Before the search police come to arrest me let me tell you I suck at searching and I've already tried. What can you tell me about this bolt? I need 3 just like it but 3/8" shorter. I'd like to just buy them and have new. If I have to I can cut these down (cheap/free and I can do it right here without making a trip to town). If I cut these off will the resulting heat ruin the bolt strength?
They are a type of self-locking bolt called "Place bolts". They resist loosening due to vibration better than traditional bolts. A common use is for flywheels and flexplates. Try and get an in focus pic of the head so we can see any markings.
that might depend on how you cut them? A hack saw won't get them as hot as a cut off wheel. And the cut off wheel will only get the end hot, it won't affect the strength of the rest of the bolt noticeably. the more details you give about what you're doing, the more helpful we can be. What are you using them for? btw it looks coarse thread to me....so not a flywheel bolt.
Here’s a link for info on place bolts. Interesting, I was unaware this style of bolts were self-locking! https://earnestmachine.co.uk/what-i...pecial,Automotive Engineers standard SAE J429.
These are 8" Ford rear bolts from the front. Pinion housing not the dozen or so studs that hold the third member into the rear housing. This 3rd member that I'll be using had some kind of 3/8" thick bracket attached to the front that used 3 of the 4 bolts. I'm typing this on my phone from bed. I'll take more pix tomorrow. As for markings you are seeing everything. A more focused pic won't show any more than these. To get a more focused pic the bolt will be smaller. But, I repeat, there are no more markings.
It seems that all place bolts are grade 8..... according to the following info (and like @BigRRR said). https://www.aftfasteners.com/place-bolts-specifications-dimensions/
The grooves are formed during manufacturing process, some are asymmetrical and others may a large depression in the center, trying to duplicate with sawing or grinding will only weaken the bolt.
Those are the typical "place bolts" that Ford and others used in strategic places. The bracket you are referring to is probably a "bump stop" bracket that Ford used on some of its intermediate cars. 3 options- 1. Cut the longer ones off- I clamp a nut in a vise, thread the bolt in so it can be cut off square, and cut it with a hacksaw. 2. Buy 4 new grade 8 bolts the proper length and use either a grade 8 lock washer or use locktite. 3. I have a pile of 8" rears- let me know the length and I will send you some.
Pontiac and probably others used bolts marked like that for P/S brackets, A/C mounts, water pumps, and anything they didn't want to vibrate loose. I have some also, what length and thread do you need?
Thanks @BigRRR and @twenty8 ! I'd run across them before and knew they were location specific, but didn't know all the details. Neat stuff.
To everyone who took your time to read, think about it, and respond I'm indebted. Thank you all. The link opened on my desktop. Thanks for the link. This is new information to me. I had never heard of or read of this.
For all of you that are thinking "I have seen those type of bolts somewhere but I just can't seem to put my finger on it........"
WOW learn something almost everyday here. Like many I’ve seen these bolts before however didn’t know they were self locking. Thanks all. Dan
Actually, the underside of the head is concave and acts like a Belville washer when tightened. Pulled 3 this morning for Mike.
Yeah, one of the links posted explained this. Maybe it's just hindsight, but I do remember that those bolts do torque up with a different feel and the explanation makes perfect sense. Oh, and good on ya for helping a fellow HAMBer!
Good information! I’ll have to put a few of those same bolts to bolt on a pan hard bar to my 8” did anyone come up with a source for new? Sounds like grade 8 with a cupped washer would be a good replacement if needed?
This says they have them, but want you to provide info for a quote https://wilsongarner.com/products/placebolts/ This one lists suppliers https://www.fastenersclearinghouse....lts&Cat1=PRM460D65E02814;&Cat2=FLFEE664B5226; This one lists them in large quantities https://www.aftfasteners.com/place-bolts/ Grainger and Fastenal didn't show them just searching for 'place bolts'. Judging from the common uses in automotive (flywheel and ring gear) they seem to be for a low clearance very solid high torque part-to-part usage. I'd say a suspension bolt would be better served with a regular bolt and lock washer.
