New Bolts

[ajmin]

Spent rather a long time today trying to source some new body work bolts to put my car back togather this weekend and what i thought would be easy peasy to source some M8 and M6 bolts of the right length from local suppliers became an absolute night mare.

Had decided that the M8 bolts where 20mm and metric fine thread ie M8x1x20 and I think Din 961 standard 8.8. The M6 are M6x0.9 and 25mm plug point ie have about 5mm without thread at the end, I think this helps with location in some of the awkward places, but I guess not essential, I would have gone for 20mm if they weren't plug point.

One distributer was very helpful in telling me his supplier reckoned they where obsolete, my guess is he was telling me the Din 961 standard might be, but a bolt is bolt at the end of the day. No helpful suggestion of current standards or bolts.

Could get them made but minimum order turns out to be by the 1000 and when you only need 20 of each it is a bit of over kill.

Even looked through past copies of the mag but can't find any relevant advertisers but it could be a man look.

Any one any suggestions of a supplier.

Toolstaion and Screwfix etal only seem to sell metric coarse thread ie 1.25 pitch
Other wise I'm into refurbing what I have and making a pigs ear out of a silk purse!

[tractorman]

Namrick may be able to help, though they don't list fine threaded 6mm stuff:

http://www.namrick.co.uk/

A quick Google produced this outfit:

http://www.stainlessautomotivefastening ... Path=122_9

Stainless may be a good idea!!

[Young Farmer]

How near to a boat yard are you? A chap who drinks in my brother's pub runs a chandlers and he was telling me that he gets a surprising amount of business from car restorers for stainless screws and bolts. If they haven't got what you need they may be able to order some.

[Maaarrghk]

First the spec'. Grade 8.8 is high tensile and the normal stainless screws do not meet this spec. But if they are only for body panels, the standard "A2" grade of stainless will be fine. Don't be fooled into thinking that "A4" stainless is a high tensile spec' - it is just a higher corrosion resistance (316 grade instead of 304 grade).

I am surprised that you cannot find these - ask a local manufacturer of catering equipment or stainless fabricator where they get theirs from.

If in Yorkshire you could try either Bradford Bolt & Nut (BBN), BAPP at Brighouse, or Keighley Trade Supplies. There is also RSK in Halifax.