Are SS Bed Bolts the Way To Go? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mi396ss · 03-08-2010, 08:53 AM

I am going to be ordering all of the bolt kits to put my 69 wood bed back together and was wondering if it is worth the extra money to buy stainless steel bolts or not? Thanks.

**slomotion** · 03-08-2010, 10:26 AM

I would, but that's just me. You didn't say what the truck was going to be used for. If it's a DD work truck, it may be over-kill. If it's a cruiser, polished stainless looks good for a long time.
The only thing is, you should put anti-sieze on every nut/bolt to keep the SS from galling.

mi396ss · 03-08-2010, 11:18 AM

It's going to be a driver/show truck. It's not going to be nice enough to win best of show in any contest but it will be nice enough for people to look at. I plan on driving it quite often just not daily. It's probably going to see some rain also.

hayhauler71 · 03-08-2010, 11:55 AM

Stainless steel is the vote for me. If I have to remove them again I don,t want to fight with it again.

dan42 · 03-08-2010, 01:12 PM

I got stainless for my bed as well. It's not that much more, and you expect to have them there for a long time.

**Roland** · 03-08-2010, 01:38 PM

You'd be well advised to pay attention to slomotion and the anti-sieze. When bolt and nut are the same grade of stainless the WILL GALL especially if you use a power wrench to introduce ANY friction heat by tightening fast. If you can get a stainless nut with additional nickle plating you'll be OK with out anti-sieze compound.

crakarjax · 03-08-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland

You'd be well advised to pay attention to slomotion and the anti-sieze. When bolt and nut are the same grade of stainless the WILL GALL especially if you use a power wrench to introduce ANY friction heat by tightening fast. If you can get a stainless nut with additional nickle plating you'll be OK with out anti-sieze compound.

What is galling and what effect does it have?

**Roland** · 03-08-2010, 04:22 PM

It is when the nut and the bolt sieze or stick together and usually breaks the bolt trying to take them apart.

03-08-2010, 08:53 AM	#1
mi396ss Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: U.P., Michigan Posts: 66	Are SS Bed Bolts the Way To Go? I am going to be ordering all of the bolt kits to put my 69 wood bed back together and was wondering if it is worth the extra money to buy stainless steel bolts or not? Thanks.

03-08-2010, 10:26 AM	#2
slomotion Old Duffer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Maine Posts: 1,822	Re: Are SS Bed Bolts the Way To Go? I would, but that's just me. You didn't say what the truck was going to be used for. If it's a DD work truck, it may be over-kill. If it's a cruiser, polished stainless looks good for a long time. The only thing is, you should put anti-sieze on every nut/bolt to keep the SS from galling. __________________ '68 Short C20 Flatbed Dually w/ 292 4bbl, Langdon cast headers, and WC T5 trans. '81 G10 Shorty Van "Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement." Will Rogers "Under promise, then over achieve."

03-08-2010, 11:18 AM	#3
mi396ss Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: U.P., Michigan Posts: 66	Re: Are SS Bed Bolts the Way To Go? It's going to be a driver/show truck. It's not going to be nice enough to win best of show in any contest but it will be nice enough for people to look at. I plan on driving it quite often just not daily. It's probably going to see some rain also.

03-08-2010, 11:55 AM	#4
hayhauler71 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: St. Paul MN. Posts: 1,996	Re: Are SS Bed Bolts the Way To Go? Stainless steel is the vote for me. If I have to remove them again I don,t want to fight with it again.

03-08-2010, 01:12 PM	#5
dan42 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cali Central Coast Posts: 5,191	Re: Are SS Bed Bolts the Way To Go? I got stainless for my bed as well. It's not that much more, and you expect to have them there for a long time. __________________ '67 SWB Fleetside ZZ4/350/Tremec 5-speed/4link/Scott's IFS - and fun as heck! SOLD Click here to support the board Philippians 4: 6-7

03-08-2010, 01:38 PM	#6
Roland Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brandon, MS Posts: 134	Re: Are SS Bed Bolts the Way To Go? You'd be well advised to pay attention to slomotion and the anti-sieze. When bolt and nut are the same grade of stainless the WILL GALL especially if you use a power wrench to introduce ANY friction heat by tightening fast. If you can get a stainless nut with additional nickle plating you'll be OK with out anti-sieze compound.

03-08-2010, 04:22 PM	#8
Roland Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brandon, MS Posts: 134	Re: Are SS Bed Bolts the Way To Go? It is when the nut and the bolt sieze or stick together and usually breaks the bolt trying to take them apart.



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