Anybody else buy one of these "Complete Body Kit" fasteners made by Totally Stainless? The one I got seems to be missing all kinds of bolts needed for a Firebird. (It's another of those universal Camaro/Firebird items.) Just wondering if anyone else ran into the same problem.
-=>Lee<=- Due to budget constraints the "light at the end of the tunnel" has been turned off!
Bought this 1967-69 Firebird fastener kit from Totally Stainless (#61692 at CI, USD 169.99) myself and was very pleased! Of course, it´s not complete, even so it tells... Can´t be at that price! But you get more than 450 pieces in stainless steel in factory original appearance and even in black stainless steel (didn´t even know before that black stainless steel exists...) where appropriate. If you want this kit to be complete you´ll have to pay more than 400-450 USD. When you look in the catalogs you´ll find: A single set of frame bolts/nuts for the lower A-arm costs around USD 26.00 (4 pieces), a pair of caliper bracket to spindle top bolts costs 17.00 USD (2 pieces), one single correct head bumper nut with attached washer costs USD 1.50 (and you´ll need 10-12...), so that will sum up.
At a price of 400-450 USD nobody will buy this kit, may it be as complete as possible. But I agree: one can argue concerning the specification "complete set of..."
I can get just about every size nut and bolt in stainless at my local industrial supply store. The 4 control arm bolts that you quoted at $26 I can get for $3.50! I would do some checking around. The place I go is called Valley Industrial Products (VIP). A guy that works there tells me one of their regular customers buys boxes of stainless bolts and makes up kits for eBay. Those black ones are black oxide coated. Jim
living in the US you have a much better location for restoring an american car... No chance to get these bolts here in Germany - except from Totally Stainless by ordering at the big part suppliers in the USA.
Apart from this you´ll have to be aware what kind of stainless steel bolts you´re buying at your local industrial supply store. Stainless steel has not the same grade of temper as regular steel. Not every bolt showing the same diameter will be able to "take the burden".
The second reason I liked the Stainless Steel fasteners: you have to use a special grease for these bolts, so you´ll have to adjut the torque. There´s a list for torquing each bolt included in this kit - but of course you can copy that list...
Don´t get me wrong: I don´t want to advertise their product - only wanted to tell that I think it´s a good product worth its price. My 5 cents.
This kit is just a "body" bolt kit, so none of the frame/suspension bolts would be in it. My point is that things like the bumper bolts are wrong. The kit comes with 6 bolts for the rear bumper, the Firebird (my 69 at least) uses 8 bolts on the rear bumper (same thing on the front bumper.) Do Camaros' only have 6? And the special carriage bolts that hold all the headlight panels together on the bird are all missing from this "complete" kit. (just to name a few)
-=>Lee<=- Due to budget constraints the "light at the end of the tunnel" has been turned off!
Thomas, I work at an auto plant and it just so happens that her sister plant is in Germany. Kaiserslaten , or something close to that, sorry if I spelled it wrong. Back in the early 90's I helped set up the plant. They get their bolts somewhere and you may be surprised to find it's local. By the way, they have since closed our American plant. I guess we taught you guys too much!
There are only two kinds of stainless steel and they are both far superior in strength and toughness compared to the hardened steel bolts.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not cutting down Totally Stainless, just hoping to give alternatives.
Lee, You can get those carriage bolts at Home Depot, Lowes, ect. You may have to cut them off though. Jim
That´s one of the reasons I joined this site: hoping to get new informations... That´s what I did - thanks alot.
Lee, you´re right concerning the bumper bolts - they enclosed the Camaro bolts.
And Jim - you came pretty close, the city you mentioned is called "Kaiserslautern", a city pretty close to Mannheim and Heidelberg. They are famous for their soccer team (called "1. FC Kaiserslautern" -- quite different from american team names... )
What was included in the 61692 kit and what was omitted? Do these kits include the clip nuts that go on the core support, inner fenders etc?
