Running board brackets bolts
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
If you can't find the originals I have seen guys at truck shows use regular 5/16 flange style bolts. Also have seen 5/16 stainless bolts with washers. Some were painted black.
Just my opinion, they looked fine.
Edit:
Ooops Sorry! You were asking about bolting the brackets to the frame. Please ignore what I posted here.
Just my opinion, they looked fine.
Edit:
Ooops Sorry! You were asking about bolting the brackets to the frame. Please ignore what I posted here.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 197
Likes: 82
If you can't find the originals I have seen guys at truck shows use regular 5/16 flange style bolts. Also have seen 5/16 stainless bolts with washers. Some were painted black.
Just my opinion, they looked fine.
Edit:
Ooops Sorry! You were asking about bolting the brackets to the frame. Please ignore what I posted here.
Just my opinion, they looked fine.
Edit:
Ooops Sorry! You were asking about bolting the brackets to the frame. Please ignore what I posted here.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
I was thinking you were asking about running boards to brackets. But you weren't, you were asking about bolting the brackets to the frame. Sorry for my confusion!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,378
Likes: 5,387
From: Central PA
A slight hijack, since you brought it up Hooler, were the heads of the bolts on the running boards from the factory painted black or were they natural? I'm leaning towards natural, meaning no paint. But not shiny bright heads but cadmium coated. I have galvanized bolts on my running boards....
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
A slight hijack, since you brought it up Hooler, were the heads of the bolts on the running boards from the factory painted black or were they natural? I'm leaning towards natural, meaning no paint. But not shiny bright heads but cadmium coated. I have galvanized bolts on my running boards....
But I Iike your idea of using a natural or neutral type of color on them.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,378
Likes: 5,387
From: Central PA
In the factory 53-55 running boards were painted black . The bolts were not in place when they were painted. I doubt that Ford would have taken the
time to paint bolt heads black....
What do you think?
time to paint bolt heads black....
What do you think?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
My truck is 1962 color from I think PPG called Starlight Blue. If it was a darker color I might be tempted to try to paint the running board bolts argent silver.
I didn't know the 53-55's had black running boards from the factory.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,378
Likes: 5,387
From: Central PA
I think you are right! It makes sense that they wouldn't bother painting the running board bolts.
My truck is 1962 color from I think PPG called Starlight Blue. If it was a darker color I might be tempted to try to paint the running board bolts argent silver.
I didn't know the 53-55's had black running boards from the factory.
My truck is 1962 color from I think PPG called Starlight Blue. If it was a darker color I might be tempted to try to paint the running board bolts argent silver.
I didn't know the 53-55's had black running boards from the factory.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,366
Likes: 1,726
From: AKRON ohio
you are correct. They were not painted and were either a zink or cad plate. I have a book somewhere showing bolts and the proper coatings. It's a ford book from 56. I haven't touched that book in 25 years but it's here somewhere in my "library"
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,366
Likes: 1,726
From: AKRON ohio
it's easier to purchase stainless steel bolts from say Home Depot. I run them over the buffer and they look great. Won't rust and stay nice
Parts Nerd Extraordinaire
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 1,785
From: Western NY
Here is a source for Cadmium bolts: https://www.ebay.com/itm/225180101191
The washers are standard zinc coated which can be purchased at any hardware store.
The washers are standard zinc coated which can be purchased at any hardware store.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,378
Likes: 5,387
From: Central PA
Here is a source for Cadmium bolts: https://www.ebay.com/itm/225180101191
The washers are standard zinc coated which can be purchased at any hardware store.
The washers are standard zinc coated which can be purchased at any hardware store.