Cheap bolts
 

Anyone check out the bolts that are supplied with the cab mounting hardware?? They are grade 2 or less. Anyway, the sets from Classic Industries. I'll be changing mine to grade 8. Four cheap bolts holding your cab on could perhaps turn your cab into a lunar lander module during a severe collision. I'm sure the factory bolts weren't grade 2. Just something else to run through your head while trying to sleep at night.

Re: Cheap bolts
 

I absolutley understand your frustration. Grade 2 China may be a grade zero USA bolt?
However, the thin metal they go through would likely fail before the bolt would.
I understand the grade 8 may help you sleep better and that makes it worth it.
Cheers.

Re: Cheap bolts
 

Factory bolts are grade 5 or better. Jut about all hardware is made in china now. I think everything I get from Fastenal is made overseas.

Re: Cheap bolts
 

Yeah, I have Friends at Fastenal.

They down their head when I ask;)

Re: Cheap bolts
 

I recently went through a cluster at work when we replaced some bolts on a crane. They were 5/8" A325 bolts. These are torque to yield bolts that are only used one time. The torque is very high for a 5/8" bolt 198 - 240 inch pounds. Some of the replacement bolts were breaking before they reached the torque specification. They were marked A325 right on the heads. Turned out they were Chinese bolts. A325 bolts are typically used on structural steel and bridges. The spec was for USA bolts only, the vendor had somehow ended up with them. Of course I never received the whole story.

Re: Cheap bolts
 

Been spending the $$$ lately on
ARP bolts

Re: Cheap bolts
 

Off topic I admit, but I buy most of my hardware from boltsandnuts.com (they also advertise on amazon I believe but are cheaper direct). I've probably bought five different mix sets of Grade 8, Grade 5, and stainless. They are typically branded "JH"-Jinn Hirr (made in Taiwan-probably one of the biggest manufactures in the world and what I've found is typically in aftermarket suspension kits like QA1) and/or Made in Canada (lfastgroupe with the triangle head marking). I've even had some made in USA bolts mixed in there before. Not a bad place to purchase if you guys need anything in the future.

The body mount bolts I got from gmcpauls were Grade 5, but the washers were significantly thinner/smaller then original so I reused the old ones.

Re: Cheap bolts
 

A few years back I put new bushings on and used cad plated grade 8 and after swapping radiator support to 91 Suburban recently, I discovered those new bolts were rusted badly.

I found equivalent bolts in stainless steel from BoltDepot. They were a tad longer but not an issue.

https://www.boltdepot.com/Catalog.aspx

Re: Cheap bolts
 

Short maybe small hardware, which I doubt, GMs hardware was GR 5 or 8. Generally speaking GR 8 is for chassis such as for the crossmembers, if I recall some suspension & lower steering, heavy stuff.

There's a reason manufacturers did not install GR 8 into an engine block, for instance. That said, I'm not sure what the intake and head bolts were, such as "M" bolts. They're not marked 5 or 8.

OT: Anyone know what four marks means? Seems I had some on the bell housing.

I got my cab mount kit from Classic Heartbeat. The bolts are unmarked, or at least the rears aren't. I'd have to check, but I don't believe the original bolts were marked. The new front bolts are stout, but IMO the rears are lessor than original, though I installed them.

Agree, if the bolts feel weak they probably are.

Re: Cheap bolts
 

Our cab mounting bolt sets are made up of Grade 5 fasteners.
Part # 298298 or 19711953
67-72 Complete Cab Hardware Kit
Found on the following 2 pages of our website
Radiator Cab & Bed Mounts
https://gmcpauls.com/rubber_&_weather_strip_21.htm
or
Bolts & Misc.
https://gmcpauls.com/Bolts_&_Misc..htm
Paul Jr @ GMCPauls

Re: Cheap bolts
 

Good info thanks

Re: Cheap bolts
 

OT: Anyone know what four marks means? Seems I had some on the bell housing.

We used to get bolts with 4 markings. They were about halfway between grade 5 & grade 8 in strength. You just don't see them anymore.

George

Unless you changed recently-the bolts I got from you are marked “JH” which are Jinn Herr (Made in Taiwan). Probably one of the biggest bolt manufacturers there is, but definitely not made in the USA.
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Re: Cheap bolts
 

Thanks for pointing this out.
I just checked the bolt heads and you are correct and they were marked JH, the bolts from our fastener supplier arrive in U.S. Bolt Manufacturing Inc. labeling on the bulk packages we receive and the labels say they are made in USA on them. So I'm not sure whats going on. I'll get the made in USA removed from the site until we can determine where they are actually manufactured though.
Paul Jr @ GMCPauls

Re: Cheap bolts
 

Bolt Depot is a great place to get fasteners: https://www.boltdepot.com/catalog.aspx

I've been buying from them for many years. The only downside is today's shipping costs can be as much as the order. My last order was $17 in parts and $9 shipping.

But you name it, they probably have it -- flange nuts and bolts, stainless button head bolts, standard and SAE flat washers, steel spacers, etc. And, of course, Grade 5 and 8 nuts, bolts, and washers.