Source for caged nuts?

[54FordPanel]

Does anybody know a place to get caged nuts for autobody use? I had some that were just stubborn enough to spin themselves & rounded out in my Jeep Now I need new ones to weld back in.

Anybody know a source for autobody caged nuts? Thanks.

 

[Torque1st]

I usually make my own by welding a nut to a flat bar. The flat bar keeps the nut from spinning.

A piece of tape retains the nut until assembly.

 

[54FordPanel]

I don't need the nut so much as I need the 'cage'. I ruined the cages getting the nut to stop turning.

 

[Torque1st]

Those cages are light duty. Good for quick assy but not so much for removal.

You could use a small piece of channel iron with a hole drilled through.

 

[54FordPanel]

Those cages are light duty. Good for quick assy but not so much for removal.

Yep. Now I need some new ones.

 

[Steevo]

http://apexprecision.thomasnet.com/viewitems/all-categories/floating-nut-retainers?forward=1

http://www.on-b.com/nuts/floating nut.aspx

 

[Torque1st]

54, your post crossed my 11:14 edit. Check out the red highlight text. A piece of channel iron would be a whole lot tougher than some thin sheet metal.

Steevo has some nice sources if you need more than a few.

 

[54FordPanel]

Thanks, Steevo, those places have what I need. But they have minimum orders of 100+ pieces. Damn.

Torque, I can see I'm gonna have to make some. I can envision making some of sheet metal like the originals........how would I make some of angle iron? 4 little pieces of angle iron around each side? I need the nut inside to "float" for ease of alignment, & not be fixed.

 

[Wastedwagesracing]

Thanks, Steevo, those places have what I need. But they have minimum orders of 100+ pieces. Damn.

Torque, I can see I'm gonna have to make some. I can envision making some of sheet metal like the originals........how would I make some of angle iron? 4 little pieces of angle iron around each side? I need the nut inside to "float" for ease of alignment, & not be fixed.

Call them up and ask for a few samples, works some of the time.

 

[Steevo]

When I need parts that are sold in bulk, I try to find others that need them and put together a deal.
Do you know others who are restoring similar-vintage vehicles, who would need the same things?

 

[sselander]

One of the largest is Auveco.

Take a look in their catalog, get the part number, then google to see where you can get them. A lot of places use their numbers for reference.

http://auveco.com/product/index.html

Auveco (Auto-Vehicle-Parts Co.)

 

[KenB]

Smaller quantities are available at McMaster-Carr: http://www.mcmaster.com/#floating-nuts/=fz1icv


Ken

 

[Falcon67]

Our better halves probably think "caged nut' about us when we're in the shop.

 

[54FordPanel]

Bingo, Ken. McMaster-Carr has what I needed, and I can order them in packets of 5-10.

Thanks everybody for the replies. I've got all those vendors bookmarked.

Garage Journal FTW

 

[larry_g]

If your going with mmc then don't forget the screws

http://www.mcmaster.com/#hex-head-flange-cap-screws/=fz4w06

lg
no neat sig line

 

[tractionmeister]

I've used MSC industrial supply. I know they have them, but not sure about the size you're needing.

 

[RonRock]

McMaster has everything, EVERYTHING. They are amazing and fast shipping.

Good pointer.

 

[rwhite692]

I had to re-make one of those (the cage and the nut) on a recent restoration, the nut had seized to the bolt, then spun around/wrecked the cage when bolt removal was attempted.

What I did was to take a picture of how the thing was supposed to look, then I hammered what was left of it out flat, and then transferred the outline onto a piece of new metal.

Cut out the shape, and folded it up, creating a nearly identical replacement.

The nut itself was easy, just welded a standard nut onto a piece of flat stock, as already mentioned.

Worked like a charm.

 

[Torque1st]

Torque, I can see I'm gonna have to make some. I can envision making some of sheet metal like the originals........how would I make some of angle iron? 4 little pieces of angle iron around each side? I need the nut inside to "float" for ease of alignment, & not be fixed.

If someone ever has to make a couple use some small merchant bar type channel iron. The inside of the channel must be large enough to allow the nut to float but not turn. Drill a hole in the web to accommodate the bolt and float room. The length of the channel section should be about the same as the width. Turn the channel cupside down over the nut centered in the holes and weld in place. A small weld '******' will keep the nut from sliding out the ends of the channel. Do not weld the nut in place. If you don't have any channel iron some thin steel strap can be used. Just form the ends of the 'pocket' in a vise with a hammer.

It helps to be an old blacksmith at heart....

 

[54FordPanel]

I had to re-make one of those (the cage and the nut) on a recent restoration, the nut had seized to the bolt, then spun around/wrecked the cage when bolt removal was attempted.

What I did was to take a picture of how the thing was supposed to look, then I hammered what was left of it out flat, and then transferred the outline onto a piece of new metal.

Cut out the shape, and folded it up, creating a nearly identical replacement.

The nut itself was easy, just welded a standard nut onto a piece of flat stock, as already mentioned.

Worked like a charm.

That's what I'm going to have to end up doing. I was all excited about McMaster-Carr, then I saw they don't have the size I need, which is 7/16 14. So I'll make some cages out of sheetmetal and fold them up and weld them, as you suggested.

The square nuts are fine, they just spun in the cages.

 

[ghnl]

Made my own for my MGA.

Paper template & then some 18 ga steel. Spot weld in place.

 

[38Chevy454]

I have also used a flange nut and just made a few good tack welds to hold in place in the past for a broken cage nut. If you have the access to weld it in of course.

 

[54FordPanel]

Made my own for my MGA.

Paper template & then some 18 ga steel. Spot weld in place.

Nice work.

 

[PCO6]

Made my own for my MGA.

Paper template & then some 18 ga steel. Spot weld in place.

I've made them for MGA's too (inner fender splash plates). I used to drill a hole in a small peice of sheet metal, bolt the original square nut to it then trim/bend/trim the sheet metal to fit.

 

[cashishift]

Thanks, Steevo, those places have what I need. But they have minimum orders of 100+ pieces. Damn.

Torque, I can see I'm gonna have to make some. I can envision making some of sheet metal like the originals........how would I make some of angle iron? 4 little pieces of angle iron around each side? I need the nut inside to "float" for ease of alignment, & not be fixed.

Ask them to send some samples

 

[54FordPanel]

Made my own for my MGA.

Paper template & then some 18 ga steel. Spot weld in place.

I've made them for MGA's too (inner fender splash plates). I used to drill a hole in a small peice of sheet metal, bolt the original square nut to it then trim/bend/trim the sheet metal to fit.

Made a set this afternoon.

They should do the trick. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Napa has some in their stores. Can look on line at napaonline.com for cage nuts. Pulls up 5 different ones.