Carriage Bolts
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Carriage Bolts
The steering box and steering idler uses carriage bolts to mount to the frame. There are also a couple of pieces in the front bumper support area which use carriage bolts. I knopw home depot sells them, but they are not grade 8 and are designed for wood. Where can I find grade 8 ones other than the corvette vendors who charge a fortune. Are the steering box bolt "squares" in the frame 3/8''?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
other than specialty bolt and fastener shops in your area, try ace hardware(believe it or not !) or lowes home center. they both carry a good selection or #5 and #8 bolts. don't use those unmarked grade #2 bolts!!!!
jeff
jeff
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 7
From: Brazos TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
The originals are, indeed, fine thread. You will have to check with a specialty fastener supplier. McMaster-carr doesn't carry them and neither will most hardware stores. I bet the reason the Corvette catalogs charge so much is because they have to have them made for them. It's not a common enough item to be off the shelf so it will cost a lot more.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Fastenal is everywhere. They are one of my distributers for our products. I can contact them tomorrow and ask about this. I am working their booth at Daytona this year and have a seminar for 300 people coming up soon. Any bolt question I can get the answer from them. I have 4 of them within a 20 mile radius of my house. Just look them up on the web, they have a locater tab so you can find them.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Stupid question, but what's the difference between fine thread and coarse thread (I know they have more threads per inch) other than building a stock NCRS car...does it really matter?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Peabody Ma.
Yes I too agree more threads per inch = more grip so to speak. Plus the threads are FINE and there is more contact area! Try your local drive shaft shop (if there is a one) they have every bolt you can think of!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
Steering box bolts are pretty unique, they are grade 5 or 8 not quite sure. I think GM discontinued them last year. Be careful using Lowes/Home Depot bolts most are Chinese JUNK! I don't care what they are rated at, you need to think about quality control and other issues. If you want a good book on hardware ante up $25 (since bolt failure can cause CRASHING!) and try: Carroll Smith's "Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing Handbook" WRITTEN BY A RACER FOR RACERS and car guys in general. Or you can keep "Bubbaing" your Vette like you presently are if you use those "discout wharehouse fasteners" in the wrong areas.
Here is a link to Amazon for the book: http://www.amazon.com/Fasteners-Plum...2272506&sr=1-2
Here is a link to Amazon for the book: http://www.amazon.com/Fasteners-Plum...2272506&sr=1-2
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
I never use chinese fasteners on my vette, and I mean never. I buy all my stuff grade 8 from fastenal - they are even plated to prevent rusting. I was just curious as to where I can buy the carriage bolts cheaper than the corvette vendors, that's all.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
The replacement bolts for by steering box that I purchased from Paragon were course thread not fine like the originals. I installed anyway as I couldn't locate any fine thread...and it was summer so I wanted to drive the car.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 125
Likes: 2
From: Grand Island N.Y.
I've been looking for these bolts too. I got one at my "specialty bolt supplier" and it was threaded end to end. I decided I didn't want to use it. I went to Home Depot and bought one because the bolt shank was only threaded about a third of the way. This seemed stronger than threaded all the way. I mic'd the bolt and compared it to the original. The original was .370" at the shank, the Home Depot bolt was .330". Not close enough for me. I think this may be one of the things you've just got to swallow about during a rebuild. As stated before, this bolt is directly related to steering the vehicle ie: safety.
