Peter, I think you are right, and I do not believe here is such a thing
as grade 8 stainless due to limitations in the alloy. According to a
book I have at home that was written by a real race engineer whose name
escapes me, stainless should never be used in any application where a
failure would matter. It simply does not have the tensile(?) strength
required, so it should only be used in cosmetic or other entirely
non-safety-related applications where corrosion is a problem. I may not
remember the metallurgy correctly but the warning was crystal clear.
----------
From: Peter Samaroo
To: spridgets@Autox.Team.Net; CONAN@RALVM8.VNET.IBM.COM
Subject: re: Stainless was Whitworth tools
Date: Friday, June 12, 1998 5:07PM
IMHO Stainless steel fasteners are OK for non-structural use but I
believe that they are normally not even grade 5, because of the ease
with which I have managed to snap them when tightening. Also unless you
put an anti-seize compound on them they tend to gall(transfer material
from one surface to the other). After they have been put on and taken
off a few times they seem to loose their threads and if they have been
overtightened the threads are normally deformed and twisted. I have quit
using them normally and use regular grade 8 fasteners with anti-seize
compound, except where they are in contact with wood e.g. TD and MGA
floorboards etc.(I think that's where the term floorboards came from
those older cars that actually used wood) they seem to be fine for those
type applications (i.e. non structual).
I'm sure someone is going to disagree with me but thats OK if we all did
things the same way we would never figure out new ways of doing things.
I am only talking about your garden variety stainless I do not think it
undergoes the same heat treatment that grade 8 type fasteners undergo,
If someone knows of a good source for stainless grade 8 hardware I would
be glad to hear about it.
>From: CONAN@RALVM8.VNET.IBM.COM
>Date: Fri, 12 Jun 98 01:03:20 EDT
>To: spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
>Subject: re: Whitworth tools
>Reply-To: CONAN@RALVM8.VNET.IBM.COM
>
>>>per Dave Formstone in Canada...
>>>When I rebuilt my bugeye almost every nut and bolt had rusted
somewhat.
>
> Just out of curiosity... Now that stainless steel nuts/bolts seem to
be
>more available; Anybody have any knowledge about how strong they are
and
>where it would be safe to substitute them for old, rusty stuff?
> They're probably still hard to find in SAE thread sizes, but maybe
for
>the more 'general' through-bolt locations... I don't recall seeing any
>particular strength/hardness ratings for them either.
> Ed in NC
>
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