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In this Discussion
- 46HudsonPU August 2009
- bellbigdawg August 2009
- Birdman August 2009
- Browniepetersen August 2009
- ralpie August 2009
- RL Chilton August 2009
Basic Nuts & Bolts Question
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Hello,
This really is a basic nuts and bolts question.
If I am unable to reuse various nuts and bolts (like those to mount running boards, fenders, etc.), where can I find correct replacements?
I know there are vendors for replacement and reproduction parts for Chevrolets and Fords. Would the nuts and bolts used on those makes interchange with Hudson? Or, are nuts and bolts just nuts and bolts, and it doesn't really matter if they are for another make, as long as they are the correct size and thread?
Thank you, and take care,
Steve Bryson -
Steve-
Unless you are planning on showing your vehicle at Pebble beach, nuts is nuts.
Now that said, there are those out there where originality far outweighs replacing with something other than factory-correctness. While that is admirable, it's not very practical. For one, factory bolts that are 1/2-a-century old, are certainly not as strong as good quality modern replacements, nor are they readily available. There still isn't a 1-800-Hudson Parts # to call for all your Hudson original equipment.
Mostly, I'm gonna tell you it is up to you. Replace with modern, good quality fasteners, retaining the correct sizes as much as possible with the originals. If having ONLY Hudson-made parts on your car is important to you, you can always replace them as you find them. Scrounging the correct parts, right down to the correct bolts, washers and nuts can be a very rewarding hobby in it's own right. -
Where I live there are several options, Lowes, Home Depot, Fastenal, all the auto parts stores and several whole sale places that deal exclusively in fasterners. All of these places save the last group have US wide presence and are on line. So, take that fastener you are trying to replace to the nearest location to find a qualtiy replacement. Good Luck
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Well said Russell. I build my cars as drivers. I try to stay as close to original as I can. However, I am a big fan of grade 8, stainless steel and chrome fasteners for one simple reason. They last like iron and are always easy to remove. I have spent a great deal of my life breaking off rusted grade 3 bolts, drilling them out and "kingzerting" or retapping holes. If I ever have to redo some work that I have done it is refreshing to know that the bolts and nuts that I remove will not rust and will come out with little or no problem. That is my "never to be humble" opinion....Brownie
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I think it is much more important to have fastners that you can depend upon, that are of the correct hardness and type, installed in the correct manner and at the proper torque (if called-for).
Unless you can somehow test or guarantee that the 'original' fastners you use will be of proper/correct hardness, and they haven't been weakened by time, repeated use, multiple torquing, etc., it would most likely be better to replace them with aftermarket pieces - at least in key/critical areas. This can be a judgement call, but IMHO there is nothing that is more important than the dependability of a fastner.
Quite a few folks like to use stainless exclusively (or almost exclusively) for their fastners... This is fine, if you can find the correct type of stainless hardware, in the proper hardness. There can also be other issues with stainless, that would need to be addressed at the time of installation. -
used 100% stainless fastners from totally stainless. used arp grade 8 stainless on the suspension componants. this is important. use purple or blue loctite for anti-sieze/thread locking. I will never fight a rusted bolt/nut again!!!
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Stay away from places like Lowe's and Home Depot. Buy your fasteners from a fastener supplier who carries known quality American made fasteners. The crap sold in places like Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. are usually cheap Chinese junk that should NOT be used on an automobile that you are going to drive and depend on with your life. Especially suspension components. Also remember that grade 8 is not always correct for all applications. Grade 3 or 5 will be fine for most applications and won't cost nearly what grade 8 would cost. When in doubt ask an engineer who is knowledgeable of the application in which the fastener is to be used.