How corrosion resistant is the "black oxide" coating? I have some sockets treated with this and they haven't rusted, but then they are not exposed to the weather either.
ouch, there you got me... It´s some weeks ago I worked on it. I used different bolt kits and for the missing parts I took my old fasteners after having them professionally black zinc-plated (I´m not quite sure if it´s the same as black oxide coating. It´s very durable and doesn´t rust for long times. You can´t do it on your own, it´s a process of galvanisation).
If you are referring to the different kind of "J-clips" for fenderwell and fender to body - nope, I think they weren´t included (I have to cross-check it once again, don´t remember exactly).
In fact, there are "only" regular fasteners/bolts, nothing fancy... As far as I remember you´ll find fasteners for body mounts, bumpers (not correct), door hinges (only the bolts, NOT the hinge pins!), door jambs, firewall, front sheetmetal, seat mount, hood hinges, interior trim screws (not complete), rear-axle stops, trunk hinges, trunk latch and trunk catch. I think the fasteners for the tank straps were included, too.
Nevertheless, that´s anything else but a "complete set"...
Year One is offering additional Totally Stainless kits in their present catalogue (R4104): - Transmission Bolt Kits (depending on your transmission for USD 9.30-18.50) - Bellhousing Bolt Kits (USD 12.30-13.40) - Carburator Mount Bolt Kits (USD 2.00) - Header Bolt Sets (USD 19.60-31.95) - Collector Bolt Sets (USD 7.20) - Distributer Bolt Kits (USD 2.00) - Engine Bolt Kits (USD 16.50-29.95) - Oil Pan Bolt Kits (USD 6.20) - Oil Filter Housing Bolt Kits (USD 2.00) - Intake Manifold Bolt Kits (USD 6.20) - Rear Axle Cover Bolt Kits (USD 3.10-4.10) - Timing Cover Bolt Kits (USD 4.10) - Valve Cover Bolt Kits (USD 3.10) and Water Pump Bolt Kits (USD 7.20)
I haven´t worked with these kits so I can´t tell you anything about. Totally Stainless also runs its own website ( http://totallystainless.net/totally.html ), were you can ask for further information and order a catalogue (you even can download it).
I have to contradict the quote: "There are only two kinds of stainless steel and they are both far superior in strength and toughness compared to the hardened steel bolts."
I assume you're referring to 300 series stainless (303, 304, 316, etc) which are commonly used in fasteners. These are roughly equivalent to Grade 2 bolt strength. There are many other varieties of stainless but not commonly found in fasteners.
300 series stainless is FAR weaker than Grade 8 hardened steel bolts. 304L SS, for example, has a yield strength of 30 ksi. Use these to hold heavily loaded parts together and you'll regret it.
Grade 8 bolts per SAE J429 have a minimum yield strength of 130 ksi. I have yet to see a Grade 8 bolt fail in automotive service.
Thanks for that. Commonly, the only stainless used in industry is 330 and 440. The other types of stainless have specific uses and would not be suitable for fasteners for autos. Of course, always check the grade of bolt you buy. You can tell what grade the bolt is by the markings on the head. The grade 5 bolt will have 3 lines engraved into the head which run radially out from the centre. The grade 8 will have 6 lines. More lines = stronger bolt. Grades below 5 are essentially junk and shouldn't be used on anything - they have no lines.
Metric bolts run from ISO grade 4.6 to 12.9. You would be looking for a grade 9.8 or higher. The grade numbers are actually engraved on the head of the bolt.
Very informational topic! I've only used the TS Fron Edn Bolt Kit to augment some missing or incorrect fasteners, and to get all the fasteners looking good again. I found all the parts included to be great quality, fit and finish... But I could see that they would have some problems if they made a kit universal!
67b1rd - you don't have a 67 H.O. do you? Just trying to keep all the local guys straight? And there are so many on this sight now that it's hard to keep track!
Anyway, thanks for the lesson guys, and I hope you can find the rest of what you need Lee!
, or something close to that, sorry if I spelled it wrong. Back in the early 90's I helped set up the plant. 
They get their bolts somewhere and you may be surprised to find it's local. By the way, they have since closed our American plant. I guess we taught you guys too much! 
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