I really thought that I would be dead before going METRIC

[Projp]

Installing new headers and everything is really tight.
Need a thin socket but nothing fits.......
10MM
Put a new brake booster on ......
10MM

Is nothing sacred?

Apparently I am an old fart that doesn't handle change very well.

 

[Pa PITT]

I feel you Pain. I hate having to deal with metrics . When there was nothing wrong with our fractions.
... I installed header once & I ended up getting Allen head 3/8 bolts yo install my headers . Good lock washer under the head & I didn't have to deal with the Hex head that I couldn't get a socket on.

 

[MarsChariot]

Except allen heads come in metric, too, you know....%)

 

[Broncomt]

I have 2 toolboxes, one metric and one standard.

 

[Hazegray]

Yup, gotta have two toolboxes. What chaps my *ss is the 18mm nut size...that wrench is not included in most tool sets.

 

[BRONCITIS74]

My nerf bars for the side of my bronco came with metric mounting bolts. I replaced all of them with sae grade 8 bolts. The metric bolts are still in the bag. I'm trying to keep the Bronco all standard sae .

 

[BOBS 2 68S]

Back in 1979 when I bought my !st Bronco (still have it) the fog lights I bought were metric so my first set of metric wrenches ( still have them too )

 

[needsmoarturbo]

Yup, gotta have two toolboxes. What chaps my *ss is the 18mm nut size...that wrench is not included in most tool sets.

Do you mean 16mm? It's not included in most sets that have mm and sae because it's damn near 5/8”

 

[Hazegray]

Do you mean 16mm? It's not included in most sets that have mm and sae because it's damn near 5/8”

Yeah, that one too but it's a rare occasion to come across a 16mm bolt. On my *hevy truck, there are a lot of 18mm nuts/bolts.

 

[RT]

Guys at work bust my nuts cause every chance I get I swap out and retap for sae.
Being in Canada I do this a lot,,, stupid metric,,,,

Im baaaad at being canadian

 

[bmc69]

Since we build and deliver marine equipment to supply the "rest of the world", we've been designing and building in metric system for over 30 years. So it's second nature at this point..

When/where we have sub-suppliers that are still using 100% English units, we re-dimension or double-dimension all the critical interface details on the drawings. We refer to that process as adding "Menglish" units.

 

[Tomcat2]

They've been talking about switching since the beginning of time. Sitting on the fence and using both on a domestic is the worst part. If we could just switch to metric like the rest of the world and be done with it sure would be easier (eventually). Of course the tool manufacturers don't want to even think about cutting their sales in half.

Here's a simple test of which one's easier: Add these numbers up quickly in your head

9/16" + 5/8" + 3/4" + 1/8"

Now these.

3 + 8 + 2 + 6

 

[SteveL]

Yep. Between when I worked and newer parts for the trucks I have plenty of metric stuff. Here's a kicker. We're all talking shop at my buddy's place. I mentioned I run the ps-17 oil senders on my 351w's. It goes right in the block without the leaky extention tube. Another one of the guys gets pissed and mentioned the Ford dealer charged him like $40 for a special socket to get it in or out on his gto. It didn't help any when I told him I bought a 26mm for $8 at oriely to do it.

 

[Projp]

My past has been in building construction which has been a major holdout to converting to metric, (metrication).
Inevitably the change will come but the change will be by inches not meters.

 

[73azbronco]

10mm is 3/8ths inch wrench so.....

 

[Broncobowsher]

I'll give a work order to our machinist at work for some spacers, ¼" x 10mm.
He adapted rather quickly. I knew he had ¼" material on hand, the critical dimension I needed spaced was 10mm.

 

[WheelHorse]

I remember when businesses were judged by a set of standards...15 years ago it switched to the term "metrics."

I can't wait until the interview recommended question is, "By what imperials do you run your business?"

 

[Muddy1966Bronco]

I mainly miss the Bronco era days where you can grab three wrenches and tear apart most anything on the vehicle. Now that I’ve been knee deep in rust for a couple months, I can say there is one benefit to both systems. When a bolt is too rusted that let’s say a 3/8” socket slips, I can hammer on a 10mm and get the job done. The minor variances have helped me get quite a few stubborn rusty bolts off successfully.

 

[Apogee]

I realize I'm probably in the minority, but I love metric, and can move pretty fluently between metric and Imperial/SAE. That said, I hated all of the convoluted Imperial units when I was in college, which is truly a pretty terrible system for measurement...slugs for mass? Farenheit/Rankine for temperature? BTU's for heat? HP for power? Really? Lot's of nasty conversion factors when the whole purpose of units is to accurately define weights and measurements with precision and ease. Last I checked, the only other countries that used Imperial system of measurement were Liberia and Burma.

FWIW, I've found that interchangeable metric/SAE tool sizes include:

8mm = .315" [5/16"]
16mm = .6299" [5/8"]
19mm = .748" [3/4"]
Some people will pound a 22mm onto a 7/8" head/nut, but it's a bit tight IMO.
24mm = .945" [15/16"]

 

[half cab]

Well I might as well wade in to. I've had both standard and metric since the 70's. Pappy was an American automobile/ farm equipment mechanic. So I have Japanese dirt bikes that his tools don't fit.

He started buying metric back then because his idea was I can fix it if no matter who had built it. So we only took one bike to a Yamaha shop one time. We got a hefty bill for something he told me I from now own had to fix this pot metal crap I was riding.

I said tool kit was junk so there you go and by the 80's we were well equipped with metric tools.

He hateded that Japanese stuff but he was a hella'va old school mechanic/ fabricator.

Ok carry on...