Removing Barrel Nuts 72 Cutlass Trunk Emblems

4EYED · 08-25-2007, 11:16 PM

I picked up a 72 Cutlass Supreme recently. The previous owner got a nicer trunk lid at a swap meet and had it on the car when I bought it. It is currently in primer and we had planned to paint it tomorrow. My question is.. How in the world do you get those darn "OLDSMOBILE" letters off? From reading up, the little green things are called barrel nuts but I'd hardly consider them nuts... they look more like some sort of locking sleeve. There's gotta be a trick somehow because they had them off when they shot the primer on the lid because there's no paint on them and primer behind them. I hope they didn't just shove them back in the holes and use super glue. I don't think anyone would be that dumb knowing the trunk would be painted eventually and they'd have to come back off, but I don't put anything past anyone anymore.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

2blu442 · 08-26-2007, 07:05 AM

They may not be barrel nuts but something I've heard called speed nuts. It still should take a 6 point socket to remove. I've got some in the garage, I'll try to take a photo of what I'm thinking it might be. John

2blu442 · 08-26-2007, 07:49 AM

OK, if they don't look like barrel nuts do they look like this? That's the two kinds of fasteners I'm used to on emblems and trim. John

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2/P1010734.jpg

joe_padavano · 08-26-2007, 01:10 PM

Barrel "nuts" are simply small sleeves made of spring steel and are designed for use in blind installations where it isn't possible to get to the backside to install a speed nut:

http://www.oemhardware.ca/oempdf/BSS.pdf

There are barbs on the outside that snap into the hole in the sheet metal and barbs on the inside that grip the post on the trim.

Barrel nuts are designed to be replaced. Gently pry under the trim to remove it. Pull the old barrel nuts out of the holes. Buy new ones to reinstall the trim.

Most automotive body and paint stores sell these items.

joe_padavano · 08-26-2007, 01:13 PM

Turns out Dorman Products sells a range of barrel nuts - also called tubular nuts:

https://www.dormanproducts.com/cgi-b...58330&item_no=

Oldsguy · 08-26-2007, 05:18 PM

good info Joe, as usual.

4EYED · 08-26-2007, 08:26 PM

Those are the ones, Joe! I pried on the letters gently and they slid right out. Thanks again and I'm so thankful I found such a great forum. This is my first resto project and I'm sure I will learn a lot from this group.

72rocket · 09-22-2007, 10:33 PM

I found some for 1/8" studs (for trunk letters) at the local Pep Boys. Called tubular nuts (package said Body-Tite , Dorman on back), found em' in the "Help" section. They have a bunch of other sizes too. Only thing that sucks is they only came in a package of 3 so I cleaned them out of course. Hope they order more.

08-25-2007, 11:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
4EYED Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2	Removing Barrel Nuts 72 Cutlass Trunk Emblems I picked up a 72 Cutlass Supreme recently. The previous owner got a nicer trunk lid at a swap meet and had it on the car when I bought it. It is currently in primer and we had planned to paint it tomorrow. My question is.. How in the world do you get those darn "OLDSMOBILE" letters off? From reading up, the little green things are called barrel nuts but I'd hardly consider them nuts... they look more like some sort of locking sleeve. There's gotta be a trick somehow because they had them off when they shot the primer on the lid because there's no paint on them and primer behind them. I hope they didn't just shove them back in the holes and use super glue. I don't think anyone would be that dumb knowing the trunk would be painted eventually and they'd have to come back off, but I don't put anything past anyone anymore. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

08-26-2007, 07:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
2blu442 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Medford, Oregon Posts: 926	They may not be barrel nuts but something I've heard called speed nuts. It still should take a 6 point socket to remove. I've got some in the garage, I'll try to take a photo of what I'm thinking it might be. John __________________ 1964 Cutlass Factory 4spd 1965 442 4spd 1967 442 Auto 1967 Cutlass Convertible 1968 442 Auto 1969 442 W30 Auto 1970 442 4spd 1971 Cutlass Flat Top Wagon 1973 Che*vy 3/4 Ton 454/TH400 Tow Vehicle Only the tow vehicle is finished!

08-26-2007, 07:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
2blu442 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Medford, Oregon Posts: 926	OK, if they don't look like barrel nuts do they look like this? That's the two kinds of fasteners I'm used to on emblems and trim. John http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...2/P1010734.jpg __________________ 1964 Cutlass Factory 4spd 1965 442 4spd 1967 442 Auto 1967 Cutlass Convertible 1968 442 Auto 1969 442 W30 Auto 1970 442 4spd 1971 Cutlass Flat Top Wagon 1973 Che*vy 3/4 Ton 454/TH400 Tow Vehicle Only the tow vehicle is finished!

08-26-2007, 01:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
joe_padavano Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,852	Barrel "nuts" are simply small sleeves made of spring steel and are designed for use in blind installations where it isn't possible to get to the backside to install a speed nut: http://www.oemhardware.ca/oempdf/BSS.pdf There are barbs on the outside that snap into the hole in the sheet metal and barbs on the inside that grip the post on the trim. Barrel nuts are designed to be replaced. Gently pry under the trim to remove it. Pull the old barrel nuts out of the holes. Buy new ones to reinstall the trim. Most automotive body and paint stores sell these items. __________________ Joe Padavano 64 Jetstar 88 Conv 66 442 L-69 Conv 68 W-30 69 H/O 69 442 70 W-30 72 442 84 Custom Cruiser 86 Caprice wagon (w/307 Olds)

08-26-2007, 01:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
joe_padavano Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,852	More on barrel nuts Turns out Dorman Products sells a range of barrel nuts - also called tubular nuts: https://www.dormanproducts.com/cgi-b...58330&item_no= __________________ Joe Padavano 64 Jetstar 88 Conv 66 442 L-69 Conv 68 W-30 69 H/O 69 442 70 W-30 72 442 84 Custom Cruiser 86 Caprice wagon (w/307 Olds)

08-26-2007, 05:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 3,145	good info Joe, as usual. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door

08-26-2007, 08:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
4EYED Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2	Those are the ones, Joe! I pried on the letters gently and they slid right out. Thanks again and I'm so thankful I found such a great forum. This is my first resto project and I'm sure I will learn a lot from this group.

09-22-2007, 10:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
72rocket Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vandenberg AFB, CA Posts: 16	I found some for 1/8" studs (for trunk letters) at the local Pep Boys. Called tubular nuts (package said Body-Tite , Dorman on back), found em' in the "Help" section. They have a bunch of other sizes too. Only thing that sucks is they only came in a package of 3 so I cleaned them out of course. Hope they order more. __________________ 1972 Cutlass Supreme 2000 Ford Lightning (12.72, 1/4 mile)

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