Finished sandblasting and painting the smugglers box and panel in the bed of my Elky. A couple of the washers broke when I removed the screws.

Anybody know where to buy these original type screw/washer assemblies?

Anybody have half a dozen or so they are willing to part with?

about any junkyard should be able to help you since chevy used the same for the same sort of jobs i got a 67 with a cooler in the box very stealthful good luck also our sponser may have them ben :}

I too would love to find a source for these bolts. Haven't found any good ones at the junk yards. They are somewhat different from the usual sheet metal fasteners found on front end parts.

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Life aint easy when you're fat and greasy!

I gave up searching. I got the SEMS fastners with the raised edge and ground it off. After they are primed and painted, they look the same. These are availble at all the auto parts stores. I am very satisfied with the results.

So if you guys gave up looking and used something else, then maybe you have a hand full that you would be willing to part with.
Any chance, or am I just dreaming?

This is a detail that I look for at every show I go to, especially Chevell-abration. The majority of the El Camino's have the wrong fasteners. On one 'driver' that I had, I was able to match the bolt at a autobody fastener shop. I paired that with a fender washer. I removed the coating from it to get the paint to adhere. It looks very close to the original.

Everytime I go to a salvage yard, I look for these bolts. They just aren't out there. And when you do find them, they are very corroded.

I only have one pristine set of these bolts for a project that I'm currently working on. The washer looks like it is copper alloy and not flat, but cupped. It doesn't come off of the bolt.

Trivia question, how many bolts hold the forward bed-cover in place?

As many Elcaminos as i've had I couldn't say how many bolts they're supposed to have, But I'm guesing 7.

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Life aint easy when you're fat and greasy!

How many are actually supposed to hold it down? Mine was riveted in place so I'm not sure what the setup was. Mine has all the original bolts though except for one. These are the ones with the rounded heads, right?

Also, what sealant is used underneath the panel to make it watertight so the water doesn't seep into the "dead space area" there between the cab and the bed? What did the factory use?

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1970 Chevy El Camino (Custom) Non-SS
Green Mist & Silver w/Green Vinyl Top
350ci/300HP 4bbl & Factory Dual Exhaust
TH-350 - 2.73 Posi Rear
Factory PS, PB, PW, A/C
Originally Burlington, NC Car - Sold at Carpenter's Chevrolet in Durham, NC
My El Camino Home Page - www.dreamelectric.com (http://www.dreamelectric.com)

There are 22 of these screw/washer assemblies to hold this panel down.

The screws are hex head (7/16 a/f), 1/4 diameter X 7/8 - 1 inch long sheet metal screws. There are 3 letters stamped on the head, "W" or "M" depending how you look at it, "H", and "R" or "A" can't tell for sure.

The washers are 1 inch diameter, concave (when viewed from the bottom)and have 8 barbs on the bottom surface to bite into the panel and prevent spinning when tightened.

I know these are original. The car is a 65k mile car, I am the 3rd owner, and have all paperwork since it was new.

No sealant on the panel or screws. Sealant at the intersection of the panel mounting flanges and bed vertical walls.

This is good info for record.

There are 22 of these screw/washer assemblies to hold this panel down.

The screws are hex head (7/16 a/f), 1/4 diameter X 7/8 - 1 inch long sheet metal screws. There are 3 letters stamped on the head, "W" or "M" depending how you look at it, "H", and "R" or "A" can't tell for sure.

The washers are 1 inch diameter, concave (when viewed from the bottom)and have 8 barbs on the bottom surface to bite into the panel and prevent spinning when tightened.

I know these are original. The car is a 65k mile car, I am the 3rd owner, and have all paperwork since it was new.

No sealant on the panel or screws anywhere. Sealant at the intersecting joints of the panel perimeter mounting flanges and bed vertical walls. No sealeant down the panel center support.

This is good info for record.

22, no way, not for a 72. What year are you speaking of?

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Life aint easy when you're fat and greasy!

Are these fasteners the same ones that hold the tailgate panel on? Probably not, but I figured I'd ask.

Hey Big James,
1968 ElCamino. 22 bolts.
They wanted to make sure that sucker didn't accidently fall off.

I had a new 72 and I now have an old 72 and they both had 2 on each side,3 on rearward side and I'm not sure about the cab end because my present old EC didn't have any there, I can't remember far back enough to sa y about the 72 I bought new but I think it had 2 at the cab as did the 75 EC I bought used back in 78.

previous Elcaminos;
72 SS454, hugger orange w/black vinyl top/stripes & tonue cover
75 SS454, white w/white vinyl top w/black stripes
84 standard 305/4bbl, silver
72 soon to be clone SS, red maybe w/black vinyl top

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Life aint easy when you're fat and greasy!

I'd guess 22 is right for a 64 - don't have a count right now, but it is FULL of holes.

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Make it the way you like it, forget what the other guys say!
http://homepages.studentcenter.org/64elcamino/HOME.html

Just got off the phone with the owner of Mr. G's Fasteners in Fort Worth Tx. I found a hex Screw w/loose Washer on page 107. 1/4x3/4 w/1" W., Blak. Catalog is now on line at www.Mrgusa.com. (http://www.Mrgusa.com.)
The item # is Fa 4267B. The washer is 1in. dia. but flat not (conical) and does no have barbs (serations). Leters on the head are a large G and a very small L inside of the G. Price $.75 each. Orders of 100 or more 1/2 of list price!!. Mr Gs phone 817 831 3501 or fax 817 831 0638. Email: mrgs@mrgusa.com
65Camino
Roy Seattle
Team Chevelle Gold Member #74

Smuglers box fastners
CORRECTION the bolt with 1 in. dia. washer is on page 170 not 107. Your memory is not the first thing to go, but mine has. To many gas fumes and xxxCnuck beer.
65Camino

1972 El Caminos have 4 maybe 6 at the most bolts. The sheetmetal is mostly held down with sealent. The orginal stuff is a medium brownish/red color.

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Bryan Shook
My website with lots of classic cars (http://www.geocities.com/elcamino_1972)
1972 Chevrolet El Camino Options, Codes & Pricing (http://www.geocities.com/elcamino_1972/elky-options.html)
Favorite Quote: Some people have shrinks. Some people have their garage.

65Camino,

Great site for fastners.

However, the bolt you have selected is not correct for an original look, if that is what is desired. The original bolts have a smooth top with no markings for the 64 & 65 El Caminos. I bead blasted my originals, however I was short a few due to broken washers and rusted threads. I did as I stated in my first post on this topic to get an original look.

The count for the 64 & 65 is around the 22 total. Approximately anyway, I did not go out and count them to be sure, but I remember it was around this total.

65elcamino and others, it will depend on what assembly plant that your vechicle came from. It varied from year to year also. I know these are not exactly correct.

65Camino