Jim,
If you aren't worrying about originality, I have been replacing all
suspension, drive train, etc. bolts in my car with Grade 8, straight
from the local hardware store. Nearly all have been standard NF (fine)
thread. In a case where I needed a shoulder, I bought a longer bolt with
the correct shoulder & used the ole Dremel to cut it down. In cases
where I needed slightly more threads I just run a die down the bolt for
as many extra turns as are needed. Nearly all the bolts I've run across
are very pretty standard sizes. Lengths don't always match up, but I can
get pretty close. I've had trouble mostly with castleated and nylock
nuts (just due to my local store not having them, I have an alternative
supplier, but they are not very conveniently located & short hours).
Have done without nylocks wherever possible (Lock-tite, lock washers &
safety wire, instead.) I've replaced lock washers with stainless steel.
I've added flat washers where appropriate to spread out the load.
Good example of what you are talking about are the bolts holding the
brake disks to the hubs and the two mounting bolts for the calipers. In
both cases, I found longer bolts w/shoulders & cut them down as
described and they fit perfectly.
Alan Myers (Too many bolts, not enuf LBC's)
San Jose, Calif
'62 TR4 #CT17602
Gambony, Jim wrote:
> Listers,
>
> Here's a good question, sure to start all kinds of discussion,
> flaming, etc.
>
> Other than the (high priced/spotty service) big British parts
> suppliers,
> does anyone know of a good source for the hardware responsible for
> really
> keeping our cars together?
>
> Specifically, I just went down to my industrial supplier to pick up
> new
> bolts for the diff flanges/drive shaft on my '76 Spit. The original
> bolt is
> 3/8"x24 thread, approximately 1 inch long with 5/8" of thread and 3/8"
> of
> unthreaded shaft. This jives with the standard for the hardware used
> on the
> car: the threaded portion will be 1.5 times the bolt diameter.
>
> The replacement bolt is threaded all the way from tip to bolt head. I
>
> expect that the first time I punch the gas this weekend at Divisional
> that
> the flanges will slip slightly and I'll crunch down the thread on the
> bolt.
> Not a big problem, just makes me less than comfortable.
>
> So my question is: has anyone found a good supplier in the US who
> sells the
> "proper" bolts? Do I run down to the local aircraft shop and buy
> mil-spec
> hardware? Or just pre-order 100 of everything from TRF (or Moss or
> whoever)
> and make a display case to show off my high priced trophies?
>
> Jim
> (Too many cars, not enough bolts!)
--
MZ
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