Topic: Hood Turn Signal housing nuts: red rubber or black mastic?

[Angela]

See attached photo:
The stamped nuts (3/8" AF) PN 353911-S1000 are specified for holding the turn signal housings to the hood for 67. The nuts I removed a decade ago have red rubber inside the as shown in the photo. The nuts from AMK come with bulk black mastic washers. Which is correct?

Does anyone have a source for the nuts with the red rubber/sealant? If so, could you please contact me?

[Oz390]

Pretty sure I got them with Red from AMK...

Think they may have come with this kit.

F-221    HOOD ORNAMENTS (TURN SIGNALS)    STUDS, STAMPED NUTS ONLY    28    20

[Angela]

Yep, I bought the same AMK kit, which came with stamped nuts, studs and black mastic washers.... no red.

Which is actually correct? Did AMK decide the red inserts were wrong and thus switched to the black mastic washer -or- did they just lose access to the red version? 

[dave6768]

My vivid memory from years ago was the red was original on my 67 Metuchen.

[Murf]

My originals were red.   (68 San Jose April 03 build California Special)   Some had little to no rubber left in them so I applied red silicone gasket sealer in them and let dry with a nail through them for the hole.  When dry I put them back on and the tiny bit of red that shows looks very much like the few pristine originals that I had. 

[Angela]

I spoke with AMK and the nuts with the red rubber are no longer available. Bang head here.

I am wondering if I can try and "fake out" the look using the comment from Murf, below, using red silicone and allowing it to dry with a nail through the hole. I wonder how easily it will be to get the nail to release from the silicone and how long it will take for that much silicone to completely cure.

[Murf]

Put a coating of oil on the nail or screw that you use to make the hole in the red silicone so it will release without so much effort.  I did not try it but I think that PAM used to spray pans when cooking may also work to release your "hole maker".  In normal weather the red silicone will dry in 24 hours or maybe a little more if the night is cool.  Try one or two and see what works for you.  Remember that only a tiny portion around the edge shows when the entire assembly is installed. 

[Angela]

Thanks for the advice John; I'll give this a try this evening. How much silicone should I allow to cure above the surface of the stamped nut? In other words, the silicone is going to compress when the nut is tightened and I'm not sure how much silicone I should allow to build up such that it compresses out and remains visible when the nut is installed. 1/8"? 1/4"?

[Murf]

I would think that 1/8 would be plenty. Remember that the little pin you are putting the nut on is not too strong so compressing too much silicone would possibly break the stud rather than compress the red silicone.  Do a couple and try them and see how it looks. 

[Oz390]

How much silicone should I allow to cure above the surface of the stamped nut?

I'd use the black ones as a guide.