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This old truck has 5 different lug nuts on it. The two most consistent are shown in the photo. There are two different grade marks on them, one radial lines and the other radial trapezoids with inset lines. It might be helpful to find out what other 1961 (or thereabouts) pickups have for lug nuts I'd like to find out if one was original, but it's possible that both (or neither) are original to these trucks. The 1961 book shows B-1012 to be the replacement, but I've found no pics that help. I'm sure that ALL of the originals, including the packaging, are long gone. So, I'm left to compare what is on the old trucks that are still around. I'm also curious about who the OEM was for these back then. Likely the same as whoever was making the wheel studs. I have a suspicion, but nothing that I've been able to corroborate...yet.
These are 1/2"-20 with a 13/16" hex,
Looking at the enlarged pix, it appears that the 2 designs may be 1 in the same, just poorer stamping. Or maybe not. Here's a pic of the wheel stud head, in case anyone can identify the maker's mark. I'm thinking it looks like an 'HK'.
Last edited by TxKnuckleBuster; Oct 12, 2025 at 10:17 AM.
In 1961, Ford Motor Company sourced lug nuts and wheel studs from multiple OEM suppliers, many of which were regional or contract-based. While Ford didn’t publicly disclose every component vendor there were at least Rockford Products Corp, Kelsey-Hayes, Huck Manufacturing, TRW Automotive and Stanley Works. Your wheel stud pictured is likely HucK with the M below being Manufacturing.
TA455HO, that's great! It gives me something to look for, the manufacturer anyhow. I don't think they ever sold through parts retailers so I'm not gonna find any NOS stuff directly from them. Still looking for some matching used stuff in good condition. Found some NOS Ford, but the parts had changed and had a different look.
Something I found interesting, and you may as well (though I doubt anyone else will) ... I noticed that same HK stamp on a Timken wheel bearing. Not sure what to make of it, but maybe I'll find something.
As I make repairs to the old truck, I'm trying to compile a list of the original manufacturers of the parts, when I can. If I ever make any significant progress, I'll post it here to aid any serious restorers.
On an unrelated subject, I found an old Rotunda/Autolite Parts Catalog from 1964 at a swap meet. It's in good shape and I paid a whole buck for it! The gods were smiling on me that day. I may try to digitize it and add it to the Internet Archive. It's a good place to look for old books, etc. I see the book on eBay for well over $200, which I find despicable.
HK on a Timken bearing is just a plant code they use and nothing to do with Huck Manufacturing, but I can see you have a high level of enthusiasm to say the least. Huck was known for rivets and fasteners, not bearing production and certainly nothing to do with Timken.
I didn't much figure that a fastener maker was making bearings but using the same logo (not just the letters) did take me aback.
I don't remember Timken putting a plant code on their bearings, but that's not to say that they didn't. I don't have a better answer. They do use what is usually a 2-letter code for the bearing type, and then there's that funky little "italicized y" (that's what I call it, anyhow) for which I've yet to find a meaning.
Yep, I'm a little enthusiastic about this stuff, lol. I guess most just call me a nut, but I love the detective work involved with finding answers, mostly to questions that nobody asked. I'm into details. Looking for details in parts keeps me busy but when I'm done, replacement or repair is usually un-noticeable, which is my goal. An odd goal to some, but an enjoyable one for me.
I personally love underhood restoration the most but will work on just about anything. I'm currently working on a '56 IH pickup, a '61 F250 pickup, a '68 Cadillac, and a '56 tractor. I'd like to see the Ford painted when I'm done, but I doubt my son will do that. He likes the old, used look more than the new. I guess maybe he's a little different, too.
Those are said to be a plant code (manufacturing origin) or batch identifier. If you find out otherwise it would be interesting to hear about your discovery. Might be able to find someone who works or worked for Timken that can tell you more.
Here's just a race and like you otherwise mentioned some of the bearing and races have a two-digit prefix before the numbers. LM603011 and a two digit code of VS. The LM stands for Light-duty Matched.
Well, I didn't bring my bearing pix and research stuff with me and though I've been searching for about an hour and just can't find everything. I found a couple of decent lists, but none that had everything, a little surprising to me. I know they've made a lot of bearing types over the years but I'm surprised that there were so many that they aren't compiled into one list.
I wasn't referring to the 2-letter prefix codes (LM, etc), but to the 2-digit codes that are shown on these 3 bearings, along with an explanation of each code. I do not know how consistent Timken is with their marks. Maybe in some countries they stamp a plant ID code while others don't, maybe some plants stamp bearing type codes while others don't, maybe others stamp date codes while others don't. And to make things worse, maybe some codes resemble other codes. There are so many variations on the Internet that I'm not sure anyone could ever identify the possible different combinations, and lots of those are counterfeits.
I didn't mean to take off in this direction, at least not to this extent. I'm just trying to match and find bearings, and studs, and lug nuts to the "originals" on a 64-year-old truck, quite a feat in itself. CC = Spherical roller bearing of C design but with enhanced roller guidance
