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Old Sep 2, 2007 | 07:45 PM
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From: TEXAS - you mean there are other states?
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Alot of components are ready to be re-installed on my car. I do not want to use bolts that will rust within a very short time. Dr. Rebuild's bumper bolt kits are the silver looking bolts. Is this the correct color for the bolts? Should I have them re-coated with the black oxide style coating?
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Old Sep 2, 2007 | 08:17 PM
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Is there a good hardware store close to you? Buy stainless steel they wont rust usually can be found in most common sizes.
Don't use them if its in a place that needs to be a certain grade for strength.(chassis areas and so on)
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Old Sep 2, 2007 | 08:24 PM
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Stainless bolts have a strength rating less than a Grade2. You can use them in non-critical areas but make sure you coat them with anti-seize.
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Old Sep 2, 2007 | 08:24 PM
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There are stainless suppliers that can provide stainless bolts in appropriate grade and finish.

Look at Hillco Fasteners, Alloy Boltz, Bolt Depot, Totally Stainless, and McMaster Carr.
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Old Sep 2, 2007 | 09:24 PM
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From: TEXAS - you mean there are other states?
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Thanks guys... maybe I mislead you all. Due to the strength of SS, I think I should not go that way. Rather, my Q is that Dr Rebuild's bolts are the correct grade, but I am concerned about the coating. Maybe it is not as rust preventative as it needs to be. I am concerned to do all teh re-assembly work and have bolts that may be rusty soon after installation
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Old Sep 3, 2007 | 01:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Tim_Ko
Stainless bolts have a strength rating less than a Grade2. You can use them in non-critical areas but make sure you coat them with anti-seize.
Most stainless bolts are just below Grade 5.
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Old Sep 3, 2007 | 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Most stainless bolts are just below Grade 5.
There are different grades of stainless. Check application before buying. ARP catalog has all their applications & stats.
For your bumpers, stainless will be fine.
Eddie
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Old Sep 3, 2007 | 11:41 AM
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EDZRED72 has a great point in checking the ARP catalog...Also some of these ARP bolts are sold by summit racing....good luck
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Old Sep 3, 2007 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Most stainless bolts are just below Grade 5.
I thought Batman was wrong so I checked the numbers instead of using my memory.

Grade 8: 150,000psi
Grade 5: 120,000psi
SS: 70,000psi
zinc plated steel (grade 2): 60,000psi

These numbers show that a ss bolt (18-8) is significantly more than "just below" a Grade5. It's bout half the strength of a Grade 5 or about the same as a Grade 2.
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Old Sep 3, 2007 | 04:05 PM
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From: TEXAS - you mean there are other states?
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Tim_Ko - thanks for the specifics. This is all good info on SS. I will check out the ARP catalog as well.

But, my question is regarding the coating on the bolts we all get (and I bought from Dr Rebuild). Trying to find out if the coating is decent enough or whether I should consider additional coatings or possibly alternative bolts.
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Old Sep 3, 2007 | 05:46 PM
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Originally Posted by kaiserbud
Tim_Ko - thanks for the specifics. This is all good info on SS. I will check out the ARP catalog as well.

But, my question is regarding the coating on the bolts we all get (and I bought from Dr Rebuild). Trying to find out if the coating is decent enough or whether I should consider additional coatings or possibly alternative bolts.
Re: Bumper Bolts
I agree with Eddie. If you are asking about bolts to hang your bumpers, then go with stainless. Make you sure you get stainless flat washers, lock washers and nuts. Use anti-seize on the threads. If you feel you must, use a torque wrench. You will never have a problem. If you want to disassemble it 10 years from now, the nuts will spin off like you put them on the day before.

Are you replacing any other bolts or was it just the bumper bolts?

The Bolt Depot will sell you (1) bolt. McMaster sells them in box's (25). The Bolt Depot will fullfil your total order for less than Mcmaster but McMaster is cheaper (volume pricing).

Hope that helps.
-Tim
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Old Sep 3, 2007 | 05:57 PM
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Check the vendors I listed. They carry stainless w/grade 8 strength.
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Old Sep 3, 2007 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by 71rdster
Check the vendors I listed. They carry stainless w/grade 8 strength.
Thanks 71.
I was curious and went to AlloyBoltz.com and found that they do have (for example) a specialty ss 3/8 bolt - 170,000psi for $3.68. (compare: A grade 8, 3/8-1.5 version from home depot is $1.00). I'll have to email them to find out what material they are using.

