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MG MGA - Stainless steel bolts and washers

I am just about to remove the splash panels from under the front wings as they are starting to show signs of corrosion from stone chips etc.
Once I have repainted them I would like to bolt them back on using stainless steel bolts and washers to avoid the ru5t getting into them again.

Has anyone done this and if so, can they tell me where to get the bolts and washers from?

(I am considering replacing all the wing fixing bolts and washers similarly)

Thanks

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn, I've just started to make a set of splash panels and plan to use A2 stainless screws. The thing that worries me a bit is the possibility of 'galling' making them impossible to remove later on. I've no experience of this and I'm not sure if it occurs if you use mild steel nuts on stainless screws. However, before assembling I'm planning to fill the captive nut cages with copper grease hoping it will act as an anti-sieze lubtricant and prevent galling.

I got my SS fasteners two or three years ago from a guy running a small mail order outfit in North Manchester that advertised in the 'Safety Fast' magazine. I don't remember his name and he may be no longer trading but, if not, there should be no shortage of suppliers around, even for UNF .....................Mike
m.j. moore

Colyn, these are the people, very quick and efficient. http://www.namrick.co.uk/acatalog/contact-us.html
Lindsay Sampford

Colin, Mike

The problem with using SS with mild steel around is that it makes the mild steel rust even more through galvanic action. (Is that what you mean by galling Mike? Wiki suggests it is an adhesive wear characteristic rather than a static problem.)
I'm a believer in zinc plated and lots of waxoyl.

John
John Francis

John, galling (otherwise known as pick-up) is the cold welding together of parts by friction. Series 300 (austenitic) SS is prone to this if you over-tighten with dry threads. Anti-seize should prevent it.
Art Pearse

I have replaced the wing bolts (top and bottom) in stainless treated with copper ease lubricant.

The elongated wing washers were the biggest problem as these were not available for purchase and so my father and I ended up making them out of SS bar.

I've also replaced as many other fastners as possible with SS providing they are not load bearing components, including those holding the bonnet and door hinges, the shut face fixings and all of the self tappers which hold the trim in place.

No problems with 'galling' so far.

John Bray

Hi Colin,
I have used SS bolts for all splash panels, lower wing to sill and front apron fixings. They were all fitted with copious amounts of waxoyl before during and after. From my research any galvanic reaction should be very slow considering their closeness on the "nobility scale" and considering that all is well sealed by the waxoyl plus the fact that I avoid driving on salted roads. Will report back in 15 years - lol. I obtained my supplies from a trader at MGCC Silverstone about 4 years ago. Just a personal choice I think.
Tony
Tony Mitchell



Colyn, I have done the same as John Bray on this and replaced most of the nuts, bolts and washers with stainless.Try these suppliers.-
Wing washer sets-Ebay, Legendrider item 370473300264.
General stainless-
Titan Bolts.
Spalding Fasteners.
D.Middleton & Sons.

Steve A.
S Ash

I had a SS nut freeze (galling) on the bolt when I tried to remove it last week. Had to cut it off. This is a common problem with stainless steel. Maybe the lubrication will make it work.
Tony I will look forward to your report in 15 years!
Barry
Barry Gannon

Barry, was that a stainless nut on a mild steel bolt?
I assume we are talking stainless nuts and bolts here. Pretty common on UK restorations with our humid salty conditions.
N McGurk

I have used SS nuts and bolts quite a lot over the last few years for motoring and non car related use. The only instance of galling I have encountered was when using M12 setscrews and plain or SS nyloc nuts. When any tightening torque was applied the whole thing just locked up making it impossible to tighten further or even undo. I figured that this was just due to the amount of friction in such a large fixing. Smaller size fixings have presented no such problems - in the above mentioned case I did not add lubricant because I wanted the system to lock, though not in the way described! Tony
Tony Mitchell

Neil, My experience is with SS bolts and nuts. I will copy the text from Tony Mitchell (above) as this is what really happens if you tighten SS nuts and bolts to very high torque.

"When any tightening torque was applied the whole thing just locked up making it impossible to tighten further or even undo. I figured that this was just due to the amount of friction in such a large fixing".

Happens every time - SS nuts and bolts - at high torque - will always gall! (freeze).

Got it Tony! My advice -- Avoid overtightening SS assemblies if they are to be removed in the future!

Barry
Barry Gannon

Thanks for clarifying that Barry and duly noted!
N McGurk

This thread was discussed between 11/05/2011 and 16/05/2011

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