2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Thank you Chrysler - SAE, Metric Mix

[scotmartin]

I have found that on metric bolts from about #14 up you can use a lot of SAE wrenches on.



Floyd

I think WilsonF hit the nail on the head.

 

[MVenditti]

I think this is why Sears sells wrenches that work on both. One wrench fits standard and metric size.

 

[fest3er]

I think WilsonF hit the nail on the head.

Use the decimal conversion table to find the whole inch size. Then use the fractional conversion table to find the next 32nd of an inch larger than the decimal portion. If they're within a couple hundredths, they are probably interchangeable. 1/2" and 13mm are usually interchangeable, 29mm and 1-5/32" are probably interchangeable, 7/8" will probably work on 22mm, etc.

In true capitalist spirit, I'll make up a nice laminated chart that illuminates the correlation between SAE and metric sizes, if the money is right. It'll go from 1mm and 1/32" up to 51mm and 2"; if there's demand, I'll take it to 102mm and 4".

'Tis better to use the right tool, though. 'Close' is OK if not much torque is needed. When you get upwards of 50 lb-ft or more, it's better to use the correct wench.

A chart that better illustrates the correlations in the smaller sizes. He only accepts those within a couple thousandths.

Metric to SAE conversion table (decimal only):

7mm -> . 2755 in. 
8mm -> . 3149 in. 
9mm -> . 3543 in. 
10mm -> . 3937 in. 
11mm -> . 4330 in. 
12mm -> . 4724 in. 
13mm -> . 5118 in. 
14mm -> . 5511 in. 
15mm -> . 5905 in. 
16mm -> . 6299 in. 
17mm -> . 6692 in. 
18mm -> . 7086 in. 
19mm -> . 7480 in. 
20mm -> . 7874 in. 
21mm -> . 8267 in. 
22mm -> . 8661 in. 
23mm -> . 9055 in. 
24mm -> . 9448 in. 
25mm -> . 9842 in. 
26mm -> 1. 0236 in. 
27mm -> 1. 0629 in. 
28mm -> 1. 1023 in. 
29mm -> 1. 1417 in. 
30mm -> 1. 1811 in. 
31mm -> 1. 2204 in. 
32mm -> 1. 2598 in. 
33mm -> 1. 2992 in. 
34mm -> 1. 3385 in. 
35mm -> 1. 3779 in. 
36mm -> 1. 4173 in. 
37mm -> 1. 4566 in. 
38mm -> 1. 4960 in. 
39mm -> 1. 5354 in. 
40mm -> 1. 5748 in. 
41mm -> 1. 6141 in. 
42mm -> 1. 6535 in. 
43mm -> 1. 6929 in. 
44mm -> 1. 7322 in. 
45mm -> 1. 7716 in. 
46mm -> 1. 8110 in. 
47mm -> 1. 8503 in. 
48mm -> 1. 8897 in. 
49mm -> 1. 9291 in. 
50mm -> 1. 9685 in. 
51mm -> 2. 0078 in.

Fractional to decimal conversion (in 1/32" steps)

1/32 -> . 0312
2/32 -> . 0625
3/32 -> . 0937
4/32 -> . 1250
5/32 -> . 1562
6/32 -> . 1875
7/32 -> . 2187
8/32 -> . 2500
9/32 -> . 2812
10/32 -> . 3125
11/32 -> . 3437
12/32 -> . 3750
13/32 -> . 4062
14/32 -> . 4375
15/32 -> . 4687
16/32 -> . 5000
17/32 -> . 5312
18/32 -> . 5625
19/32 -> . 5937
20/32 -> . 6250
21/32 -> . 6562
22/32 -> . 6875
23/32 -> . 7187
24/32 -> . 7500
25/32 -> . 7812
26/32 -> . 8125
27/32 -> . 8437
28/32 -> . 8750
29/32 -> . 9062
30/32 -> . 9375
31/32 -> . 9687
32/32 -> 1. 0000

 

[DieselDoghouse]

What DavidC said…I think its a conspiracy by the tool manufacturers to take over the world one wrench set (shipping extra) at a time Guess when Jason Aldean "took her for a ride on my big green tractor" he musta found BOTH wrench sets!! (Yes, sniff! its them too!!).

 

[McCRam]

You think the trucks are bad? Try farm equipment. Our Macdon swathers have metric tractors and SAE headers.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I have no idea why they didn't sell better or why they didn't OUTsell every other conventional tool set. But the lack of sales got me my set for 1/2 off, so it was good for me that few people bought them. They're hard to find now, or I would buy another set with no hesitation.

I like my Metrinch set as well. I keep it in the truck for on the road use - also break it out when I have a buggered up fastener. You can buy them direct here: Home Page - Metrinch .

 

[Crazy Horse]

I like my Metrinch set as well. I keep it in the truck for on the road use... Home Page - Metrinch .

How well do these work??? I would think they would have a tendency to round off the edges of the nuts or bolt heads.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

They work great. They don't round off at all because they are grabbing the bolt/nut on the flats instead of the corners. If you think about it a regular socket isn't likely to be contacting along the entire contact surface either - unless they are machine EXACTLY the same as the bolt/nut. These are far enough back on the flats that it isn't an issue. The only "problems" with them are if your are using them on chromed fasteners then sometimes they will break through the chrome at the contact point and because of the play in the socket they are a pain to use in spots where you have a limited throw on your socket wrench. They work incredible on fasteners that were already rounded off by some other guy. They make for a great road kit since you only have to carry 1/2 the number of wrenches/sockets.

