I could of sworn these were #6-40 (fine threaded) but i cannot find anyplace that sells these!!!!!! i searched online for the past half hour and i found one site that sells anything remotley related to these!! and i don't even then they are screws.. am i wrong about them being this size. could they be metric??? i went to home depot and put it in the screw size thingy and it barley went in the #6-32 hole and then stopped. and it said that was for course threads. but they didn't have a thing to test for fine threads. and i don't think it fit in any of the metric holes. why is it soooo freaking impossible to find this screw? is GM just wacko when it comes to this piece? first they have like super tamper proof screws. i thought torx was enough to keep the average dumb **** away from messing with it. but no they have to have tamper proof torx bits!!! i mean come on whats the deal here.. if i can pull apart my engine with regular bolts and just a few torx bolts. then i think i should have access to taking the cover off of the FPR!!!! and then at least be able to find some screw to replace the ones i screwed up because of the stupid design!! i bet GM is like selling these screws for $20 each or something..

does anyone know the REAL size of these screws? am i goign to have to put these on the same way i took them off, with a pair of vice grips? i tried to de-tamper proof them, and i kinda screwed them up pretty bad... oops... sorry i just had to vent..

 

What lesson have we learned? Buy the proper tools for the job, or you're going to waste more time fixing things than you expected your shortcut to to cut off. I'd wager that GM didn't expect people to break "tamper proof" bolts, so.. heh well they probably aren't very common. Maybe you've got something to keep the local hardware store guy occupied for a bit. Those guys are normally pretty helpful and knowledgable when I need help finding an odd size bolt.

Sorry I don't know what size they are, but this will go to the top now so maybe someone has had a similar problem.

 

It's a common thread pitch that should be available at any hardware store. I don't recall the size offhand, but I do know that it's a metric size. The local aubichon Hardware has them, as does the local Fastenall store.

 

I'd almost put money on it that they are metric since everything else related to the FI on these cars is. And also of note is i wouldn't expect to find 'em in any old hardware aisle like a home depot. Definitely need a hardcore real supply store. As to the size, beats me, but i'd be Vader knows since i know he used to (currently?) works in the hardware industry and has probably measured everything he takes out.

BTW, if you're in a pinch you can use a dremel to slot the heads and use a screwdriver to put 'em back in. They don't need a lot of torque so it really isn't that big of a deal.

 

I've had mine off twice, and I twisted the stupid torx bit twice.

 

Stanley 4 piece Security Torx Drivers set from Wally World - $6

Never having to go through the above crap - priceless

 

Believe me, i'm all for buying the right tool for the job, but sometimes frustration just takes over. At the time i hacked mine, i had searched all the local places and noone sold the bits. Whether yall believe me or not, i really don't care since i know damn well i looked. All stores don't carry the same stock, and not everybody has a true hardware supply outlet local to them either, so even simply replacing them with regular screws isn't that easy for some.
I've had my FPR off and on twice using my screwdriver slots and haven't had any problems with it at all in almost 30k miles since the first time. It's not the end of the world to make due in this situation IMO, and it's such a trivial thing that i wouldn't even call it dealing with crap. But if it makes you feel better to belittle someone for doing something easy, harmless, and just as effective as the 'correct' way then i guess you get your money's worth in this thread. For me wasting a few hours of driving ad hunting down tools/screws didn't make sense when 2 minutes with a dremel in my apartment had me ready to go.
The caveat is care. If you're going to take the easy way out like me, you better be careful not to strip your slot. But even then you still would only have to do what you should have done in the first place and find the right parts.

 

hmm. metric size ehh.. well ill have to go out and see if i can get some that fit. it just seems that everyone seems to have course thread and not fine for that size.. i would of just brought the correct tools except i didn't wanna spend MORE money when the whole purpose of making my stock FPR an adjustable one, was to save $$. and i don't think the new screws will set me back too much. might raise the total to $2!