The bolts I had for my oil pan were just a little short.
So I bought a few dozen new ones of the right length...
...removed the markings from the heads...
...drilled holes...
...and gave them a muriatic acid bath to remove the shiny. If you do this, beware of the fumes.
Ready to prep and paint.
Painted and ready to bake.
After they cooked in the oven for a couple of days, I installed them today.
Acid and heat treated steel is a prescription for hydrogen embrittlement. Since they are grade 5, and in a non critical location they are likely OK. The failure mode is a delayed (maybe months) brittle fracture. Acid stripping of the plating on Grade 8 bolts or internal engine bolts is risking disaster.
Internal engine bolts don't show. There's no reason to strip or paint them.
Steve, couldn't you get the same finish by bead blasting or media tumbling?
Heck, I'll send you a pint of the wife's coffee.It's stripped the finish off all our teaspoons so it should work fine taking the plating off your bolts without worrying about embrittlement. Grin!
If you bake the bolts for 4 days at 375 degrees F the hydrogen will be sufficiently diffused and there will be no risk of hydrogen embrittlement.
Or just bead blast the heads to remove the plating.
Yep, blasting would work as well. But I don't have a cabinet, and this was faster and easier than setting up the blasting equipment.
Or paying for the electric bill on keeping the oven on 24/7 for 4 days, with a bill like that you could have bolts made from bar stock and heat treated.....
Why, all the work to make a substandard bolt. don't T bolts have a thicker head? Why not restore some originals. my bet is you didn't spend all week making a dozen you made a couple hundred, right?
Steve, Seems like now that Siskel and Ebert are gone EVERYONE and his brother is a critic!
I for one ALWAYS enjoy your shop posts.
I don't think you would have to worry about the acid method causing any problem no longer than it takes to remove the finish. I use acid all the time for derusting and have never had a problem. It's been used for years to descale new steel, I've not had a part break yet. Go for it Steve, I always enjoy your posts. KB
That is why a lot of people won't post anything on this forum. A small hand full of people on here know it all. If they don't know, it's not worth knowing.
Steve;
Keep up the good work
Steve,
I've read your Web site and are very impressed with your eye for details. "Most" people just install shiny new hardware straight from one of the vendors and don't give it a second thought. Details is what really separates a wonderful car from a fantastic one! Thank you for sharing.
People who think they know everything really annoy those of us who actually do.
A few answers:
1 Why? Because I don't have decent originals quite long enough, and I want to get this car together before I'm too old to know what it is.
2 T bolt heads thicker? Yep, .090 (Henry's) versus .0375 (mine). So except for you and me and few other brilliant cognoscenti, who's going to notice (especially under the oil pan)?
3 Why not restore? See #1 above.
4 Not all week. Four days, along with some other chores, which includes a couple of days baking. Not a dozen, and not a couple of hundred. About three dozen.
Speaking of thicker heads, I'm old enough and thick-headed enough not to get offended by questions, suggestions, or dissent. Sometimes I even learn something. Galen Drake once told me something his dad said, and Galen made a career out of it: Everybody knows something you don't.
Steve J,
You are one of the best among the best! I always enjoy your posts.
And,Yes! Get a couple of those cars done enough and enjoy them!
I gotta get back out and get some more work done on my "mostly" '13.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Contact Dave Huson. He has tons of original bolts.
Steve, Besides, it's fun.
Gary
Steve
They're in a non critical location - not being constantly worked. What's more the T's natural oil seepage should keep them from rusting. i wouldn't give it another thought.
Good DIY solution, I enjoyed it !
Steve, This is the kind of stuff I do. It drives my Son nuts, but, he is always in a hurry and only cares about function.
The look is right, and (in my mind)defines true craftsmanship. I'm impressed.