ConcoursMustang Forums
3rd Generation 1979 - 1993 => 1979 - 1993 => Topic started by: 79mustangcobra on February 18, 2015, 01:20:09 PM
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I was looking at this 300 mile 79 Pace Car I use for a reference on my restoration and wondered why Ford used Blue nuts on the struts?
Was it for the warranty? For a quick visual?
Please see picture below - thanks!
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/Capture59.jpg)
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Don't know, but Ford also used blue nuts some places on SVO's too. Don't think struts was one of them tho. Interesting picture.
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Call out for attention to TORQUE spec.
Guns were matched at station
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I can understand that for the strut nuts, but the small miscellaneous SVO nuts?
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The cars with the blue ones were built by married guys, maybe?
Seriously, could just be what was available from the supplier at that time.
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Call out for attention to TORQUE spec.
Guns were matched at station
That's cool, thanks for the info.
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Well after reading this months Hemmings Muscle I 'May' have an answer
They had an article on this 1979 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/3783CBB7-4F4A-40BD-B93D-D504C6717029_zpsln3sc8dy.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/3783CBB7-4F4A-40BD-B93D-D504C6717029_zpsln3sc8dy.jpg.html)
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/3A9848DA-ED75-4E38-BCFA-7D2088B4E1D6_zpsd10mwdvq.jpg) (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/bassdb/media/3A9848DA-ED75-4E38-BCFA-7D2088B4E1D6_zpsd10mwdvq.jpg.html)
So is this the reason the nuts were blue on the 79 Mustang's Struts?
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That is true. I have owned quite a few GM "G Bodies" and they had a mix of S.A.E. fasteners and metric. The metrics were blue. I still have some of them. Not sure if that applies to Ford, but it makes perfect sense.
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That is true. I have owned quite a few GM "G Bodies" and they had a mix of S.A.E. fasteners and metric. The metrics were blue. I still have some of them. Not sure if that applies to Ford, but it makes perfect sense.
I may be barking up the wrong tree, not sure of my 'hypothesis" we shall see. Thanks! :)
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I maintain that it was just a TORQUE call out. While the struts were important to be torqued to a specific torque , other "blue" bolts were different torques.
On the assembly process sheets these nuts are footmarked with ^ and torque amounts. In the case of the alternator brace added to the 85.5 SVO they used a blue nut - front on steel alternator bracket is 18-22 FT LBs, while the back of the brace on the manifold stud to alum (blue) is 6-9 ft lbs. CARE was to be used. That same care needed to be used on the rubber issolators of the VAM - in that case LOW torque 6-9 Ft Lbs.
Probably the best area for this (and missed by mechanics) is the Knock Sensor - called out to 6INCH LBS ! (over tighten an they don't even work)
Mark
P.S. Not the first time dye was used as call out - look at the steering box bolts on early Mustangs (red) - again critical torque area. (ever seen a collapsed frame rail from over tightening)
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I maintain that it was just a TORQUE call out. While the struts were important to be torqued to a specific torque , other "blue" bolts were different torques.
On the assembly process sheets these nuts are footmarked with ^ and torque amounts. In the case of the alternator brace added to the 85.5 SVO they used a blue nut - front on steel alternator bracket is 18-22 FT LBs, while the back of the brace on the manifold stud to alum (blue) is 6-9 ft lbs. CARE was to be used. That same care needed to be used on the rubber issolators of the VAM - in that case LOW torque 6-9 Ft Lbs.
Probably the best area for this (and missed by mechanics) is the Knock Sensor - called out to 6INCH LBS ! (over tighten an they don't even work)
Mark
P.S. Not the first time dye was used as call out - look at the steering box bolts on early Mustangs (red) - again critical torque area. (ever seen a collapsed frame rail from over tightening)
That is a good point Mark! I am going to have to dig deeper. Thanks for your input!