Ready to rust bolts...

[3yearplan]

I have read a lot of posts about the bolts that FFR supplies with kit tend to rust in a hurry. Is there a preferred source to buy replacement bolts, or a bolt kit that someone sells? I would hate to take a list of bolts to a hardware store, but will do it if necessary.

Thanks, Mike.

[Gumball]

Depends on your environment, how you'll use the car, and which bolts you're talking about. The ones that are ofter referred to as you did in the title are the black oxide ones that are used throughout the suspension. I live in the midwest and just coated them with a bit of oil when new and they look as good today two years later as the day in installed them. Granted, my car is still under construction, but they still see a range of heat, cold, and humidity while the chassis sits in my garage.

[3kcarbon]

Mine started rusting parked in the garage within weeks of installing the fuel tank. I used stainless bolts on anything that isn't in need of a certain grade bolt like the gas tank. Don't change out suspension bolts unless you know what they are! A source like Totally Stainless or ARP bolts would be a safe bet but always make sure its the correct grade for the job. Lowes or Home Depot carry some stainless bolts but even plated bolts will hold up better. Even if bolts don't rust right away do you really want to have to swap them out later on and find the wrench won't fit due to rust? There are places allen head bolts are great and then there are other places a regular bolt may be easier or better. It just much easier and better to do it to suit yourself from the start.

[Bob Cowan]

Before I learned, I used a bunch of black oxide fastners. They quickly developed unsightly surface rust. Now I use plated and SS fastners, depending on availability and application. I buy most of my fastners from McMaster: good selection, reasonable price, fast delivery.

[FritoBandito]

It'd be very cool if one of the vendors stepped up and put together a stainless bolt package.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Yeah, black oxide will eventually rust. How quickly depends on environment. Giving it some thought it doesn't seem like there are that many places that they are used:

Front UCA cross shaft to chassis (4)
Pedal box to chassis (8)
Trans crossmember to chassis (2)
Fuel tank (4)
3 link forward leg (too short and has to be replaced anyway!) (1)
4 into 4 header to sidepipe flange (8)

Everything else that I can recall is plated. What did I miss?

Jeff

[3kcarbon]

Yeah, black oxide will eventually rust. How quickly depends on environment. Giving it some thought it doesn't seem like there are that many places that they are used:

Front UCA cross shaft to chassis (4)
Pedal box to chassis (8)
Trans crossmember to chassis (2)
Fuel tank (4)
3 link forward leg (too short and has to be replaced anyway!) (1)
4 into 4 header to sidepipe flange (8)

Everything else that I can recall is plated. What did I miss?

Jeff

I think you are right not that many all the more reason to dump the rusty rascals.

[3yearplan]

Thanks for the replies. The environment would be Michigan, hot, cold, humidity. Since I don't have the kit yet I was under the impression that there were a lot more bolts that were black oxide. Since the list is fairly short I could easily do the Home Depot or McMaster-Carr (through work=free to me) method.

[CraigS]

Just be carefull w/ SS bolts/nuts. Most of the readily available stuff is crap from any strength rating point of view.

[SirAustin]

I have had my kit for 2 months now and my steering wheel bolt is already forming surface rust. I guess I will be hitting up my fastenal store for some upgrades. Thanks for the heads up.

[E-Ticket Ride]

Is the preferred solution Cad plated, Zinc Plated, or SS? Strength is an obvious concern with the easily available SS. I am in a beach area, so rust will happen without proper protection.
I don't think brass is a viable choice!:cool:

[3kcarbon]

I agree, I love stainless but not all are the same. A low stress area like the gas tank isn't much to worry about. But the trans mount needs a better quality bolt. Whatever you get the goal remains the same. Several years from now rusty socket head bolts may not make you a happy camper when you have to remove them not to mention the thought of rusty bolts on your prized money pit.

[QSL]

do they even supply black oxide anymore? Their brochure for the mk4 says they supply chrome, stainless and zinc plated.

[E-Ticket Ride]

I am just starting to inventory my kit (Which arrived TODAY!!!!).
I will keep my eyes peeled for any black oxide bolts.

CL

[3kcarbon]

do they even supply black oxide anymore? Their brochure for the mk4 says they supply chrome, stainless and zinc plated.
They did when I got mine. Mine went into the scrap bolt bin.