French locks
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 727
Likes: 113
From: Austin TX area
French locks
A friend of mine that works on vettes for a living, recommends I not use the french locks, but use lock washers. He feels you can not torque then as well as they should be. I don't plan to have the car judged ever. Looking for you thoughts.
Thanks Bill
Thanks Bill
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Using lock washers will work just fine. I prefer to use the french locks but I only use the stainless steel set. The standard steel ones will twist up when you draw down the bolts while the Stainless set will not...
IMHO,
Willcox
IMHO,
Willcox
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
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2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Back in the day, there must have been a good reason why the factory engineers thought they should be there. They could have just used lock washers.....which cost a heck of a lot less.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
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when you try and torgue down the nuts, the dang French locks, will twist up underneath the nuts, buggers them up ... and I am sure if messes with torgue down.
I agree use lock washers.
I agree use lock washers.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
The aftermarket French locks will "wad up" when torqued. The factory pieces were hardened to prevent that from happening. I used the French locks because that was the way the car was built...but I had to put grease under the bolt heads to keep them from twisting around.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
But I wonder why they didn't just drill the bolt head and wire them like aircraft do ?
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Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '12
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
This is why we use the Stainless Steel Locks in the shop, they don't twist up. 7t1 is right, the originals won't twist up.... the steel repro's look like a twisted train wreck when you use them.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; May 14, 2011 at 09:18 PM.
Melting Slicks
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When you bend the tangs on the lock...that is really secure. Same thing on the large bolt holding the backing plate to the spindle.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
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2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
