Topic: Why did Ford use Blue Nuts on their Struts?

[79mustangcobra]

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!

[rodster]

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.

[svo2scj]

Call out for attention to TORQUE spec.

Guns were matched at station

[rodster]

I can understand that for the strut nuts, but the small miscellaneous SVO nuts?

[Smokey 15]

 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.

[79mustangcobra]

Call out for attention to TORQUE spec.

Guns were matched at station

That's cool, thanks for the info.

[79mustangcobra]

Well after reading this months Hemmings Muscle I 'May' have an answer

They had an article on this 1979 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds





So is this the reason the nuts were blue on the 79 Mustang's Struts?

[Smokey 15]

 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.

[79mustangcobra]

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!

[svo2scj]

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)

[79mustangcobra]

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!