Steering Wheel Clamshell Screws

[Captain Obvious]

I took my steering wheel clamshell trim off a while ago, and now I can't find the four screws that hold the two halves of the clamshell together. The stupidest part is that I have the two machine screws that hold the lower clam to the underside of the ignition switch and steering column, but the four that hold the two plastic parts together are MIA. :mad:

I've got a container of assorted Z hardware and might have something in there that might work, but I've tried a few and I'm worried about stripping out the weak plastic threads with too much trial and error.

Anyone have a picture of the four screws in question so I at least know what I'm hunting for? Are the threads more like a machine screw, or a wood screw?

[Mikes Z car]

My clamshell has a sense of humor and likes to hide the screws in the lower clamshell half, are they stuck there?

I am willing to take a picture of the screws that came out of mine (they have wood screw threads -edit they look like self tapping) since I have the clamshell apart but although they work I don't know that they are the ones that are supposed to be there. They are taped to the clamshell right next to each hole they came out of outside in the 17 degrees that we have here now as I have the clamshell apart. Plastic usually uses wood screw threads right? My screws are trying to strip out too and I went to a lot of trouble with glue and a heat gun (to correct warping maybe from heat?) to salvage the clamshell I have. A coupe of posts the screws screw into were broken off.

Captain Obvious with your part making skills I imagine you will have a whole box of those screws manufactured by morning using nothing more than a bench grinder. heh heh

Edited January 2, 2013 by Mikes Z car

[Zed Head]

They are self-cutting, or -tapping, and cut their own threads in the plastic when first used, I believe. Very coarse thread. Similar in pitch to the self-tapping screw shown in this link - http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/resistantmaterials/jointsrev2.shtml

[tlorber]

If your bosses strip out or break, abs glue and fiberglass fabric are a quick, easy and permanent fix.

As far as the screws, from what I remember there are either 3 or 4 different types of screws for the clamshell. I always thought that odd.

[Captain Obvious]

Thanks guys. I've been all over the shop looking for my clamshell screws. I think aliens took them.

It bugs the crap out of me because I know how easy stuff like that is to misplace, so I'm pretty careful. I've got the other two machine screws in a little zip-top baggie just like they are supposed to be, but the other four longer ones are not with them. That's what makes this even more difficult... I know where they're SUPPOSED to be, and they're not there.

Mike, If you get a chance to take a pic, I'd be much obliged. I'm not in any hurry so don't risk frostbite for the pics, but when you get a chance. Haha! I really don't want to have to hog those things out with a bench grinder!

I've found people on ebay selling clamshells, but it seems really stupid to buy a whole clamshell just for the four screws. And beyond that, it's unclear if the screws are even included...

[zKars]

Dang screw steeling aliens. They've been to my shop to....

I have used #6 x 1 inch wood screws as replacements. They are virtually the same diameter as the stock screws and will not blow out the fragile posts when inserted. Some light oil on them will help as well. Tighten them very evenly and slowly and no more than necessary.

[240260280z]

Items 11 and 12 here. No details, only part numbers for the tapping screws: http://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsunS30/DatsunZIndex/Steering/SteeringWheel/tabid/1748/Default.aspx

Edited January 2, 2013 by Blue

[Mikes Z car]

FWIW here are the screws used now on my clamshell that work. The 4 screws that are all the same size may well be a #6 size I don't know. Sorry for the blurry photo Captain Obvious, if you want close up pictures of the 6 screws let me know.

how to verify.

Edited January 3, 2013 by Mikes Z car

[Captain Obvious]

Thanks much Mike. Now I've got some kind of idea what it is that I'm looking for.

I was cleaning up a little in the workshop this afternoon (oh, the horror), and found a plastic baggie with seven screws. Thought I might be on to something, but there were too many of them, they were black plated, and a little too long. So they aren't the right ones, but they were important enough for me to put them in a baggie. Now if I could just remember what THEY were for.

OK... Here's an idea. What do the screws that hold the aluminum dooe sill plates on look like? Maybe I got all the hardware, but in the wrong locations? Are the ones that hold the door sill plates flat heads, or pan heads? Are they supposed to be black plated?

Darn aliens... Came down from Canada to escape the winter cold.

[Captain Obvious]

And BTW, that's an awesome pic with your annotations on it. Very helpful!

[Mikes Z car]

Thanks I was hoping the picture would help.

My door sills came from a JY, I don't think I have the right screws on the sills, they look okay to me though.

When the aliens get there give them milk and cookies and they will stop swiping stuff.

[240260280z]

Edited January 3, 2013 by Blue