What I usually do is screw some nuts on a bolt until I have the desired length of thread sticking out and lock them in place by tightening them against each other. Then clamp them in a vice and bandsaw them to length. Then loosen the nuts and remove them. the removal of the nuts will help straighten the thread at the bolts end. Then spin them between my fingers as I put a small chamfer on their ends with my belt sander. That helps keep them from cross threading when installing. Sometimes its good to run the nut back on the thread again to see that it goes on freely. There will be no loss of strength due to heat. Try it on some other bolt before you do the good ones. Even if you go to town they won't have the right length.........Murphys Law #3
While not the exact same bolt, I buy a lot of washer headed Flange bolts from places like the Bolt Barn or River City on Ebay. Some have serrated (on the underside) heads. Depends if there is room for the washer in your problem of choice. You can get them in a black oxide or a shiny finish. Be sure it states Grade 8. Here is an example. Sometimes they have different lengths and you can pick length and quantity. Tractor Supply (IMHO) has gotten rediculous on their Bolt prices. Seems to be about a 300% increase in the last few years. https://www.ebay.com/itm/151600637846?_skw=3/8-16+washer+headed+bolts&itmmeta=01K68EKV4TMQRKHA5SRKBNZYG1&hash=item234c1a2796:g:RiMAAOSwhchlSmJR&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eR8BhueSav5M6SebxuXe+ej694MqRq8xyc7JiJDbGBDWJfnRNX97U1SzMsVvCLpRWce8E2C4Uk8g4rcxNgOKk6AyylJY4D4dIf8VB2StV0Ak2WemMVjV32D89kwd1OhXvaQz4kXHMWgJ4MN5ISJxgmx+btjFF05EvxvC2DEhVa37oRdRANNaWB/9x297dyUJvTcBMC/C90a6zmvntty3SkiAL+yK77p9wbr+rEsEkiuxX913uAzNX0s64EbICb4Xwc8DDt62df2UdDJurcyTkj|tkp:Bk9SR9ayz46yZg https://www.ebay.com/itm/163657183277?_skw=3/8-16+washer+headed+bolts&itmmeta=01K68EKV4V4HF5GE1CNP1AGFRC&hash=item261aba702d:g:BXMAAOSwRfRcuig0&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cU317ptaXZVSjcRp561qxVDvGdKo3dAKuJy42M59xj7bW+Ts2kgiDYpxsfFgbSF8JEgDq0WYelOp9+/8b7iab76SKY7GDjbfik53MiThvFIYZohFa+OHEFbkNojo48/VSo+YotObuYEPO8Ufmh7pvhpGI8mCC+YqZkqi2ztQTyLQqm7yelGCVfnt4UPiX4tlSUkxIHT8NjLYdrc03ApsfKq/DCkMc4OxDRFGX33DrFcQdG6dSZKZ5fuUOgXtkSnVbqQqSM4VqP86gRaTOR/N0q|tkp:Bk9SR9qyz46yZg This last one by the Bolt Barn allows you to pick length and quanity. It has 5 (1 inch) bolts for $10 and 25 for $30 and free shipping. I usually buy the larger quantity. (Or you can get 100 for $70) https://www.ebay.com/itm/264640452431?_skw=3/8-16+flange+head+Grade+8+bolts&itmmeta=01K68FH3245GRV84Z9JF62GZRT&hash=item3d9dccd74f:g:NKIAAOSwYDZeTZC5&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fqDnsFYXQ9Rl/lj1fompKs4N7CSgzflIJFlVNtTdl8U+uEM2Yjt546lBVMorqKdSsraMt/r23M5r7zsUDmojPqqB7qRiqsnoltMPHbCit7st7YH1qultltTKM3Kb2kryQDj5plMCFpC5bopqm3a/1PAJWHqvXy04NRf0yVn69GUL27kWxOx3IVh6b1rVlCuy/6+eYLA84OTnNngRXxxqI6tZMw/vVI4m2avWtVsVdsGpEGR0WzFxpLN3jReOEHLokThOX6IzijILZR7Y3who8Wst935qg/OvRquk8b3s7XkmUOn/zaDejPi22yH4OLaTk=|tkp:Bk9SR7CxxI-yZg .
Quite a few years ago I recall seeing a few Bowman brand bolts that had 12 hash marks on the heads. They were referred to only as BowmAlloy but I've never seen a more standardized grade rating for them. The bolt heads were pretty normal looking, not like the place bolts shown above. Never seen an automotive application use them. Maybe for industrial or HD trucks. Always wondered how they were rated compared to a more common grade 8 bolt.
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