Nuts in or nuts out?

[pgerhardt]

Well, I have drilled and bolted up the driver's side front fender on my 29 tudor. After I do the passenger side it will all come apart for paint. My question is when I go to reassemble do the nuts face out (like it is now) or should the bolt heads face out?

BTW having taught 12-14 year old middle school students for 35 years I am well prepared for any comments the title of this thread might generate!

[Mitch//pa]

Not sure on your 29 but my late 30 face out

[C26Pinelake]

there we go again, two opposite answers to the same question. How is anyone to know.? Wayne
P.s. Having taught University students for 26 years taught me to learn to expect the unexpected.

[wrndln]

The nuts are on the inside.
Rusty Nelson

[J Franklin]

I vote nuts to the inside!

[pgerhardt]

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Inside -outside - inside - outside? There seems to be no consensus, and the JS are no help. The JS seem to be so concerned with the tiniest details of production changes, that it completely ignores basic questions like this.

Does anyone out there have or have access to a unrestored 29 tudor survivor, or one that is a national prize winner? If so please look and photograph the front fender attachment bolts so we can determine which way they go. - Thanks

[burner31]

On mine, I went nuts in, more visually pleasing

[Larry Jenkins]

If ya don't care about the JS, use stainless steel (polished) carriage bolts with the nuts inside.

Like a bunch of little "jewels" shining in the light..

[Mitch//pa]

Here is a pic taken off Brent's restoration web page.

[captndan]

Are you right handed or left handed? Depends on which way is easier to tighten. Be sure to start on the correct side of the car.

[1ton]

You put your left nut in, you put your right nut out, you put your left nut in and you shake it all about.....

[31Tudor]

Marco had answered a question for me one time similar to this question, and the rule of thumb was that the piece going on something had the bolts. So for example brackets, shocks going on had the bolt with them. In this case the fender would be going on to the splash apron and running board and the bolt heads would be facing out, or on the fender outside. I think that also make some logical sense because the nuts with the threads showing would be a little more protected behind from road dirt.

[Charles Reese]

not to stir the pot toooo much ... here is an item i took from a club magazine (sorry, dont recall which club/issue) ... so cant validate the source... personally, im going with marco's concept

note also the fender to running board bolts!!

[J Franklin]

Maybe the factory didn't specify, if the worker could get all the bolts/nuts on and tight in 15 seconds it was good to go.

[pgerhardt]

Originally Posted by WardAZ

I am sure Brent can clear up any interpretation of that picture, but it does look to me to be a trial fit of a fender and not a finished product.

This link may help. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...t+fender+bolts

I have seen many blue ribbon and original vehicles at several national meets, both MARC and MAFCA. The nuts on the front fender to splash were in. That is the way I installed mine and there were no problems, (MAFCA Best of Show, MARC Henry).

It is up to you. The Judging Standards are silent, therefore, theoretically, no blue ribbon points would be lost no matter how you do it.

Now that contained some solid information. THANKS WardAZ!

[pgerhardt]

Thanks Charles. That diagram was included in WardAZ's link as well. Mitch was (as usual) correct. The nuts face out (or up in the case of the top most one) so that is way I am going to do it.

It is in solving questions like this that the Barn excels. Thanks everyone!

[Dodge]

Now a days you should have nuts in to avoid getting arrested.

[Tom Wesenberg]

My late 28 has not been apart, and the 2 running board bolts have the nuts facing forward.
The fender to splash bolts have the heads facing outward.

[pgerhardt]

Originally Posted by Dodge

Now a days you should have nuts in to avoid getting arrested.

Now there is the comment I was expecting!

[pgerhardt]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

My late 28 has not been apart, and the 2 running board bolts have the nuts facing forward.
The fender to splash bolts have the heads facing outward.

I would love to see a photo especially the top/forward most bolt. On mine the attachment flange is so close to the fender I had to install the bolt with the nut facing up/out. (picture)

I guess it is possible that different assembly plants could choose their own method, so you could find cars with them either way. However having the nuts face in would require the workers to reach behind and start each nut blind increasing the time and the chance of cross threading. Nuts facing out would be easier/faster. It was for me!