Devil in the bolts

[Richard G.]

I am fortunate enough to have a fairly original 63 SWC.
I am finishing up the frame details and have had almost no luck with the catalog fasteners.

Case and point:

The fasteners that hold the clamps on the tie rod ends. (through the clamp bolts)
Here are the one that came off the car next to the reproduction.

Didn't even get the thread correct as the original is a NC and the replacement NF.
Length was off by a 1/16, no biggy there.


Head marks not even close. Although I get the bolts are listed for 63-67.
Nuts were of the locking style (crimped nuts) didn't match the original either.


I was getting tired of tracking the original bolts and in a hurry, getting close to the body drop.
I give.
If I have the originals they are going back on, period.
Had it with catalog bolts.

I have one other example to share.

Lower A arm bumper attachment bolts.
In the manual it list them as black phosphate oiled bolts.
As you might imagine the original finish for these bolts was long gone.
I have a picture of the head of the original bolts after glass beading and the replacement.



Head markings are different, I could likely live with that but the color is zinc not black phosphate per the manual.



The provided nut is on upside down so i could balance it for the picture.
You can see the captive washer is flat not of the lock style as original.
However the length and pitch were correct this time.
The black nut on the old bolt is a new on and i plan on using it after I get the bolts re-plated.
No way this passes judging with the color not even close and the color detail in the manual.

Plating is a pain, Eastwood has materials to do this I know. I send mine out.
However buyer beware, its all BS as far as the catalog bolts go.

Rick Geier

[Dan B.]

Re: Devil in the bolts

It amazes me when someone will go to the trouble of reproducing a part and fails to match it. Is it just me or if you were going to make parts, you start with a known original and copy it. Dunno what they are thinking on some of this stuff...........

[Bill W.]

Re: Devil in the bolts

Richard, Call Richard Fortier, I don't have his number handy but he used to own Paragon. His stuff is correct, original and expensive and he is great to deal with. Bill

[Mark B.]

Re: Devil in the bolts

It happens most of the time If not all of the time. There are very few (if any) reproduction parts that are close in material metallurgy and gauge, plating, hole and fastener sizes. The problem is the offshore suppliers do not have the necessary knowledge of the parts they are reproducing, and they are not held accountable for errors and discrepancies.
The parts need to be reproduced "where they were originally made" in order to cross that hurdle, and people need to realize that the parts will be a good deal more expensive. I get it that most people restoring or refreshing a corvette are most likely to be ok with paying more for a quality part (I would), but you would be surprised at how cheap people can get with parts purchases, especially "hot rod shops" or "restoration facilities".
It seems like a waste of time to go to the trouble to make a part, only to make it incorrectly, but you must realize that the people manufacturing it do not care, and are not held accountable.
I sold restoration parts for quite some time and people would ask "so this part fits my car" and I would say "with some work.. yes"...but it's supposed to fit isn't it?.. you would think so but.... I remember having over a hundred hours into one 67 Camaro quarter panel to make it fit even semi close to acceptable. Oh yes, you see the cars that people called restored, and that they spent 100k at a restoration shop, and it looks ok from 10 feet away, but you get up close and think " Gee.. I don't remember 3/8 inch gaps between the trunk lid and the quarter on these cars"...Any way I don't know what my point is except to agree with your frustration, and say "been there too"

[Ed S.]

Re: Devil in the bolts

Welcome to the club. I have had the same problem with fasteners from LIC and Paragon. What really aggravates me is that when you talk with a sales or tech rep from one of these vendors (or others) they will insist and swear on Zora's grave that their fastener is 110% correct.

[Michael G.]

Re: Devil in the bolts

Richard, Call Richard Fortier, I don't have his number handy but he used to own Paragon. His stuff is correct, original and expensive and he is great to deal with. Bill

Richard Fortier can help. He has quite a stockpile of original fasteners and usually can supply the correct head markings. His stuff is not cheap, but you're already paying a hundred times the production cost for those other non-correct parts.

[Jim S.]

Re: Devil in the bolts

Welcome to the club. I have had the same problem with fasteners from LIC and Paragon. What really aggravates me is that when you talk with a sales or tech rep from one of these vendors (or others) they will insist and swear on Zora's grave that their fastener is 110% correct.

Then their next statement is that they are so confused and surprised , as you are the first and only person to have ever questioned it !

[Patrick H.]

Re: Devil in the bolts

Also check out Rich Pasqualone. He has a great collection of original fasteners.
I would suspect his prices may be a bit less salty than Fortier.

http://originalcorvette.com/

[Richard G.]

Re: Devil in the bolts

A little more information on the positive side this time;

Here is an bolt example that almost works.
It is part of the exhaust hanger bolt set sold for the 63 Corvette.
Factory bolt is 5/16" X7/8" and the replacement is 5/16" X1" NC zinc plated.
I believe the plating type is correct but that's only a guess.
Note; There is a 1/8 difference in bolt length.



As you can see there is only a minor difference in the manufacturing marking on the head.
The difference is likely only identifiable with an original next to it.



Good job on an almost impossible to find fastener. Bet they sell a bunch of these.
Rick

[Patrick H.]

Re: Devil in the bolts

For early C3s we note that those bolts tend to be black, possibly natural, but not zinc. Same for the washers, which tend toward natural.

They went through the trouble of painting the mufflers so you didn't see them, so they made sure the plating was not noticeable either.

And yes, I know that a lot could change from a 63 to a 68-9-70-etc