Any Imperial on new vehicles?
- Thread starter babylou
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neonlazer
Well-known member
If I am thinking correctly. I think you mean getting rid of SAE as newer vehicles all use metric?
fivespdcat
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- Oct 25, 2011
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Spark plugs are actually 16mm, I would say the oil filter thread if you have a canister type...
Actually many are 16mm anymore. 5/8 just happens to be very close so they never changed.
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General Geoff
Well-known member
I doubt you'll find any SAE fasteners on a model year 2016 consumer vehicle, foreign or domestic.
even though things are mostly metric i don't think it is unheard of to still find sae fasteners here and there. especially if you work on vehicles that have add on or aftermarket accessories. aftermarket bumpers, winches, plows, tow hitches and tool chests on light trucks and cars often come with sae hardware.
Trucks are probably the lone holdout. The rear axles in Ford trucks used 5/16-18 bolts to hold the rear covers on. When I worked on one the metric socket didn't fit quite right had to get the SAE one out.
drink
Well-known member
I don't consider myself to be a pro mechanic but I have worked on a lot of stuff. When I assembled a small tool kit to go on the road with I selected mostly metric tools. However, I did include a small selection of SAE tools along with an adjustable wrench to be prepared for a limited amount of SAE fasteners if I encounter them. You never know when you might find a beautiful woman with a broken down bicycle with SAE fasteners that needs help, or something similar. .
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Why not wait until you buy a car, then you can determine just what tools are useful.
NFH2740
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Brake caliper bleeders on Super Duty trucks are 3/8".
panknuckshovel
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A new car? As in fresh off the lot? Just get a AAA unlimited towing gold card and let the guy doing the warranty work worry about what tools are needed.
redmondjp
Well-known member
Not correct. General Motors switched over to metric fasteners on their bodies and interiors in the 1977 model year, but any legacy products still in production at that point (such as 1973-87 pickups and 1973-91 Suburbans) as well as engines and other drivetrain components kept using standard fasteners until the end of their respective production runs.
It gets maddening - I have worked on my neighbor's 1998 Safari van with the 4.3l (6-cylinder version of small-block Chevy engine), and it has both standard and metric fasteners right on the engine. The bolts that hold the spark plug wire holders to the heads are 1/4"-20 (7/16" head), while the bolts holding various brackets on the intake manifold are M6 (10mm head).
I'm not sure when Ford and Mopar switched, but I know that my 1990 F350 has both standard and metric fasteners on it, for the same reasons as mentioned above - anything legacy like the 460 engine in it still has SAE fasteners.
I'll take a hit of what ever it is you have.
finn
Well-known member
The 460 has been out of production for 18 years.
It can't be considered a late model, nor could it for the last 12 years.
Time to let go.
MikeF2316
Well-known member
I believe the top bolt that is standardized on all cars for child seats is 5/16" UNC. 
byoungblood
Well-known member
Dana axles may still use SAE fasteners. When I work on my TJ, it is the only thing I have to get the SAE stuff out for. My 2007 Mazda 3 and 2012 F150 are all metric.
You certainly have a different opinion of what a late model is... From 1980 to now fits my definition of late model.
lg
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