Tap & die set
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Milan
Tap & die set
I'm going to begin my 69' frame-off restoration in the next weeks, so I'm looking at my garage tools.
After 40 years, many bolts are rusted and seized and after removed them the female threads needs a "restoration".
I need an help to buy the correct SAE thread taps because I live in Italy and I don't know anything about non metric thread taps (UNC, UNF, Whitworth ?
...)
Which are the most useful to work on a C3 frame/body????
Please I need the complete specs like :
1/4-20 unc
1/4-28 unf
5/16-18 unc
5/16-24 unf
3/8-16 unc
3/8-24 unf
7/16-14 unc
7/16-20 unf
1/2-13 unc
1/2-20 unf
Etc...
After 40 years, many bolts are rusted and seized and after removed them the female threads needs a "restoration".
I need an help to buy the correct SAE thread taps because I live in Italy and I don't know anything about non metric thread taps (UNC, UNF, Whitworth ?
...)Which are the most useful to work on a C3 frame/body????
Please I need the complete specs like :
1/4-20 unc
1/4-28 unf
5/16-18 unc
5/16-24 unf
3/8-16 unc
3/8-24 unf
7/16-14 unc
7/16-20 unf
1/2-13 unc
1/2-20 unf
Etc...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 71
From: Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
What you have there listed is pretty good, but as I recall most of the threads are coarse (UNC) also no Whitworth in the USA unless you have an old British vehicle. Also there are a few smaller sizes that you should get that would be 10-24 and 12- 24 . Make sure you buy HSS not carbon steel.
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...MT4NO=51735744
J&L has an office in the UK. http://www.jlindustrial.co.uk/cgi/insrhm
http://metalworking.mscdirect.com/CG...PMPXNO=7485729
This is what I have and they are very good: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004T9LR
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...MT4NO=51735744
J&L has an office in the UK. http://www.jlindustrial.co.uk/cgi/insrhm
http://metalworking.mscdirect.com/CG...PMPXNO=7485729
This is what I have and they are very good: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004T9LR
Last edited by RobRace10; Oct 13, 2008 at 09:00 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
You really don't want taps and dies to restore threads. They're a) far to aggressive and b) likely to get cross-threaded unless you're VERY careful
You're lookingmore for a kit like this, which covers just about everything on your 'Vette:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942275000P
If you can't find something locally, let me know and I'll see if we can work something out to get them to you
You're lookingmore for a kit like this, which covers just about everything on your 'Vette:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942275000P
If you can't find something locally, let me know and I'll see if we can work something out to get them to you
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 71
From: Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
I was tapping stuff on my 69 restoration yesterday as all but two of the screws on the side that hold the rocker mouldings on snapped off when trying to remove them . I have had a number of other smaller bolts and screws snap off. These needed to be drilled out and re tapped so taps were required. Also the headllight bezels retaining screws tend to break off in the headlight door.
Last edited by RobRace10; Oct 13, 2008 at 09:12 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Milan
Thanks for the help guys
A friend of mine works for Beta company which produces high quality tools :
http://www.beta-tools.com/en/prodott...Famiglia=20001
He can give me a 50% discount so I think I will buy Beta spare taps like this :
http://www.beta-tools.com/en/prodott...001&cod=430ASC
They are made of chrome steel and every kit has 3 taps for size
I'd like to buy the Billla's suggested kit too
I have an half container leaving from Savannah so I'm planning to fill it with parts and tools from Corvette Central, Jegs, Summit, Eastwood, Northern tools, Sears...
Then I will have to start thinking about the engine
A friend of mine works for Beta company which produces high quality tools :
http://www.beta-tools.com/en/prodott...Famiglia=20001
He can give me a 50% discount so I think I will buy Beta spare taps like this :
http://www.beta-tools.com/en/prodott...001&cod=430ASC
They are made of chrome steel and every kit has 3 taps for size
I'd like to buy the Billla's suggested kit too
I have an half container leaving from Savannah so I'm planning to fill it with parts and tools from Corvette Central, Jegs, Summit, Eastwood, Northern tools, Sears...
Then I will have to start thinking about the engine
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I was tapping stuff on my 69 restoration yesterday as all but two of the screws on the side that hold the rocker mouldings on snapped off when trying to remove them . I have had a number of other smaller bolts and screws snap off. These needed to be drilled out and re tapped so taps were required. Also the headllight bezels retaining screws tend to break off in the headlight door.
A good share of those screws that snapped are just #10 sheet metal screws. No tap needed for them. Just close the hole up either by welding it closed or taking a ball peen hammer and stretching the metal to close the hole a bit.
A tap and die set is a real handy thing to have. But with that you also need a good set of thread chasers and thread files.
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