From the alloyboltz website:
"This bolt has a .630 diameter flange with a 3/8 6 point hex head. ARP grade 8 stainless bolts, studs, and nuts are virtually impervious to rust and corrosion. Rated at 170,000 psi makes these stronger than regular grade 8 fasteners. These are maintenance free fasteners and come with a polished finish."
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Old Sep 4, 2007 | 05:34 AM
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To answer your plating choice on steel bolts.
Blk. Oxide : Least protection
Bright Zinc plate: Second best
Zinc plate with the yellow chromate color: Best

The above is what is normally available for hardware.
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Old Sep 4, 2007 | 02:32 PM
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Default It's Special!

Interesting answer - it's special!


Tim,
It's a special compound from ARP that ranges from 170,000 psi to 220,000 psi depending on exactly which type of bolt, nut or stud you choose. Their Stainless is stronger than grade 8. It is used by NASCAR, NHRA and most racing serires due to its strength.


Thanks,

Bob
Alloy Boltz
813-645-3185
Visit our Website @ www.alloyboltz.com
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Old Sep 4, 2007 | 07:02 PM
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From: TEXAS - you mean there are other states?
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Originally Posted by Tim_Ko
Are you replacing any other bolts or was it just the bumper bolts?-Tim
Hi Tim

Yes all bolts are being re-installed..... so all bolts are being consdiered at this point. The body is off and I am starting re-assembly... headlamps, bumpers, coresupport,tranny mounts, suspensions ......... I did buy the 'packet' bolts from Dr Rebuild for like bumpers and stuff.
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Old Sep 5, 2007 | 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Tim_Ko
I thought Batman was wrong so I checked the numbers instead of using my memory.

Grade 8: 150,000psi
Grade 5: 120,000psi
SS: 70,000psi
zinc plated steel (grade 2): 60,000psi

These numbers show that a ss bolt (18-8) is significantly more than "just below" a Grade5. It's bout half the strength of a Grade 5 or about the same as a Grade 2.
Interesting. Where'd you find the data? I know there are different grades of stainless, how much difference does it make? I'm pretty sure the stainless bolts sold at my local ACE are much closer to the Grade 5 rating.
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Old Sep 5, 2007 | 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Interesting. Where'd you find the data? I know there are different grades of stainless, how much difference does it make? I'm pretty sure the stainless bolts sold at my local ACE are much closer to the Grade 5 rating.
Just go to Mcmaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com/ ), type < bolt > into the search field on the top-left corner of the page, it will bring up some drawings of different types bolts (fasteners), click on the < cap screws> icon on the top of the page, and you will be in bolt heaven. They have a really nice user interface. You can select bolt type, bolt properties, dimensions, thread pitch, finish, etc etc. You can get bolts for way under the home depot/ace hardware/sears hardware price ... but you have to buy a box ... Every time I order from them (even at 4pm), I get my order mid-afternoon next day. Super service and great pricing.

There are a couple of good books out there on bolts and fasteners but I've found that the mcmaster site provides better "data". The books talk about fastener types generally; but master gives you the tabular data.

I didn't mention that Alloy Boltz grade 8 stainless bolts come in limited sizes - the largest size is (as I recall) 3/8. So, they don't have a ss arp grade 8 bumper bolt if you wanted one for some reason.

Hope that helps.

Last edited by Tim_Ko; Sep 5, 2007 at 04:43 PM.
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Old Sep 5, 2007 | 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by kaiserbud
Hi Tim

Yes all bolts are being re-installed..... so all bolts are being consdiered at this point. The body is off and I am starting re-assembly... headlamps, bumpers, coresupport,tranny mounts, suspensions ......... I did buy the 'packet' bolts from Dr Rebuild for like bumpers and stuff.
When I installed the body back on my frame, I used Grade8 (overkill). I ran a tap through all the mounting holes and coated the bolts liberally with anti-size; I had a box of 3/8 ss bolts and used them for the doors. I also used ss for the coresupport to the inner fenders.

Generally, I will reuse non-engine bolts if they are in good shape but I always run them through a tap and die to clean the threads and then coat with anti-seize. The bolts will spin together nicely, can be torqued accurately and can be removed easily.
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Old Sep 5, 2007 | 05:16 PM
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I hate to throw yet another variable into the fastener question, but here goes.

SS bolts look great, and definitely won't let your bumpers fall off, but they will cause your chassis parts to corrode if they're subjected to moisture. It's called "dissimilar metals" which means that SS and carbon have a galvanic reaction to one another when they come in contact. THe SS actually corrodes away the carbon steel underneath, but it SS isn't harmed (just turns brown).

If you are building your Vette as a fair-weather cruiser, don't worry, but if you will drive in rain on a regular basis, you will see rust forming aroung the bolt heads and nuts as the steel underneath corrodes.

Many of the silver-colored (or green or blue) bolts available are coated with a coating called Dacromet. This is the same stuff the auto makers use for chassis bolts, now, and it's much better than using SS in a wet environment.

Just my $.02.
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