3/8x16 versus 24 pitch; lock washers vs lock nuts - M100 (1 Viewer)

[rustystruck]

Here are two dirt basic questions in regard to fixing up my M-100 trailer:
1. Does it matter if I use 3/8"x16 grade 8 hardware instead of 24 pitch on the trailer?
2. Can I replace the lock washer & regular nut combinations with lock nuts and flat washers?
I want to swap out the hardware. Everything appears to be 24 pitch on the 3/8" bolts. However, the local hardware store had only 16 pitch. Thanks!

 

[ntsqd]

1) No, unless you care about originality. Assuming both are Grade 8 bolts the strength is the same. The fine thread bolt will just need less torque to yield it than will the coarse thread bolt.
2) Please do. Split lock washers are the devil's spawn. Nyloks are service temperature and re-assembly cycles limited. All metal lock nuts (aka "Stover nuts" or "crimp nuts"), and the bolts that they are used on, should be considered one time use only unless they are both mil-spec hardware.