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Technical 59ab flathead odd con rod nuts

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Johnny Nitro, Oct 21, 2020.

  1. Johnny Nitro
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 95

    Johnny Nitro
    Member
    from Chicago

    Hello everyone,

    I recently picked up a 59ab flathead. I put it on an engine stand, and started to go thru it, and noticed that while the rest of the con rod nuts were castellated, and cotter pinned the front two rods had very thin “castellations” on the nuts, and the studs themselves were not drilled for a cotter pin. Was this a style of replacement rod? A farmer fix? Wrong altogether?

    Since I had it to this point I was considering going to ARP nuts. Overkill? Totally useless?

    Thanks for any input
     
  2. Johnny Nitro
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 95

    Johnny Nitro
    Member
    from Chicago

    Tadaa
     

    Attached Files:

  3. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    Those are Ford nuts. They used those style locking nuts in many places.

    It's common nowadays to get some quality SBC rod nuts for use on flatheads. They are common as dirt and shouldn't cost too much.
     
  4. Johnny Nitro
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 95

    Johnny Nitro
    Member
    from Chicago

    Thanks, Alchemy. You’re always good for a bit o knowledge. So, no harm if I go with ARP? Maybe I’m throwing good money away.
     

  5. Johnny Nitro
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 95

    Johnny Nitro
    Member
    from Chicago

    Also, is it the least bit odd that the nuts are mismatched?
     
  6. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    I'm sure ARP nuts will be plenty fine. And it doesn't seem odd in the least that the last guy in there used whatever he had on hand. But it might make you want to check for other oddities. Or just run it.
     
  7. Johnny Nitro
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 95

    Johnny Nitro
    Member
    from Chicago

    “Or just run it”

    You got it, bud!
     
  8. Castle nut

    Enviado desde mi Mi A1 mediante Tapatalk
     
  9. leon bee
    Joined: Mar 15, 2017
    Posts: 798

    leon bee
    Member

    At least they used cotter pins. I find a lot of bent over nails here in Arkansas.
     
  10. We find the bent nails here, too. We call 6 penny nails "Alabama Cotter Pins."
     
    Jet96 and Texas Webb like this.
  11. flatjack
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 975

    flatjack
    Member

    I use SBC Arp rod nuts in all my builds.
     
  12. Johnny Nitro
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 95

    Johnny Nitro
    Member
    from Chicago

    Good to know, flatjack
    Did you use loctite?
     

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