4 Speed jam nut question

Discussion in 'Chassis restoration' started by copperheadgs1, Mar 1, 2019.

  1. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    Anyone know for sure what an original jam nut looks like on the factory shifter handle that locks against the knob. Is it chrome and special style. Anyone have a picture that would be great. Thanks.
     
  2. tdacton

    tdacton Gold Level Contributor

    Brett Slater likes this.
  3. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    Troy thanks, I managed to find that site too. They are Zinc so I am leaning that way for my reproduction knobs. When you think about there is very little chrome hardware used on our cars. They didn’t want the expense.
     
    Brett Slater likes this.
  4. BuickV8Mike

    BuickV8Mike SD Buick Fan

    Are you sure they really come with one? Without a pattern why not just screw it on until tight?
     
  5. Daves69

    Daves69 Too many cars too work on

    Here are some pictures from my 69. The nut appears to be chrome and is special.

    IMG_0449.JPG IMG_0448.JPG IMG_0447.JPG
     
    SpecialWagon65 likes this.
  6. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    Yes the assembly manual shows one.
     
  7. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    Thanks Dave, the reproductions I am having done are going to have a zinc nut I believe. They are correct style however. I could have gotten chrome but it would have increased the price. I just did not know at the time.
     
  8. Rich Johns

    Rich Johns Platinum Level Contributor

    Dave
    I could use a non shift pattern 70 shift ball and retaining nut.
    Let me know.
     
    dl7265 likes this.
  9. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    I just found something very interesting in the assembly manual. Says consolette cars did not use a jam nut! This I am guessing because it was plain. The pattern type knob needs a nut to lock pattern so it faced properly.
     
  10. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    I am expecting shipping very soon
     
  11. Daves69

    Daves69 Too many cars too work on

    The pictures of mine are from a consolette car with plain knob.
     
  12. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    Very strange. I bet many got the jam nut by mistake. Not many Buick 4 speeds were made compared to autos. Very small percentage.
     
  13. Duane

    Duane Member

    Dave,
    Dave Tumas's car is correct and so is my 69.
    You must have been looking at a 71 assembly manual and assumed the other years were the same.


    I just checked all the assembly manuals from 68-72 and here is what is correct.

    All 68-thru 70 cars got the jam nut regardless of whether the ball was for a console (without the shift pattern on ball) or without the console (with shift pattern on ball).

    All 71-72 cars without the console (with shift pattern on ball) got the jam nut.

    All 71-72 cars with the console (without shift pattern on ball) did not get the jam nut.


    So if you are supplying the jam nuts as well, then you could leave them off the 71-72 cars with consolettes only.
    Duane
     
  14. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    I guess I should have checked my 70 assembly too. Wonder why they dropped it in 71? The correct jam nuts are on backorder. They are not cheap for a single nut.
     
  15. Duane

    Duane Member

    I have never tried to figure out what the designers/engineers were thinking, I just deal with what they gave me to work with.
    Duane
     
  16. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    After having a shift knob come off on a hard shift on the track at the GS Nationals after accepting my trophy which then smacked off the rear windshield with a crack and in the process ripping my palm open on the shifter end I know the value of a proper fitting knob. It scared the crap out of my wife in the passenger seat. She already was scared knowing I was going to hammer it anyway. Amazing I didn’t shatter the original rear windshield.
     
    1972 Stage 1 likes this.

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