OK, ready to ***emble my painted front suspension, 4-bar, on my fenderless 31 Tudor. Can't decide on what style bolts to use. Want to find something that I don't want anything that rusts, don't really want stainless or anything shiny. Frame is satin black powder coat, with pewter suspension pieces. I'd like the bolts just to fade into the shadows. I know I can paint them but I'd like something more durable, I could powder coat but then I'd still have the threads etc showing... So I'm open to what everyone else is doing !! ...
Seems like you have a few choices. You can use standard hardware plated or coated as-is. https://www.bwindustrialsales.com/resources/fastener-finishes-coatings Either silver zinc, gold zinc or the black oxide. I've found that these do tend to degrade over time, especially where the finish has been nicked/scratched due to tightening. Are you going to apply a wax or other sealing coat after ***embly? The site mentions Nickel plated fasteners. I haven't run across those in typical places, but expect them to be pretty expensive. Needs further research and figuring out how many are needed. Plus careful ***embly. I'd guess they are easier to damage than Chrome, but not by much. A chrome (or nickel) bolt on a valve cover doesn't take much torque. Suspension stuff does. More risk of damage to the plating. Same question about after ***embly care. You could go with stainless, and machine/blast or polish finish to your taste. Cons are cost and effort. They could end up satin, brushed or even jeweled. If you are really fanatic about it, you could strip and plate DIY, or Powder Coat (shop or DIY), followed with careful ***embly. For just a super basic backyard deal, you could put a thin plastic sheet behind the fastener on each end to mask, ***emble, spray some paint, then tear away the plastic. I'd worry about torque and each time you go over the car and check things, you can damage the paint. It could be done with tape too, if that's more realistic. Lots of effort, though.
For things like that, I use painter's tape and Rustoleum black enamel in a can using a medium brush. Durable and touches up easily.
Most stainless hardware is not the same strength as plated (Grade 5 or 8). Just be sure if you go that way that you know what you are getting.
What conditions, just water or salt or such. McMaster Carr has armor coat and black oxide….but almost everything needs some touching up with mileage (salt air around here).
Stainless Steel is my preferred fastener only because of it's tidiness and ability to hold a good polish. It is not particularly strong, so I often go fine thread, castle-nut and pin or Loc***e red on suspension. I never use SS where torque recommendations are prescribed. If you have questions regarding the usage of stainless steel, please see last sentence above.
Specialty section Lowe's and Home Depot Aerospace Aviation & N.A.S. fasteners, But Realy Look out side of Norm Not cheap thoe
Thanks guys for the suggestions !! @RodStRace that's one of my concerns is being able to occasionally checking torque and scratching up the surface, especially since all of the bolts will be highly visible. I'll have to check the nickel plating though, the nickel plating I've seen in real life had a dark chrome look to it which would look real good with the black bushings. @Bangingoldtin again like the ability to check torque on occasion without touching up bolts afterwards. @MARKDTN yes I'm aware, but I do appreciate the heads up!! @Doublepumper yes "cheap" but Christmas is coming and I'd be happy to find a care package from the hamb under the tree @HOTRODPRIMER that is interesting, I haven't found any yet in 1/2"x4-1/2" yet, but I'm still looking !! @1oldtimer mainly water, not much sea air around in S.E. Kansas but I do plan on driving the **** out of it ! @Bandit Billy I know stainless can be brittle and I'm a little nervous running stainless bolts to hold the 4-bars on. The main and city roads around here are terrible, it's not so much the possums, rac****s, armadillos you have to worry about hitting, it's our city's pot holes and railroad tracks !! @19Eddy30 I'm just starting to venture that way to see what I can find..... Thank you all for the help and suggestions, sometimes it's nice just to bounce ideas off of other people, I'm never to old to listen or to learn... ..
@lostone I have not went looking for a while , sockets and wrenches with rubber/nylon inserts Also Marina fasteners?
Ace Hardware carries some A286 alloy stainless nuts, bolts & washers. Maybe not in all stores. But they should be strong enough.
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