 

[SRath]

They come in a blow-molded case with a spot for each socket, wrench, rachet, etc. and each one is clearly marked what SAE and metric size it fits. "9/16 & 14mm" for example.



Like Steve said, if you have a bolt or nut already buggered and rounded at the corners, they will do the job beautifully. I think they are British-made, but won't swear to it without going and checking first. Wherever they come from, they are NOT cheap steel and rival any Craftsman hand tool for quality; even Mac; and are about as pretty polished as Snap-On. A very superior exercise in SAE vs. Metric problem-solving and the best tool set to carry in a vehicle, imo. They are the equal of ratcheting wrenches for handiness and innovation. My motorhome never left home without them when we traveled every weekend to motocross races and they were equally handy for the bikes.



Thanks for the link, Steve. Maybe now I can expand my set to include more deepwells and such.



Whoa!!! I got a much better deal than I thought! I paid @ $50 for my set just like the one pictured on the website for $199 and 'on sale' for Father's Day for $149.

 

[kcv67]

Add John Deere to the mix of bolts. The 50, 55 series the 6000 7000 8000 series have both metric and sae. Even when I was working on Cat they had mix sae metric on different machines



Casey

 

[EBurmeister]

I say we just dump the SAE sizes already, life would be easier if we just switched to the metric system already across the board. Those that argue that typically don't realize the world no longer revolves around us, or aren't bright enough to realize how much easier the metric system is to use. I too am frustrated at the mix of hardware. I have to say, this 2001 Dodge has a lot more metric than my 95 Jeep had, makes it easier to work on and a whole lot less guessing and checking when choosing sockets.

All that said, I do hate how incredibly expensive metric hardware is at the average hardware store. Let's be honest with ourselves, almost all the hardware will have been made in China or Taiwan, where they use metric stuff... the hardware stores probably makes a pretty penny on the metrics vs the standard stuff. My $0. 02...

 

[SRath]

I say dump the metric crap and keep what has worked for 100 years. Metric fasteners have zero advantage over SAE, unlike units of measure. Why spend all the time and effort to change? We already own SAE tools and are familiar with SAE fastener Grade markings.

 

[EBurmeister]

I say dump the metric crap and keep what has worked for 100 years. Metric fasteners have zero advantage over SAE, unlike units of measure. Why spend all the time and effort to change? We already own SAE tools and are familiar with SAE fastener Grade markings.

If they want to build a product that they want to export to other parts of the world, it's gotta be metric. Companies like Cat and John Deere, and obviously Daimler Chrysler, sell to the global economy. We export next to nothing these days, it's hard to find anything that doesn't have CHINA stamped on it. I agree with you that there will be a bumpy road of retooling and converting, but it'd be easier to just get it over with.

 

[ryecreek]

Thats strange I keep finding 1/2" and 9/16" and even the occasional 3/4" on my inlaws Toyotas... .

1/2=13mm

9/16=14mm

3/4=19mm



toyotas ive worked on are 100% metric

and i have not found a thing on all the dodges ive owned the a metric tool did not fit perfect

i HATE it but ya gotta have em a FULL SET of MM i work on equipment too so i have sae to 3"

usually(sometimes) bigger than 27mm a 6pt sae will work

 

[Superglide]

When I was a young pup, I bought a set of Sears Craftsman combo wrenches, which included a 11/32nd wrench. I remember picking it up and staring in wonder at what it was for as I had never used that size.



31 Dec, cold, windy, snowing. The starter on my 74 Dodge Dart Sport 360 4-speed goes south. Wife is freaking about the party that night. I managed to buy a new starter just before the shop closed. Brought it home and started wrenching in the carport. I'm fighting trying to get a wrench on a nut near the top of the starter (as I recall). Tried everything then grabbed the 11/32nd. One and only time I've ever needed one.

 

[kenny61]

brings back old memories that odd sized 11/32

 

[kenny61]

I own full sets of both have for quite awhile now. I've been turning wrenches since I was around 11 at least thats how far back I remember so I can pretty much size up what size (SAE or Metric) it is by eye since I dont do it on a regular basis am a little rusty and am off by a size occasionally... For those with out the eye heres agood way to tell what actually is metric or sae...



File:Bolt Nut Markings SAE and Metric. svg - Wikimedia Commons

 

[AABEN]

Thank you Chrysler for making my Dodge maintenance such an interesting exercise in grabbing every wrench and socket in my tool box to determine whether or not a nut or a bolt is SAE or Metric.



Oh, and using non-standard sizes such as 15mm that my three socket sets neglect to include was brilliant!



I can't wait to find what other interesting nut and bolt sizes you used. Whitworth perhaps? Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!!



Oo. :-laf



GulDam

If that is all you can find to cry about you are living a sorry life.

 

[ChrisOlson]

time to get the pop corn whoo hoo

 

[PGAdams]

I carry a few tools,,,that work on everything.



adjustable wrench - knuckle buster fits everything

big hammer - beat on it till it fits

screwdriver - pry bar, can opener, hole punch



and paint to match:-laf



if I recall -

VW Beetle commonly used 13mm and 15mm

Datsun primarily used 12mm and 14mm

Mazda " " 12mm and 14mm

Toyota " " 13mm and 15mm



and of course the standard 10mm and large mm axle nut sizes.



Most sets of Metric tools I have had for many years included 10,11,12,13,14,15,17,19

newer sets include all the above + 16mm and 18mm which I don't recall ever having used.

I carry both sets (SAE, metric) deep sockets in my travel bag