Stainless Steel sheetmetal bolt kits- do they rust?

[msg]

Im finished with painting all of the truck panels that I have dismantled and was wondering if anyone had purchased a kit of stainless steel bolts and had success with the bolts not rusting over. I was hoping to avoid painting the bolts to the color of the truck and having them get all scratched up during the install.
Also, Im not planning on having this truck parked anywhere but garage but still it would be good to know if they dont corrode.


https://www.classicparts.com/1960-66...info/37-924BS/

[The Rocknrod]

Never seen them rust on anything I have had.

[jayoldschool]

I used unpolished stainless on my bed hardware, it sits outside 24/7, and they still look like the day I put them in.

[mongocanfly]

Stainless with a low chromium content is prone to rusting...stainless guns will rust, because they have to use a high carbon content in the stainless for strength due to the forces of the gun firing...

[61ChevyPanel]

There are different types of stainless steel. All the nuts and bolts I've ever seen are made of 300 series stainless. Usually 303 or 304 stainless and sometimes known as 18-8 (18% chromium and 8% nickel). Stainless in food prep areas is often 304 stainless. It can't be heat treated and the hardness is not quite as strong as Grade 5. It's non-magnetic so it typically will not rust. Marine applications often use 316 stainless which is a slightly better grade of stainless (16% chromium and 10% nickel).

On the other hand 400 series stainless is magnetic, can be heat treated and it will rust. Stainless lock washers such as the star type lock washers are typically made of 410 stainless because of it's properties. Guns are made from 400 series because of it's properties. The only 400 series bolts and nuts I've ever seen are aircraft use only and won't be at the local hardware store. But I did but a few "stainless" flat washers from China recently and they were slightly magnetic so I tossed them.

If it's magnetic, it has iron and it will rust eventually.

[AcampoDave]

One thing about stainless steel nuts and bolts is they are prone to galling. I've read that it has something to do with impurities becoming embedded between the threads which sets up a reaction causing them to begin fusing together as they are loosened. It's happened enough to me and is a royal PIA when it does. Usually results in a broken bolt. I suppose never sieze would remedy that problem

[The Rocknrod]

Definitely use anti seize when torquing stainless fasteners. Or risk the above for sure.

[msg]

Amazing info here, thanks for the replies. I wonder if classic parts could tell me if a magnet will react to the kit they sell or not. And the anti seize is on the list thanks!

[oldtrux]

check out allen's fasteners,they have correct flange bolts and nuts etc.5/16 x 18 x 3/4 304 stainless.also have ss bumper bolts.everything.good prices and good people.

also what these guys said^^^^^^antisieze on everything!!!!

[The Rocknrod]

http://www.totallystainless.com/
https://www.allensfasteners.com/
https://www.boltdepot.com/Catalog.aspx

[Indian113]

You might try what I did when I used chrome or stainless bolts when I was replacing bolts in my motorcycle shop on builds. I used a Thread Chaser on everyone of them and don't forget the anti seize.

[msg]

Thanks again guys for the help here, Ill try the other places like Allen's but I need to get a bolt count and type for all of what I need. Im planning on replacing it all if I can. The kits were nice since they knew what I needed, but I guess I might be overpaying for the convenience.

On the thread chaser, is that basically a tap and die set?
I have this set.

https://www.amazon.com/Craftsman-Car...0&sr=8-5-spell

[Indian113]

Not quite, a tap and die set is made to cut New threads. Where a thread chaser just refreshes existing threads. I'm not sure but a die might sharpen then threads but if that's what you have you could use it.

[The Rocknrod]

A cutting tap is designed to create new threads on a hole, whereas a chaser tap is designed to clean, and restore existing threads, Is what they say.

[msg]

I keep learning and spending.

[Steeveedee]

It is important to note that both 400 and 300 series stainless steel still contain iron. 300 series has enough chromium that the material exposed to oxygen forms a face-centered cubic molecular structure, so that the chromium gets the oxygen and then blocks the oxidation of the deeper structure, in much the same way that aluminum will not continue to corrode once a layer of oxide forms on the surface. Galling of stainless fasteners has to do with the similar metals slightly welding with friction. If you use different alloys of stainless (say, 304 bolts and 316 nuts), you can avoid this issue. Anti-seize is fine to avoid the galling problem if one used the same alloy for all the fasteners. Chromium on vehicles is only a few millionths of an inch thick, so eventually the oxygen in the air will get to the base metal. And yes, a sufficient amount of chromium in your stainless will reduce its magnetic moment. Interesting fact- nickel metal (not coins- they are an alloy of copper and nickel) is attracted to a magnet just like iron.