Source for bolts
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 741
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From: Western N.C.
Source for bolts
Does anyone know if there is a source for stainless steel body bolts? These are the bolts with the tapered nose and the integral washer. It would be a shame to use old nasty bolts to put all of those nice painted parts back on my front end!
Thanks for any advice you can throw my way.
Thanks for any advice you can throw my way.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
From: stratton vermont
national parts depot ...i just found them myself with some help from guys on here ....not sure if they will have them in stainless ,,,,but if the bolts you are lookin for came stainless then i bet they have the same ones....cheack it out they have everything it seems
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 60
Locally check your nearby Napa, each store is a little different and may have it...
If not, look for a Fastenal. They can get just about anything. Although they can be pricey.
If you're daring look in the book for a fastener or screw store. A company near me called CB Fastener has EVERYTHING and dirt cheap too.
I know Ace Hardware sells regular black oxide body bolts. Myabe yours will have stainless, it might be worth a look if they are close.
Personally I can't bring myself to ordering bolts over the internet.
Josh
If not, look for a Fastenal. They can get just about anything. Although they can be pricey.
If you're daring look in the book for a fastener or screw store. A company near me called CB Fastener has EVERYTHING and dirt cheap too.
I know Ace Hardware sells regular black oxide body bolts. Myabe yours will have stainless, it might be worth a look if they are close.
Personally I can't bring myself to ordering bolts over the internet.
Josh
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: South Central PA
Look to the industrial fastener world, like stated above fastenal is a good one, but there are mom and pop operations like them all over the place too. Stainless is always used in any sort of food industry for sanitary reasons, so an industrial supply place should have what you need.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I have looked into this (want stainless) as well. I checked www.McMasterCarr.com as they typically have EVERYTHING and I couldn't find any stainless flange bolts.
I then went over to a local nut and bolt place. He has or can get pretty much anything and he couldn't get them, so I was planning on just ordering standard 7/16" shoulder bolts in the proper length and throwing a washer on them. I'd rather have the no rust properties of stainless than the "original equipment" look of the flange bolts.
Has anybody searched the online places listed in this thread and found the bolts in stainless? If so- post up a direct link so others searching this later can have a direct answer
I then went over to a local nut and bolt place. He has or can get pretty much anything and he couldn't get them, so I was planning on just ordering standard 7/16" shoulder bolts in the proper length and throwing a washer on them. I'd rather have the no rust properties of stainless than the "original equipment" look of the flange bolts.
Has anybody searched the online places listed in this thread and found the bolts in stainless? If so- post up a direct link so others searching this later can have a direct answer
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
I am not 100% convinced that SS fasteners is entirely the way to go here. AS you may or may not know, the charecteristics of SS has some advantages with regards to corrosion protection, but stainless has a tendancy to gall (cold weld) when used. Sure anti seize can be applied, and should be prior to the interface between the nut and bolt.
We all know how tough carbon steel fasteners can be to remove from the hard to get to places, and stainless steel would add an additional level of frusteration.
Carbon steel bolts can last quite a long time as long as they are treated, and should not be much of a problem.
Ever try to drill a stainless steel bolt, or try to cut one with a blade without damaging the body or frame?
Carbon steel looking better yet????
We all know how tough carbon steel fasteners can be to remove from the hard to get to places, and stainless steel would add an additional level of frusteration.
Carbon steel bolts can last quite a long time as long as they are treated, and should not be much of a problem.
Ever try to drill a stainless steel bolt, or try to cut one with a blade without damaging the body or frame?
Carbon steel looking better yet????
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I am not 100% convinced that SS fasteners is entirely the way to go here. AS you may or may not know, the charecteristics of SS has some advantages with regards to corrosion protection, but stainless has a tendancy to gall (cold weld) when used. Sure anti seize can be applied, and should be prior to the interface between the nut and bolt.
We all know how tough carbon steel fasteners can be to remove from the hard to get to places, and stainless steel would add an additional level of frusteration.
Carbon steel bolts can last quite a long time as long as they are treated, and should not be much of a problem.
Ever try to drill a stainless steel bolt, or try to cut one with a blade without damaging the body or frame?
Carbon steel looking better yet????
We all know how tough carbon steel fasteners can be to remove from the hard to get to places, and stainless steel would add an additional level of frusteration.
