threads in my frame at all, just holes for the bolt to go through, but I may be misunderstanding you.

 

[70SwingerGuy]

Im thinking Im gonna drill and tap those holes for the next largest size and use a standard screw

 

[CFD244]

What size screws hold your frame to the cluster, 3/16 like Troy, or 8-32? I have no threads in my frame at all, just holes for the bolt to go through, but I may be misunderstanding you.

Sorry, the bolts that I have are small. I figured that you were more interested in the thread style (machine vs lag type). The ones in my dash could very well be #8. If you need me to, I can pull one out and get an exact measurement.

 

[70SwingerGuy]

Sorry, the bolts that I have are small. I figured that you were more interested in the thread style (machine vs lag type). The ones in my dash could very well be #8. If you need me to, I can pull one out and get an exact measurement.

Thanks Troy, but you dont need to do that, but I do appreciate the offer! I think im gonna drill and tap for a couple of M6 bolts, gonna go check how much meat I have to work with in the cluster first, M6 is still pretty small, I think I should be ok