Coil spring cover bolts: in or out

[jscott]

In a current thread asking about the original engine bay I noticed something which raised a question on my car. I have been repairing my passenger side coil spring cover. The 4 bolts (the 2 lower ones are fixed) that mount go from the wheel well into the engine bay where the nuts are. In the other post thread as well as other pictures I now look at it appears that those 4 bolts go from the engine bay into the wheel well where the nuts are then threaded on. Which is correct? Here is a blow up of my passenger side, you can see the bolts with the nuts, a bit fuzzy as I had to blow it up. The two most prominent in the picture are next to the solenoid. The 2nd picture is from that post, you can see the two top bolts that go from the engine bay into the wheel well.

 

[Stanglover]

That appears to be correct. Here is a pic of my 71 car showing two of the spring cover bolts, which at the time it was stripped for painting, was absolutely original.
However, were there changes made between 71 and 73?

 

[mjseakan]

I don't have a picture worth sharing but my 73 looks like the second picture in the first post.

Mike

 

[c9zx]

The hex head should be on the inside (engine side) of the apron. Chuck

 

[Stanglover]

The hex head should be on the inside (engine side) of the apron. Chuck

Definitely looks neater that way..... and easier for line assembly.
You know, thinking back, there might be a possibility mine could be wrong. At some point, some idiot burned a hole in the back side of the shock towers to grease the UCA's. Perhaps the same dummy took the covers off and reversed the bolts. Hmmmm!
Here's a couple of pics that show mine. The bottom fasteners are welded on, so nuts are on the inside. The top 4 bolts are likely as Chuck describes.

 

[Steve McMahan]

On my 73 Grande, the top 2 bolts on each side of both shock towers have heads in engine compartment, lower bolts opposite.

 

[jscott]

lower bolts have to be as they are fixed to the cover. Agree, looks cleaner with the bolt head on the inside of the engine bay and I think I will do it that way as well.

 

[Stanglover]

lower bolts have to be as they are fixed to the cover. Agree, looks cleaner with the bolt head on the inside of the engine bay and I think I will do it that way as well.

Now we're talking about it, it makes sense. I may follow suit and change mine at some point when I'm looking for something to do.

 

[DAverkamp]

Now we're talking about it, it makes sense. I may follow suit and change mine at some point when I'm looking for something to do.

Here is another example and sorry the PO torched holes to access the zerks. Well, at least he was greasing them…

 

[Stanglover]

Here is another example and sorry the PO torched holes to access the zerks. Well, at least he was greasing them…

I don't see the holes, but I do see 4 upper the bolt heads are in the engine side.

 

[ROCKET70]

Here is a picture of my car when purchased in 2021 all original with 14000 miles sitting for over 40 years only the oil and battery had been changed.
The bolts go in from the underside.

 

[jscott]

I would think that the bolts going from wheel well to engine bay would be easier for assembly line work and thus perhaps how it was done at the factory. But as my car is not a "correct" restoration I like the cleaner look of inside to out.

 

[JPWally]

Speaking of coil spring covers ------ does any know if these covers should be painted "slop gray" or perhaps they were painted black along with the engine bay area?? The pictures Stanglover posted above, look like the covers may be slop gray....... Thank you !

 

[c9zx]

Perhaps I am wrong. I did put mine back the way I found them, and they are staying that way. The spring covers are slop grey as are cowl to shock tower struts, and other pieces. Search on slop grey. Chuck

 

[Stanglover]

Well this turned out to be interesting. Just like belly buttons, some are "innies" some are "outies". Take your pic.
I've since decided mine will remain "innies", nuts in that is.

 

[tony-muscle]

Mechanically speaking it shouldn't make a difference. I have studs in mine but thats a completely different story with my coil overs and custom tower brace.

 

[DAverkamp]

I don't see the holes, but I do see 4 upper the bolt heads are in the engine side.

I was talking about being sorry that your PO torched the holes.

 

[Stanglover]

I was talking about being sorry that your PO torched the holes.

Ah yes, now I see your meaning. I just read it wrong.
I left the holes as is. Too much work to repair and besides, it's part of the "story".
I've seen this done before by lazy people when all they needed to do was install a right angled zerk fitting.

 

[DAverkamp]

Here is a picture of my car when purchased in 2021 all original with 14000 miles sitting for over 40 years only the oil and battery had been changed.
The bolts go in from the underside.

Thats interesting to see them mounted both ways.

 

[ROCKET70]

I image it all depends on the person on the line how he wanted to do it.