Packaged Fastners
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Alameda CA
Packaged Fastners
During dismantling, I saved all fastners for my '62. Now I'm looking at the baggies containing the fastners for each assembly and wondering whether I should 1) look at refurbishing them, or 2) buying sets of new fastners from the various suppliers. I recognize the implications of reusing bolts where the threads have been torqued, but they ARE original.
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 65
Torqued does not mean bad, if you torque something correctly there should not be a problem. The fastner is in the elastic range of it's strength not the plastic so no deformation has taken place. As far as which ones need replacement, head bolts, rod bolts and main caps would be a canidates due to the cost to redo an engine for a bolt most other applications reuse is fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,097
Likes: 99
From: Boston MA
I'd try to re-use them. Nothing like the original stuff. Maybe chase the threads with one of those taps or dies that doesn't cut new threads and only cleans up the old threads. Maybe run them through a vibratory cleaner. Maybe replate them with that Caswell replating kit. Depends on what they look like, and what their application is. You can get some new ones from Paragon and other sources. If they're crummy and nobody's going to see them, I'd throw them out. If they go to the suspension or the brakes, I'd consider upgrading them to Grade 8. If you can't tell the difference, I'd use stainless steel. Depends. Fasteners from California cars should be in pretty good condition.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Alameda CA
I'd try to re-use them. Nothing like the original stuff. Maybe chase the threads with one of those taps or dies that doesn't cut new threads and only cleans up the old threads. Maybe run them through a vibratory cleaner. Maybe replate them with that Caswell replating kit. Depends on what they look like, and what their application is. You can get some new ones from Paragon and other sources. If they're crummy and nobody's going to see them, I'd throw them out. If they go to the suspension or the brakes, I'd consider upgrading them to Grade 8. If you can't tell the difference, I'd use stainless steel. Depends. Fasteners from California cars should be in pretty good condition.
Thanks to everyone who responded. Ken
