How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

A lot of guys are using 'silver head nuts' on their flatheads.
Does anyone know the typical way this is done? Zinc? Stainless?

Just plain zinc head nuts? Will they rust? Is the metal 'grade' a concern?

From what I've found, stainless is a bit shiny, and I'm not sure the metal 'grade' is high enough since stainless is typically softer.

Originally, no head nut washers were used, but I see some guys using washers, presumably to give a more accurate torque and to prevent the flathead seats from chipping?

Also, with some suppliers, it's unclear whether the bottom of the nut is chamfered to help prevent the nut from digging into the head. Got any recommendations?

FYI, this is for a 59AB engine in a stock 1935 pickup.

Thanks for your time.

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

I bought mine from a local fastener supplier. Grade #8 Zink plated. They will begin to rust
after a few years .
Vic

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

The major parts suppliers are providing a cadmium plated nut that keeps its good looks for a very long time. I have always used them, and reused them multiple times with no unwanted consequences. They have a washer like surface on one side, and no other washers are needed except when using aluminum heads. They are attractive in appearance, and personally I would not go any other way. The super shinny ones you see are dummy nut covers that look like acorn nuts. Too flashy for me, but, each to their own. I would never use stainless anything on an engine head.

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

The engine in my '36, a 59AB has had chrome acorn head/intake bolt covers for over 50 years, they are dressy and clean looking.
I tend to listen to a different drum, to that end I have stock type air cleaners on both of the Stormberg 97's, a lot quieter and cleaner than the traditional bonnet type.

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

As blucar I have had the chrome nut covers on my flat head for 20 years. I know it is not an original part but I like them. No matter what I did to the head nuts eventually they rust or discolor which is very noticeable.i

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

You can buy the correct (as original) cadmium-plated washer-faced nuts from ThirdGenAuto.com (Michael Driskell).

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

Be like a squirrel and use acorn nut covers. Cheap and easy. Last for years.

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

I use ARP's acorns - high quality, special alloy stainless acorn nuts (they are not soft stainless). They are also "high cost" . . . but when you add up all the costs for a high-end engine these days, these fricking nuts are the least of my problems! LOL

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

"Acorn Nut" covers are "de rigueur" with finned aluminum heads, but not with stock heads. The hard part is how to figure out how to make them stay of without being a problem the next time you have to work on your engine.:confused:

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

Keeping them in place has been easy , I use plastic shopping bags . Push the acorn over the nut with the bag in between. Its easy to remove the acorn and ive got some Ive been running for 15 plus years .

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

Doesn't your engine look funny with all of those plastic bags on the heads? (Maybe they burn off after a while.):D

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

A little dab of silicon.

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

Isnt that what everyone is calling ‘ has air bags ‘

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

The acorn caps have been on my '36 since 1954, have not lost any of them.
Getting ready to pull the engine out to freshen things up, gonna paint the engine '36 Ford green in lieu of red..

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

The ones you bought in '54 ae probably of better quality than what's available these days.

Good to hear you're goin' back to Ford Green; I also went through a period (I think they called it "puberty") when I painted all of my engines red.

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

I used a little bit of silicone seal on the inside of the chrome acorn nuts.

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

I just bought a set of new nuts from C & G for $15

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

Well, looky here. First post and it's about a '35 pickup. Ok. I'm listening. What else are you doing to this truck. Us pickup guys want to know.....and pics are mandatory. :D

Heard

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

Thanks for the interest Heard. I certainly like the 1935 Ford pickups, and I've had mine for over 10 years now, and it's been sitting stationary for about 9.5 of those years. I finally got tired of looking at it and got the ball rolling last winter by sending the engine out for a rebuild. Hope to get it back in a month or so. Everything always takes much longer than predicted, especially these days. Sorry, I don't have much in the way of photos and I'm out of town for another week. I'll try to post something when I get back. My plan it to keep it stock. Thanks again.

Re: How to get 'silver head nut' look.
 

Love it!! Put up some pics when you can. I don't think there are too many of us with '35 pickups. Mine is....shall we say....being rehabbed. As you say, it takes MUCH longer than you think. Always something getting in the way.

Heard