Does anyone have a reference (or references) for fasteners on Fords? I'm thinking way ahead, and probably too much here. When things finally start going back together, I may want something stronger, like ARP, for some things and other, non-critical items (trim etc) maybe standard hardware would do if I knew fastener size and thread pitch.

 

All of the Ford fasteners have the grade on them, 8.8, 10.9, 12.9 etc. If your are tightening to the Ford spec, there is no need to go to a higher grade. Standard torques provided bring them to "Clamping Load", which is 68% of Yield. There is more of an issue with lengths than diameter and pitch. And Ford spec's out bolts with a smaller hex than standard, and always flanged.

The 8mm bolts are typically 1.25 pitch, for example. The common hex is 13mm (DIN), JIS is 12mm. But Ford has the bolts manufactured with a 10mm hex. So in tight spaces, or close fastener centerline to whatever is being clamped down, the fastener will use a smaller diameter socket. Substituting a 13mm hex for a 10mm hex can make getting a socket onto the bolt or nut a tough situation.

Bolt sizing is based on the clamping load necessary, then you chose the common grade and fastener. If you need a smaller diameter fastener for that location, you go up in grade. But as you go higher in grade, the fastener is less ductile, so it takes less elongation past yield to fracture. It's kind of hard to out smart a fastening engineer.

The bolts that I did substitute for the Ford fasteners I got by the box from McMaster. It was the best sorting. I could get either DIN or JIC spec'd bolts. The Japanese standard is a little tighter then the DIN spec, in many situations.