Metric Chrome Bolts?

[Dale .D]

Doing some chroming on the engine.Having a hard time finding new replacement chrome.. bolts to finish things off.I could get the ones i took out replated but would rather put newI've done the Nappa & Lordco thing.Any Ideas????

[opellane]

Hi Dale, Here are some great links for chrome nuts and bolts etc. just click on metric link and there a limited assortment. I can tell you one thing aren't cheap $$. Try:
http://www.chromebolt.com/

or


http://www.boltdepot.com/

Good Luck, like I always say a little chrome makes everything else shine.

Mike

[kwilford]

Dale, would you be interested in stainless steel bolts instead of chrome? They won't be quite as bright, but will sure stay shiny longer than chrome bolts. That said, he mentions that SS bolts can also be polished. If interested, contact the eBay vendor I bought the stainless steel bolt kit from in:
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/part-su...t-opel-gt.html
via
http://stores.ebay.com/M-M-S-and-ACCESSORIES
He seemed interested in putting together bolt kits for just about any application, so long as someone told him the required sizes and such.

A couple of members here had mentioned that they wanted a similar kit for their Mantas and Asconas, and all he would need is a list prepared for him to suggest pricing

[Lindsay]

My GT is nice, but not a show stopper. I am happy with stainless steel fasteners purchased from local industrial hardware store or larger boat supply store.

Heard stories that there is an ocean near San Diego. Saw it from a distance, but might have to see it closer ... someday!

[broszzy]

Keith, how is the quality of that SS bolt kit? $83.00 is not a bad price. Is it for the whole car?

Pat

[Sparky73]

I would vote for Stainless. No matter the quality of the chrome, stainless WILL outlast it. If you want the luster the chrome gives you, you could always polish the stainless, or send it in if you don't have the tools or patience

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by broszzy Keith, how is the quality of that SS bolt kit? $83.00 is not a bad price. Is it for the whole car? Pat

It looks pretty good, although I am a couple of years from actually USING the bolts
There are some photos in the thread I linked above

[Dale .D]

[quote=opellane;146826]Hi Dale, Here are some great links for chrome nuts and bolts etc. just click on metric link and there a limited assortment. I can tell you one thing aren't cheap $$. Try:
[url]http://www.chromebolt.c.Eh guys thanks for the advice .if chrome is to much of a pain ss might be the way to go.how do i measure sizes & types of threads for ordering.Right now all I need is the valve cover bolts & thermostat bolts.Take care from the great white north!!

[GTJIM]

Originally Posted by Dale .D How do i measure sizes & types of threads for ordering. Right now all I need is the valve cover bolts & thermostat bolts.

The valve cover bolts are 6mm - M6 as it is called in Metric bolt terminology.
The next thing to know is the pitch of the thread - how far apart each thread is along the bolt. M6 X 1.0mm pitch is what they are. Now just measure the length of the thread to under the head in millimeters and that gives you a complete description of the bolt.

I think they are 30mm long; so the Cam cover bolts would be:
M6 X 1.0 X 30 = M6 X 1.0 pitch X 30mm long - will leave it to you to check the length!

Most bolts other than the manifold bolts (M9 X 1.25) and the front cover bolts (M7 X 1.0) are 'standard' sizes: M6 X 1.0 ; M8 X 1.25 ; M10 X 1.5 ; M12 X 1.75
Oh! The head bolts have a non-standard pitch too.

The thermostat bolts are: M8 X 1.25 pitch but I find that stainless studs are best here as they do not have to be wound out of the casting to remove the thermostat - just take the nuts off. Even found some nice stainless acorn nuts for both the rocker cover and the thermostat housing and used studs on both.

Good Hint - metric grubscrews can be used for studs and they have a neat little hex socket in the ends of them for installing them - just have to cut them dowm (or get them) the right length. Makes it easy to remove the 'studs' to ease the removal of the rocker cover on GTs.

Also put a nylon washer under a stainless washer beneath the acorn nut on the rocker cover to stop oil leaks up around the threads - see how far you can go with all this!

The easiest way to check pitches is to get a new bolt with a known pitch and press the threads together, side by side to see if they mesh correctly.
OR - do the 'Toolie' thing and get a Metric Pitch Gauge .........

HTH

PS: Hasn't Canada 'gone Metric' - or is that too much like giving in to the Francophiles??

[oldopelguy]

Originally Posted by GTJIM I find that stainless studs are best here as they do not have to be wound out of the casting to remove the thermostat

It only takes one head stud pulling loose and ruining a perfectly good VW engine for this lesson to hit home. As a rule of practice now I use studs every time I can, and particular when the threads are into something in aluminum. With a stud you screw into the soft aluminum threads only once, and every subsequent removal all the thread wear is on the stud and nut, both of which can be replaced. Much easier to find another stud than another timing cover or thermostat housing.

Oh, and for the valve cover and small cam covers you might want to check on e-bay or at your local high-end BMX bike shop. Those BMX guys use some super-swanky, high-polish, allen-headed, 6mm metric titanium bolts for a lot of the parts on the bikes. Sure they're $4 a piece or so, but you only need a few of them and you can always say you were "adding lightness" as well as good looks.

Something like item #250197234909, if you want to look on e-bay.

[David McCollam]

Be sure and wrap the bolt threads with electrical tape prior to chroming. The chrome plating can build up on the bolts and cause interference when you are assembling. I learned this the hard way. Had bolts chromed then tries to use them. Chipped the chrome and ended up on a wire wheel to knock the chrome off the threads. Oops! Live and learn!

[jtb]

Hi Dale,

Not sure where you are in BC, but you can get ss fasteners at Pacific fasteners in Burnaby. And maybe you already know, but stainless is not as strong as steel. Shouldn't be a problem for the applications you mentioned (thermostat, valve cover.)

GTJim - Canada went metric in 1976, theoretically...

Cheers,

jtb

[Dale .D]

Great info everyone.Now I won't sound to stupid ordering bolts.Going to check out BMW bike shops too. We did go metric along time ago but only half way.still have 2 by 4s & 4 by 8 sheets of plywood.Kinda like our official english french thing.Ownly really that way in Quebec.The rest of the country speaks english.feels good going 100 or 120 on the highway though!!!

[oldopelguy]

Originally Posted by Dale .D Going to check out BMW bike shops too.

If that's in reference to my post, I did not mis-type, I was referring to BMX bicycles, not BMW motorcycles. You need to check out a specialized bicycle shop, one that has a lot of off-road bicycle support and not just any old sporting goods store.

[CoriolisSTORM]

I work in industry and sometimes we use chrome stuff. Check with Fastenal, they are who we get most of our bolts chrome or otherwise from.