Restore Bolts?

[Bru]

Hi Everyone,
I'm scratching my head trying to figure out what the best way to clean up all the bolts we pull off the car so we can use them again.
I've done some searching on the site but don't see much.

Is there a tried and true way everyone uses?
It seems like it could be a time consuming task.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

We're looking at the Chassis bolts at this time for a 1970 Cutlass Supreme.

Thanks in advance.

Kevin

[98ssnova]

Stielow takes them to a plater and has them all redone I believe it's in one of build threads.

[SlowProgress]

I cleaned all my old bolts and had them plated locally about 15 years ago. I didn't know any better so I degreased them, glass beaded them and polished with a fine wire wheel. I remember staying up till 2AM to get them ready for the plater. I didn't know they may be able to strip them and then plate. That would have saved me hours of cleaning. I did yellow zinc, but silver was also available. This is what 15 year old plating on 50 year old bolts looks like. They do oxidize and get dull pretty quickly so probably best to store them in plastic bags. I suppose I could easily plate these again.

http://i.imgur.com/4hi8E46l.jpg

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Hi Everyone,
I'm scratching my head trying to figure out what the best way to clean up all the bolts we pull off the car so we can use them again.
I've done some searching on the site but don't see much.

Is there a tried and true way everyone uses?
It seems like it could be a time consuming task.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

We're looking at the Chassis bolts at this time for a 1970 Cutlass Supreme.

Thanks in advance.

Kevin

are they rusty or just dirty?

soak and wash in soap or minieral spirits dry and let them soak over night in evaporust. the stuff works great. Sometimes i'll throw them in a tumbler for a nice finish.

[clill]

http://www.palmettoenterprises.net/Palmetto_Enterprises/-Welcome-.html

I would blast the bolts or strip with evaporust and then re coat with this stuff. Easy to use and cheap. After replating spray with something like WD40.

[Bru]

Thank you for all the tips Gents.
I'm surprised no one said just buy a new kit....
Any recommendations on that front?
I'm more of a reuse the old but just in case.

[lilcraigford]

For replacement hardware kits, take a look at Totally Stainless (http://www.totallystainless.com/). They don't list the Oldsmobile Cutlass, but they do have kits for other A-body vehicles. Their online catalog can be found here (http://shop.totallystainless.com/2010catalog/catalog42.pdf).

[Bru]

Thank you for the tip.
I've looked at totally stainless, I'm hesitant, not sure if a 70 Chevelle bolt package would work for the Cutlass?
The totally stainless stuff sounds awesome, but cost is a big factor for us.
Perhaps I should just man up and decide to put the effort in to reuse the original hardware.

Appreciate all the tips and suggestions.

[TheJDMan]

If I just have a handful of bolts, I use a wire wheel to clean rust off then squirt a little paint on them. If I have a bigger batch, I use the same tumbler I use to polish my brass cases for reloading.

[Stielow]

I took my bolts for my last 3 projects to Wolverine Plating on Groesbeck Hwy, Roseville, MI

Turned out great and easy to just drop them off. They have to be free of paint. All the rust and grit is gone.

[clill]

And then he assembled the cars with all new ARP bolts....:trophy-1302:

[Stielow]

And then he assembled the cars with all new ARP bolts....:trophy-1302:

Well they looked better. :G-Dub:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

plus stainless bolts go in easier.

Is that a cadmium plating or a sort of hard coat?

[GregWeld]

You take that box of bolts to the local grade school for sorting????

[Stielow]

You take that box of bolts to the local grade school for sorting????

You give them 45 lbs of bolts this is how they come back. Grab a beer and sort them. I have a Lista drawer full of 69 Camaro bolts.

The 45 lbs box was $40 bucks off memory - cash. I think they just add them to a order. Depending on what your time is worth, but not standig at a wire wheel for 2 hours was worth it to me.

The coating is a Silver Cad. The ones Red Devil still look good 6 years later.

If you do use the stainless bolts ant seize is a must.

Mark