A B737-300 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH A L ELEVATOR TAB INSTALLED PER THE MAINT MANUAL USING HARDWARE THAT INVALIDATED A PREVIOUS AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE.

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ON MAY/XA/00 AT XA00; I WAS ASSIGNED TO ACFT XYZ L ELEVATOR TAB CHANGE. A HINGE BRACKET WAS WORN AND NEEDED REPLACING. A NEW BRACKET WAS ORDERED; DRILLED AND INSTALLED. INSPECTION GAVE AN OK TO INSTALL THE TAB. THE TAB HAD WORN BEARINGS AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE TAB WAS REPLACED AS AN ASSEMBLY PER MAINT MANUAL 27-31-31 WHICH STATES EITHER A CASTELLATED OR NON CASTELLATED NUT. THE TAB INSTALLATION KIT ORDERED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE TAB DID NOT CONTAIN THE PROPER HARDWARE AS MANDATED BY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE XX-WWW WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN COMPLIED WITH ON THIS ACFT. NEW HARDWARE WAS USED FROM BENCH STOCK. MAINT MANUAL 27-31-31 STATES NEW NUTS BE USED ON CTL ROD AFT ATTACH BOLTS. THE MAINT MANUAL SHOWS NO REF TO THIS AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE WHICH INSTALLS A SELF-LOCKING CASTELLATED NUT. THE ACFT AND THE NUTS INSTALLED WERE THOUGHT TO BE AIRWORTHY. AN XB CARD (SHIFT TURNOVER) WAS THEN WRITTEN BY ME TO RIG TAB AND CLOSE UP AREA WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY SECOND SHIFT. INSPECTION VERIFIED SAFETIES AND RIG.