Ive lost the ones I had when i took it apart.
Are they suppose to be bolts and nuts or screws, and also what size for 70 442?

 

They only get about 20 ft/lbs of torque so you can use just about anything. I prefer to use gr 8 bolts on all my suspension but on these it's not necessary. You can use a common gr 2 bolt and nut. If you want to use a lock washer that's ok too.

If you're doing a proper resto? GM made special c clips with welded nuts that attached to the lower control arm where the shock bolt goes through. I believe the bolt is a 5/16 - 20. You can buy these clips from ILT as a package of 4. I found them a little awkward to stay in place.

 

not doing a complete proper resto just something alittle close, I ill probably stick with what ever is easier.

 

If you get the proper cage nut (?) and only tighten to specs, they nuts stay in place fine. If they get overtightened the cage nuts might turn or twist. Getting a loose nut and holding it while you tighten would be a lot harder than using a cage nut.

 

Be aware also that the cage nut has a VERY short "U" shape where it goes over the lower control arm metal. The ones you can get easily have too long of an arm and hit on the shick. If you move it away from the shock, then the hole doesn't line up.

My data base says

PN 391359

"NUT, 5/16-18 NC J-Nut; NUT, shock absorber
Secure fan Shroud to Support w/ 9780422 Screws
ALSO used at front lower SHOCK MOUNT per 68 AM.
New PN 339715 per Dealer 8.29.06, also Disco'd 1/04"

I bought a bunch of M8 bolts and matching J-nuts because the supply of 391359 seemed to be gone. There is a photo and sizes shown also:


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...2Ax4fJrSMrUEAA


http://www.gmpartswiki.com/w/391359&book=104

 

Thanks for that description. I bought some of these from one of our members earlier this year and couldn't remember what they were called. They are the OEM cage nuts. I got enough to do the fan shroud and the front shocks. Quite a bit better than the ones I got from ILT.

 

I would just go to Home Depot and buy Grade 8

 

Yup, that was one of my first suggestions too. Gr 8 is way overkill for shock bolts though. When it comes time to replace them I don't undo the bolt/nut. I just overtighten till the nut breaks. With a gr 8 that's a little on the hard side. A gr 2 or 3 will work just as well. And the cad plated ones are purty too.

 

If you can get separate nuts into place and get a wrench on them to tighten them, you're a better man than I. Just buy the clip nuts. I use the one-piece style instead of the two part factory style so the nuts don't spin out the next time.

 

I agree with getting the clips, it's almost impossible to get the shock installed without them. It's not worth the grief compared to the price of a suitable substitute. Also most major cities have a place that specializes in bolts and fasteners, they are inexpensive by the box vs buying one at a time.

 

This subject has already been beaten to death here.

- Eric