I need an opinion, expert or not

[Ldub]

Okay, here is the deal. I want to produce these faux carbon fiber hood inserts for whoever wants to buy them. The problem is, I CAN NOT source the 't-bolts' that Isuzu used. It is a 6 mm which a 1/4-24 thread is real close too. The closes I can come to it is a 10/24 thread. DO you 'experts' think this is strong enough? You have to know how it will be used, i.e.; you need to have taken the hood insert off and looked at how it is held on. the best I have come up with is this: http://www.fastenal.com/web/products...ex?sku=0162686 What say you 'experts'

I don't know if 10-24 is strong enough, but 1/4"-20 or 24 should be plenty good, especially in stainless with nylock nuts...

This was a "non- expert" opinion.

[workmeistr]

There is such a thing as Grade 8 stainless, and Grade 8 in 20/24 pitch. Usually at the hardware stores, all the stainless is Grade 5 and courser threads. Try Fastenal, if one is close to you. I special ordered about $300 worth of fasteners for my Land Rover Hybrid in fine pitch (20 or 24 for 1/4, 5/16 and 1/2"), stainless, Grade 8. I'm not familiar with the t-fastener required for the insert, though, but if you took one into a quality fastener shop, like Fastenal, they can probably make recommendations.

BTW, you're doing yeoman's work on this project, and I, for one, really appreciate it. Thanks, Bren.

[rowhard]

Thanks Dub, I feel much the same. But I am striking out finding what I really want. This is what Isuzu used on our inserts, but you know they didn't make the insert, someone supplied them, if only I knew who, and of course it would be in Japan, not here.




Tacoma Screw (pretty big outfit) buyers had spec, drawings, and photographs for over 3 weeks and stuck out. Went to a local Wesco auto body store, and the only thing they could offer was a T-bolt in 10/24 for molding.

Workmeistr, Fastenal has the best T-bolt I have seen in their catalog, but again was a 10/24. http://www.fastenal.com/web/products...ex?sku=0162686 I did email them the spec and drawings, will see what happens. With using 12 per insert, the order I would be placing would be in the hundreds, (well, I hope I will need that many.)

Was hoping amongst us, there might of been a structural engineer that might say if attached properly, these would be fine.

Bottom line, no fastner, no faux carbon fiber hood insert

[TheGanzman]

I'd also try Gardner-Wescott and McMaster-Carr:

http://www.gardner-westcott.com/

http://www.mcmaster.com/#

Have you looked VERY closely at the fastener for SOME kind of "maker's mark"? I would think that a specialized fastener like that would have something, no?

[Ldub]

Thanks Dub, I feel much the same. But I am striking out finding what I really want. This is what Isuzu used on our inserts, but you know they didn't make the insert, someone supplied them, if only I knew who, and of course it would be in Japan, not here.

Hmmmm...I don't know if this will help, but here are some "outside the box" thoughts...

A combination of a "T bolt" mated to a fender washer (epoxied, welded, riveted ?), would be fairly close in size to the larger fastner pictured, would it need a few holes drilled in it for the adhesive to flow through?
The same basic diameter/profile of the smaller one could be accomplished in the same way, using a combination of a "T bolt", & regular/fender washers to create the build up. The base would be round, not rectangular, but that could be fixed with a bolt cutter, by cutting two perpendicular sides off the fender washer......

When I was experimenting with my insert (still a "WIP"), I ground all the factory fasteners off flush & drilled all the way through the insert, refastening everything with stainless cap screws, washers, & rubber grommets/washers.
Decidedly NOT the look everybody would want, but I've always been a fan of form following function...
(I did keep one or two of the stock mounts that are under the scoop)

[rowhard]

Ldub, not a bad idea at all. (not the thru the top one) Not sure if you looked at the link I sent for Fastenal. Right now they are on sale for 50 cents a piece. But, it's a 10/24, not 1/4 x 24.

[Ldub]

Ldub, not a bad idea at all. (not the thru the top one) Not sure if you looked at the link I sent for Fastenal. Right now they are on sale for 50 cents a piece. But, it's a 10/24, not 1/4 x 24.

...no, I didn't check the link first...

That looks like it would work, & I would GUESS that tensile strength should be adequate...
Though I have no idea what tensile strength is for 10-24 vs 1/4"-24...

[rowhard]

...no, I didn't check the link first...

That looks like it would work, & I would GUESS that tensile strength should be adequate...
Though I have no idea what tensile strength is for 10-24 vs 1/4"-24...

Nor do I, but have a few machinist books laying around that might tell me tensile strength, but then it would be a case of apple and oranges since I don't know what material is being used in each.

Kind of a case of measuring it with a optical micrometer, marking it with a piece of chalk and cutting it with an ax