1970 Cuda Grille Installation Bolts

[Ca70Cuda]

Hello, I just received a grille hardware installation bolt kit for my 1970 Cuda. This came with the black plastic circular spacers, the 12 bolts with washers, the 12 bolt clips and so on. I could not wait to install the grille but only succeeded in raising my blood pressure. Really frustrating! The bolts that were provided are extremely tapered at the end. Because these bolts are tapered at the end, they do not have enough length to engage any of the clips that are mounted on the grille. The two piece black plastic spacers are installed correctly. These Black Plastic circular spacers are comprised of two pieces and are pressed together as far as they will go. The clips are also installed correctly on the grille but the tapered bolts are not long enough to engage any of the 12 clips. If the bolts had more of a flat end, then there might be a chance that they would engage the clips.

I looked at RT Specialties tonight and saw that the picture of their 1970 Cuda grille installation hardware kit. Their bolts are not tapered (looks like all 12 bolts have flat ends, not tapered). I am now going to re purchase this kit from them. My questions are as follows:

1.) Should these 12 bolts have flat ends instead of extremely tapered ends?
2.) What is the proper length of the 12 Grille Installation bolts (1970 Cuda)?
3.) Has anyone purchased the RT Specialties Grille hardware installation kit for a 1970 Cuda?  If so, any problems?

In summary, the bolts I have now are extremely tapered at the ends and possibly too short. Not one bolt would engage the clip to tighten? GRRRRR! 

Thank you for your assistance!
   

[GranCuda1970]

I had the same issues with my kit, luckily I still had most of the old stuff and reused alot of it..

[67vertman]

My kit came without the tappered bolts, and most of them wouldn't start because they wouldn't start into the plastic clips, so you my be screwed either way.  I too used most of my original bolts, they worked the best.

Best advise I can give you is to start in the middle and work your way ouy, do not tighten any of the bolts until you get them ALL started, then stand back and look at your grille, make sure it is centered to your likeing, then tighten the bolts.  I have had mine in and out three different times, so I am becoming a pro at it.

[4Cruizn]

I guess I need to see what you got? 

[67vertman]

I guess I need to see what you got? 

I will take some pictures of my bolt (old and new) this weekend.

[Ca70Cuda]

Awesome, thank you! I look forward to seeing the pictures. Thank you! 

[67vertman]

Here are the pictures.

The original bolt is on the right, you can see how much more tapper the original has than the replacement/aftermarket ones do. 

[Ca70Cuda]

Thank you for taking the time to take and post the pictures. After I looked at the pictures you posted, I realized that my problem may not actually be the bolts. The after market bolts I have look exactly like the original bolt (on the right) in your pictures. Having said this, maybe the bolts I have are too short. I just know that if I push the bolt through the plastic round spacer then push the grille with the clip as hard as I can toward the bolt, the bolt never engages the thread on the clip. Maybe its the clip? I will take pictures of the bolts, the spacer and the clip. I will also take a picture of the bolt pushed through the clip to show how much actual thread is left to engage the clip. I will also measure the bolt as well as this may be the problem.

I do appreciate your assistance, thank you.

[GranCuda1970]

I think it is the round plactic donuts clips they are too thick, the origional ones were more pancaked and the bolt gets grip the new ones you can not squish together enough for the bolt to bite.

[Ca70Cuda]

OK, in Pic 1, you can see that the actual thread length is less then 3/4 of an inch. I am talking about the "good thread" that can be engaged and does not include the taper . In Pic 2, you can see that the actual good thread area is less than 3/8 (Good thread where there is no taper). Please also note that the black grille spacer pieces were pressed together in a vise to ensure that it was as thin as possible. In Pic 3 you see the clip, the spacer and the bolt. I am holding these tightly together yet the thread on the bolt does not engage the clip.

The bolts are too short or the black spacers are incorrect (I.E. too fat) or the clips are incorrect.

[67vertman]

Yes it looks like your screws are an 1/8 short and to much tapper.

Here you can see that my original and the aftermarket ones are an inch in lenght


Here you can see the difference in the black locator/spacers the originals are less thick.


The next two show the screws though the locator/spacers, the angle of the camera, is why they read taller or shorter on the tape measure.

[Ca70Cuda]

67Vertman - I can't thank you enough! Thank you! I do appreciate the awesome / detailed pictures. That explains everything. I  talked with RT Specialties last week (not who I purchased the Grille hardware from) and they have confirmed that their bolt lengths are correct. In fact, I can just purchase the bolts from them without having to re purchase the entire grille mounting kit again. I am going to do that. It is also very interesting how the aftermarket spacers are thicker than the originals.

What really is a shame is that I have received some really bad / cheap / incorrect parts from the same company I originally purchased the Grille mounting hardware from (not RT Specialties). The only reason why I purchased the grille hardware from them (not RT Specialties) was that I had a $60 credit with them. I won't make that mistake again....

Thanks for your assistance! 

[67vertman]

Anytime! 

Helping others, and them helping you is why I love this site so much!  (no group hug needed)