Name that bolt!?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
Name that bolt!?
My son and I went out for a cruise today in the Corvette (1980), and as I was turning into a parking lot, average concrete apron/driveway, I heard a CRACK! Like a gunshot, this was while car would be mildly flexing across the "ramp" as usual. We drove down the street about a block and this broken bolt fell out from underneath the car. Would have been about 3" long unbroken and has a rating of 10.9 with a letter "A" on the head, an 18mm socket fits the bolt. It's dirty, like typical grease and dirt with the hint of Corp. Blue paint. I'll have to wait a while to get it up on a lift to look properly. Car didn't do anything weird after, like nothing happened Any ideas ?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Because of the color I would make a clueless guess that it may be an exhaust manifold bolt. By process of elimination what was the last work done on the engine? It looks broken at the end. Is the car making any funny noises?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
It has me stymied, corp. blue but filthy the whole length, I cleaned it and it's worn blue paint the whole length as well. If it's like my 1980 Malibu, every nut and bolt on the car is metric except the engine. The blue throws me but I'm thinking rear suspension.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
Had a crawl under the car and sure enough, LH rear corner bolt of the center mount plate of the leaf spring. With enough hangin' out to get a grip on.
Thanks a bunch for the guesses fellas!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
I could be totally wrong but I believe the rear suspension hardware stayed imperial right up thru 82. Have a quick look at the 4 bolts holding the spring on though just in case
Apparently I was totally wrong
18mm head, maybe check the #4 body mount (seems long though)
Mooser
What a difference 3 minutes makes
Apparently I was totally wrong
18mm head, maybe check the #4 body mount (seems long though)
Mooser
What a difference 3 minutes makes
Last edited by Mooser; Jul 7, 2012 at 08:04 PM. Reason: too late
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
The Malibu is mostly metric, the body is for sure. driveline was std. The 10.9 is the metric strength indicator vs. the imperial "hash" marks.
This brings up another question, what is the consensus regarding using stainless fasteners on the underside of the car? Stainless resists corrosion and is strong, but is it too brittle for the "flexie" bits of the car?
This brings up another question, what is the consensus regarding using stainless fasteners on the underside of the car? Stainless resists corrosion and is strong, but is it too brittle for the "flexie" bits of the car?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Your hard pressed to find a stainless bolt that would meet the low end of a grade 5 steel bolt.
Most are maxed out under the min tensile requirements for grade 5. (around 100 vs 120 ksi or there abouts)
There are special military and aircraft level stainless but $$$$$$$$$$$$
Mooser
Most are maxed out under the min tensile requirements for grade 5. (around 100 vs 120 ksi or there abouts)
There are special military and aircraft level stainless but $$$$$$$$$$$$
Mooser
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
Your hard pressed to find a stainless bolt that would meet the low end of a grade 5 steel bolt.
Most are maxed out under the min tensile requirements for grade 5. (around 100 vs 120 ksi or there abouts)
There are special military and aircraft level stainless but $$$$$$$$$$$$
Mooser
Most are maxed out under the min tensile requirements for grade 5. (around 100 vs 120 ksi or there abouts)
There are special military and aircraft level stainless but $$$$$$$$$$$$
Mooser
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 833
From: WI
Could be metric but why is it blue?