Most and least common SAE socket and wrench sizes

[HomerJSimpson]

I’ve done searches and read a lot about most and least common socket and wrench sizes, but they always turn into talking only about metric. I plan on buying an early 70’s or 60’s Vette and would like to know what the most and least common SAE socket and wrench sizes are when it comes to GM vehicles of the era, thanks.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I’ve done searches and read a lot about most and least common socket and wrench sizes, but they always turn into talking only about metric. I plan on buying an early 70’s or 60’s Vette and would like to know what the most and least common SAE socket and wrench sizes are when it comes to GM vehicles of the era, thanks.

1/4 thru 15/16 will cover almost all auto sized stuff. Buy singles for bigger than that. Heck 5/16 thru 3/4 would be a good start and is really not a big set.

......... so many unneeded tools so as to create a storage problem.

I aught to invite you over to my place.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Do you not have ANY tools now?
The chances of an entry level vette of that year not having an odd unknown size nut or bolt or trim on it are all but impossible.

A full set/kit will not have so many unneeded tools so as to create a storage problem.

I have a couple of Snap-on socket sets and some wrenches from my father. I'm just curious what are the common sizes for GM vehicles of the time. I know my modern Vettes common sizes are 7, 8, 10, 13, 15, 18, 21 and 24mm. I think i've heard someone say Ford's and maybe Chevy's could mostly be taken apart with 9/16" and 5/8" wrenches.

 

[OHMS LAW]

When I worked at Chevy my main sockets were 10,13,15 18. For suspension went up to 21 22 and 24.

 

[plinker]

IME, for 3/8 drive, a 1/4 to 3/4 set of sockets would cover most stuff for GM, particularly 9/16 & 5/8. I've found the sizes from 1/4 to 1-1/8 will cover most stuff in general.

 

[OHMS LAW]

He did ask for the most common right or was I hallucinating?

 

[Eric29]

The most common on American cars were 7/16, 1/2, and 9/16. The sizes just above and just below that were used but much less frequently.

I know because I spent a lot of time working on late 60s to early 70s fords and chevys, especially chevys.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think 11/16 and one inch were uncommon. As others have said 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, and 5/8 were pretty common.

As I have said many times, a 3/8 drive socket set and matching combination wrenches in 5/16 to 7/8 and 8-22mm will accomplish over 90% of automotive tasks.

 

[anetode]

Least common: 32ndth sizes outside of 5-11

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think 11/16 and one inch were uncommon. As others have said 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, and 5/8 were pretty common.

As I have said many times, a 3/8 drive socket set and matching combination wrenches in 5/16 to 7/8 and 8-22mm will accomplish over 90% of automotive tasks.

This seems to line up with what i'm seeing. Taking a look at the combo wrenches i have, 7/16, 1/2 and 9/16 are heavily used and missing chrome. The 1/2 is the new style logo so it was replaced at some point and the 5/8 is missing so it was either lost or stolen. My Dad owned and worked on Vettes a lot, but he's not around anymore to tell me these things.

 

[M6erfan]

When I worked at Chevy my main sockets were 10,13,15 18. For suspension went up to 21 22 and 24.

You must have rounded off a lot of nuts and bolts.

He did ask for the most common right or was I hallucinating?

I think OHMS is talking modern GM and the OP is asking about 70's era GM.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I work on tractors from the 70's and 80's often. I use 9/16 the most but I use 5/16 up to 1 1/8 pretty often. The 11/16 and 7/8 is common on hydraulic lines. I wouldn't be surprised if the power steering lines weren't 11/16.

 

[grumpychevy]

One set of 3/8” drive sockets up to 1”, one set of wrench’s up to minimum of 3/4”, a 6” adjustable wrench and a 10” adjustable wrench. Throw in a standard Phillips #2 screwdriver and flat blade screwdriver and you would pretty much be able to dismantle that 60’s to early 70’s Corvette down to the frame. About the only things you might not be able to get with this set may be the pitman arm nut on the bottom of the steering box. If you’re asking what duplicates to get......1/2” & 9/16”, those adjustable’s should get you by with the other sizes.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What i have:
-Craftsman ignition wrench set
-Snap on 3/8" to 1 1/4" Combo wrenches, missing 5/8"
-Snap on flare nut wrench set
-Eklind allen wrench set
-Craftsman 1/4" drive deep and shallow socket sets
-Snap on 3/8" drive 1/4" to 7/8" 6pt and 12pt shallow socket sets
-3 Snap on 3/8" drive 1/4" to 7/8" 6pt deep socket sets, one set missing a few sizes
-Craftsman 5/8" and 13/16" spark plug sockets
-Snap on 3/8" drive shallow 6 piece swivel socket set
-SK 3/8" drive hex bit 7 piece socket set
-Snap on 1/2" drive 5/8" double square socket

What i want:
-1/2" drive shallow and deep impact sockets
-Snap on high performance 0* offset 5 piece wrench set
-9/16" Distributor wrench
-Snap on ratcheting FDP 7 piece wrench set

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Has anyone used much of hex bit sockets on older cars?

