Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

This came over the other day:

"Hi,

I have just bought a 1928 Dodge that needs some minor work.
My present tool kit consists of Metric spanners and sockets which don't fit the nuts and bolts on the car.

Before I spend a couple of hundred dollars on more sockets and spanners that don't fit would you please advise me on what type [Whitworth, SAE, AF or ?] I should buy to fit the 1928 Dodge?
Thank you"

Does anyone know for sure? I think AF..and this site seems to agree..

http://www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/~psc/spanner_jaw.html

R
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[1935 Dodge Van]

I'm not sure what to say here but sizes in Canada and the US were standardized somewheres back around WWI. For instance, brand new socket/wrench sets sold anywhere over here in what we call 'inch sizes' fit all the nuts and bolts on any car/truck back to the Model T. Like you we have to have a 'metric set' to work on our new cars but we can buy mixed 'metric/inch sets'.
All us old guys have myriad sockets sets and wrench sets but I have never had a problem with finding an inch tool that didn't fit an old Dodge or Plymouth fitting. I do find that preWWII vehicles use the 11/32" and 13/16" more. Post WWII the sizes seem to have settled on ,1/4",5/16",3/8",7/16",1/2",9/16",5/8",3/4"/7/8". I've been told this was a military thing with the Canadian and US armies wanting to standardize their fittings for easier repair in the field.
I think the sizes are called 'SAE' but I'm not sure. I do know that the BS standard does not fit North American fittings but does fit the old Morrises and Hillmans. There is the odd BS wrench around over here I assume they were brought over post WWII to fit the imported British cars.
Is there some way I can measure my sockets or wrenches 'across the flats' and you could go by that???

(Our prices seem to be much lower than yours. A 3/8" drive inch set of sockets with ratchet and extension would cost about $50 or 25 pounds. double that for a 1/2" drive set and add another $50 for a hardened set of 1/2" for use on an impact driver. A set of wrenches would cost about $50,inch or metric, and today are usually made in India or China but are of indestructible quality and are replaced 'free for life' if you manage to break one. My wife bought me a set of black hardened 1/2" 'deep reach sockets' for my air driven impact gun,about 60 pieces metric and inch, and I understand it was on sale at $50/25 pounds. )

[Kaybee]

Hi all, he needs an AF set to suit his Dodge, SAE is the same but I don't think anyone uses the term anymore, cheers, Col.
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