Tools & Fabrication - Metric and SAE question here.

Okay I know metric is for imports and SAE is for domestic. But why did every single nut and bolt I took off when I did my header install come off with a metric socket or wrench? This was before I knew jack about tools. Help out a fool :judge:

Most everything is made with metric fasteners anymore.
Metric doesn't necessarily mean import, ...
The Big3 stopped using 'inch' type fasteners many, many years ago, ...

The LS1 (or all Gen III small blocks for that matter) are GM's first entirely metric small block V8. Every nut, screw, bolt, etc is a metric size, as are most of the bolts on F-bodies. Very rarely on a domstic made in the last 10 years will you find a bolt that is SAE, with the exception of parts on Diesel engines in trucks.

It's a much better, simpler system and it's also better for overseas sales. Think there's a lot of tech's in Europe or Japan with a full set of SAE tools? I highly doubt it. Hard to sell cars there if there's no one to fix them ;)

Even the thread pitches are metric.
The diff. between domestic is they use 13,15,&18 mm fasener head sizes.
The asian imports use 12,14,17mm fasener head sizes.

I love this Tools of the trade forum! Thanks for the help. :burn:

damn jimmy carter.... yeah i think by far the metric sysetm is alot easier to use but because jimmy carter decided to listen to all the hicks back in the day we are the only country to still use this jacked up system