Carbon steel bolts can last quite a long time as long as they are treated, and should not be much of a problem.
Ever try to drill a stainless steel bolt, or try to cut one with a blade without damaging the body or frame?
Carbon steel looking better yet????
Drilling is caused by the years or rust created by using a non coated bolt in the 1st place. Even then zinc. coated bolts aren't lasting long (5 years maybe) here...
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 522
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From: South Central PA
I've seen the stainless bolts galling first hand, messy stuff. It was a mounting bolt for a PIAA light. He had to replace it when he caught it on a low tree limb. He ended up bending the light tab up so bad he just cut the whole mounting tab off the roll bar, and welded a new one on. But I know he didn't use anti seize compound either.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
ANd I'd bet it was a stainless nut AND bolt. More galling occurs (from what I have seen) when you run stainless/stainless. I often run zinc plated steel nuts on the stainless bolts. Sure they will rust faster - but the do not gall. Plus you can then heat the nut (slightly different expansion rates) to get the nut off if you HAVE to.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
ANd I'd bet it was a stainless nut AND bolt. More galling occurs (from what I have seen) when you run stainless/stainless. I often run zinc plated steel nuts on the stainless bolts. Sure they will rust faster - but the do not gall. Plus you can then heat the nut (slightly different expansion rates) to get the nut off if you HAVE to.
Now you are cooking with gas! However then with these metals, you loose some of the advantages of the stainless steel, and as you know from welding and grinding, that SS will rust. Bringing carbon steel around the stainless is similar to just using carbon steel anyway.
In many of the SS instruments, and the food equipment I use daily, we use different grades of stainless fasteners. If one can keep the carbon content in the SS bolt less than the nut, it has less of a tendancy to gall. Of course anti seize is mandatory, sometimes, it is just not enough. Some cleaners, and time eventually render this stuff useless, and while the fasteners can be torqued, removal is a pita.
Truth be known these carbon fasteners have lasted about 30 years, so in reality if new fasteners last that long, it would be safe to assume that they might outlive the rest of the truck. Heak the ones that I have removed from the last two trucks have been cherry. I mean clean as a brand new bolt.
SS bolts are not cheap, and machining some to be used for the body, like the bed bolts is rather costly. Hmmm, bed bolts might be cool.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
Damn boards - I had a nice reply going and "blip" away it dissappears for NO reason.
Let me start over...
I will start off by saying you know waaaay more about the SS stuff than I ever will, so keep cathing me if I goof - but here's my answer
True, SS on steel will eventually rust. BUT - no where near at the same rate as regular.
We both know finding (and paying for) anything above a 316 grade nut/bolt combo for this application is going to take some time and $$$
BUT - you are assuming the bolts of today are made with the same quality/care that they used to be - and we BOTH know that ain't so
Let me start over...
I will start off by saying you know waaaay more about the SS stuff than I ever will, so keep cathing me if I goof - but here's my answer
Now you are cooking with gas! However then with these metals, you loose some of the advantages of the stainless steel, and as you know from welding and grinding, that SS will rust. Bringing carbon steel around the stainless is similar to just using carbon steel anyway. In many of the SS instruments, and the food equipment I use daily, we use different grades of stainless fasteners. If one can keep the carbon content in the SS bolt less than the nut, it has less of a tendancy to gall. Of course anti seize is mandatory, sometimes, it is just not enough. Some cleaners, and time eventually render this stuff useless, and while the fasteners can be torqued, removal is a pita.
We both know finding (and paying for) anything above a 316 grade nut/bolt combo for this application is going to take some time and $$$
Truth be known these carbon fasteners have lasted about 30 years, so in reality if new fasteners last that long, it would be safe to assume that they might outlive the rest of the truck. Heak the ones that I have removed from the last two trucks have been cherry. I mean clean as a brand new bolt.
SS bolts are not cheap, and machining some to be used for the body, like the bed bolts is rather costly. Hmmm, bed bolts might be cool.
SS bolts are not cheap, and machining some to be used for the body, like the bed bolts is rather costly. Hmmm, bed bolts might be cool.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Oxford, NC
The is a company called Totally Stainless (Google it), sorry I do not remember the guys name, but he is very nice to talk and deal with. I have used his suspension kit, vey nice and good quality. You do not want to use common hardware store SS it is actually weaker than a grade 5 bolt. As long as you anti-seize you will not have any problem with galling.