Crown bus Gulmite screws

[kimberlybennett234]

Anyone know where we can get a 32 point GULMITE driver/socket or have an idea what else we can use to unscrew these?

[rossvtaylor]

Unfortunately, Gulmite drivers and sockets are super hard to find. We have 3 Crown buses and I've only been able to get lucky to buy one sized socket. For all the other sizes, I use two different "screw removal" pliers. One is a pair of Vamplier screw removal pliers and the other is an Engineer brand. I ground the end of the Engineer pliers, to make the tip smaller for better access into tight spaces. If the larger Vampliers fit your spaces, though, they're super sturdy pliers and work well for lots of things besides Gulmite screws.

I just posted photos of both brands of pliers in another thread here, just last week. Here's a pic of the ones I ground down:

[kimberlybennett234]

Thank you so much.

[flattracker]

Until the other day, I didn't know those pesky "Crown screws" had a formal name. I encountered them in the 1973 Crown I parted out years ago. I recall that I used a Dremel to cut screwdriver slots in many that I removed. Fortunately neither of my other Crowns used them. They do use a lot of pop rivets though. Welcome to the forum though. Are you starting on a conversion or is your Crown already done?

[s2mikon]

Gulmite was also used in older maytag washers. Look for a retired maytag man.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by s2mikon

Gulmite was also used in older maytag washers. Look for a retired maytag man.

Maytag uses a 33 point screw.

[s2mikon]

Okay. How about a center punch and a reverse drill bit?

[kimberlybennett234]

My Father-in-law got our 1968 Crown bus about 20 years ago and did convert it but he only insulated it behind built ins. We need to add insulation where the original panels are and have to remove many, many of those screws. Thanks for the info!

[kimberlybennett234]

Thanks for the idea!

[kimberlybennett234]

Thanks for the reply.

[Eitek1]

How about taking a socket that is slightly larger and filling is with just mixed epoxy putty. Place the socket full of putty over one of the bolt heads until it dries. Pop it off and you should have a socket with a perfect tight fit for the bolt heads.

[flattracker]

When I parted out a 73 Crown years ago it had many of those pesky screws. I used a dremel to cut a screw slot in the head and they came out with a screwdriver.