 

[Two Door]

Has anyone used much of hex bit sockets on older cars?

3/8" for GM brake calipers. Maybe something for rear end filler plugs, although I think 3/8" square (i.e. ratchet extension) is most common. Maybe also for seat belts but I think those were Torx.

 

[Firebrick43]

Least is 1-3/16 and 7mm. But still come across them.

Most use is 9/16 followed by 10mm

Work industrial maintenance on super large CNC machines and associated equipment

 

[n8n]

you will want to make sure that your wrench and socket sets include 5/32" and 11/32" - those are the two 32nd sizes that correspond to standard nut sizes. Have used 11/32" a lot on older car electrics because that is the nut you would use on a #8 stud... not sure when Chevy stopped using wiring like that though, I would suspect well before the 70s. Most of my experience is with 50s and 60s cars.

 

[speed bump]

Least common would probably be 1-3/16, about the only useful thing about that size is how close it is to 30 mm. Most common would be 1/2", you should be able to get about 3/4 of a 70s GM apart with one.

 

[Oldsmobile]

Pretty much all the Quadrajets that I have seen require a 1" wrench to hold the fuel filter assembly and a 5/8" (i think) flare nut wrench for the fuel line fitting.

I have plenty of late 70s GM experience, and they are mostly standard, but with the occasional metric fastener in there. 15 and 13 are probably most common.

 

[teejaywhy]

I think OHMS is talking modern GM and the OP is asking about 70's era GM.

ergo the title of the thread...

 

[kb1982]

9/32 is the most sitting sized tool I have

Sent from my LGL83BL using Tapatalk

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Good stuff guys, thanks for the replies.

 

[eyeball]

Has anyone used much of hex bit sockets on older cars?

My son and I recently blew apart and fully restored a 1970 Nova and I don’t recall any hex bits being necessary.

 

[cowboy73]

I just got a 76 Corvette. Not much need for hex bits on it, I haven't had the brakes apart though. Lots of 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8 and 3/4 bolts There are a lot of #2 phillips screws in it though. I am going to have to spring for a decent phillips screwdriver or two.

 

[engineer2]

Lots of 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8 and 3/4

I agree.
11/32 for some electrical as said, like the small nut on Delco starters.
5/16" for Delco side-terminal battery connections.
Forgot what the Chevy harmonic damper size was BB vs SB.

 

[n8n]

My son and I recently blew apart and fully restored a 1970 Nova and I don’t recall any hex bits being necessary.

Caliper slide pin? Or were they still hex head back then?

 

[speed bump]

Has anyone used much of hex bit sockets on older cars?

I don't use hex bits very often but I do use hex keys on some interior knobs and what not on old Fords.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Least common SAE ... anything that is a 32nd !

If I was starting over, I would buy 1/4"-3/4" combination wrenches and sockets. 6 point sockets only, 1/4" and 3/8" drive. Deep 1/4" drive sockets are not required. Anything larger than 3/4", buy individually.

 

[toplessHO]

I miss the days of Sears sales,full set came out to about $1 ea

 

[n8n]

Least common SAE ... anything that is a 32nd !

If I was starting over, I would buy 1/4"-3/4" combination wrenches and sockets. 6 point sockets only, 1/4" and 3/8" drive. Deep 1/4" drive sockets are not required. Anything larger than 3/4", buy individually.

A lot of lug nuts are 13/16 so you'll need that one, at least in deep.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Least common SAE ... anything that is a 32nd !

If I was starting over, I would buy 1/4"-3/4" combination wrenches and sockets. 6 point sockets only, 1/4" and 3/8" drive. Deep 1/4" drive sockets are not required. Anything larger than 3/4", buy individually.

Interesting that 1/2" drive isn't really required unlike metric.

 

[eyeball]

Least common SAE ... anything that is a 32nd !

If I was starting over, I would buy 1/4"-3/4" combination wrenches and sockets. 6 point sockets only, 1/4" and 3/8" drive. Deep 1/4" drive sockets are not required. Anything larger than 3/4", buy individually.

I wouldn’t be without 1/4 drive deep sockets. I use mine all the time.

 

[mgilde13]

I wouldn’t be without 1/4 drive deep sockets. I use mine all the time.

Same here. I had to scratch my head on that one.

 

[El_Guapo]

The X/32 sizes are more prevalent in 50's-60's Fords.

GM's are going to use pretty much everything from 1/4" to 1" throughout. I have seen an 1¼" hex drain plug on some early Muncie transmissions.

 

[Magnum440d100]

Least common: 32ndth sizes outside of 5-11

Yes. I can’t remember the last time I used my 19/32 or 25/32 on anything.... They just occupy space in my extra box....

 

[Two Door]

Interesting that 1/2" drive isn't really required unlike metric.

It is required for suspension work.

 

[CR888]

Umm ALL drive sizes are produced for good reason. For what YOU work on 'some' drive sizes will be more suitable than others. You probably will use 3/8" drive a lot where 2" is not something you'll ever need. But for some 3/8 is not useful for their line of work but 3/4" , 1" , 1-1/2" , or 2" is needed.