240 Bolt Decoder (Dress Up Bolts) - Plating Results Posted

[superDorifto]

Update - Potential Bolt Size Decoder for all Nissan Bolts.

I figured if I compiled a large enough list I might be able to back out the logic behind Nissan's P/N system...And I think I have.

Now, I still have about half of the motor to go, and the last 2 digits seem to be the odd balls at this point, meaning that they are either revision letters/numbers to the part, or they are an internal code for infromation like coatings and such anyway it looks like the first 3 digits of the second string give you 90 percent of the info you need to know if you ever lose/break a bolt.

Lets start with a typical cross platform Nissan Bolt P/N

08120-8201E - This is a bolt on the lower timing cover for the water pump. From other threads the first 5 digits refer to the first model that this part was used on. Each car/truck has a unique 5 digit code appearantly - this is useless to us without the key, so lets ignore it.

Leaving

8201E - seams like jibberish...but when I measured all of these bolts with my gauge it was a 20mm long M8 bolt.

(M)8, 20(mm), 1E

If I put some commas in the P/N its pretty clear that the first 3 digits of the second string tell you the length and the metric shank dia. I checked all of the P/Ns on the front covers and intake, and this seems to be true for all bolts...

I'm guessing that the final two digits either tells you the coating if there is one, and other special features on the bolt, like an integral washer, or a custom shank dia. - or it tells you the thread pitch.

from what I can tell, Nissan only seems to use either coarse or fine threads for all bolts of a particular size.
I.E, every M8 that I have measured has been an M8 XXmm 1.25mm Pitch, all of the M6s have been 1.0mm.

If this is the case all you need to do is look up the bolt P/N in the parts catalog at a site like courtesyparts.com, and boom you know exactly what bolts to buy from the hardware store if you ever lose/ break a nut...

Where this fails is anywhere there is an obvisouly custom bolt...like the mains, or the timing idler gear. They have a 5-6 digit P/N like every other bracket/part on the KA. and there is nothing in the number that tells you anything about it.

I'm going to measure as many as I can, but I prolly wont hit every one. We should attempt to get a database going, might be useful in the future when the parts for these cars start drying up, which will happen.

I'll amend my post if I find anything that doesn't match with this rule...



So, on to the KA Dress Up Portion:

I'm going to be purchasing all new bolts for my build this fall, and I wouldn't mind making a few sets for anyone that wants them.

I am replacing every exterior bolt with ferry cap screws (silly name for 12 pt fasteners). They are all class 10.9 forged and quenched mid carbon steel. These bolts are equivalent to grade 8 us std bolts, so they will be plenty strong....I just would not even think of using them for the rotating assy.

Anywho, I found a supplier that has metric sizes in stock. I can get a better discount if I order in bulk. I am going to spend some time today measuring for sizes, but if anyone else wants a set let me know and we can share the discount.

I'm planning on taking a page from AZ Hitman's build and plan on zinc/nickel plating my bolts. I can do the same for yours just gotta cover time and materials.

Any takers?

[eazye2000]

I'd be interested possibly. I really wanted to stud everything like the valve and front timing covers. Would make it so much easier to assemble. But some snazzy bolts would look killer. It sucks I powdercoated most of my motor, but have stock, icky bolts holding it all together lol.

[superDorifto]

No promises on prices, but As near as I can figure...every external bolt on the KA is gonna run around $150 - $300. Its such a large swing, becasue some of the sizes are real oddballs.

Last time I did this I bought all new bolts from True Value and I believe I came in at just under $100. However I was very "creative" when labeling the bolts...I think with a few exceptions I paid ~$.50 a bolt.

With the 12 pt fasteners it is going to be right around there...some of the bolts are much less than $.50, but a few like the AC mounting bolts are over a buck a piece.

Alternatively, If you really want to be baller I found chome plated and SS socket cap bolts (allen key drive). They will most def look great with your powder coating, but cost a bit more - around $1 a piece.

Im working on a master spreadsheet to capture the stock nissan P/N, the actaul bolt specs (size,pitch,length) and the equivalent prices for OEM, ferry cap, and socket cap. Once I have that finished I'll PM you Easy and you can decide which option you want.

[superDorifto]

Just made a count of all of the bolts in the lower timing cover, need to do the upper, Valve cover, intake manifold, and all for the associated brackets to get an accurate count. price looks like its gonna be right where I said.

Ill have a few docs for the mods...detailing all of the bolts on the engine and the actual sizes/measurements. I am hoping that the info I have will help me decode the P/N of the Nissan bolts...will make this so easy in the future because I wont need to measure the bolts.

BTW this is all for an s14 motor...13 should be similar...

[superDorifto]

Updated Initial Post with Decoder Ring Info, Enjoy.

[superDorifto]

Well, I finally pulled the trigger and ordered a bulk order that should let me replace every bolt on the motor with a 12 class 10.9 fastener. They are raw steel, so I am going to take a swag at nickel plating them myself per AMS 2404.

I'll post pics of the results on the bolts and how the end up looking on the motor with all of the powder coating.

[superDorifto]

The Build is chugging along, gonna be posting motor build picks soon, but first we gotta talk about bolts.... 8)

I'm swapping nearly all of the bolts under the hood for 12 fasteners...and they are not necessarily cheap. In metric sizes places like Ballerbolts.com and Dressupbolts.com charge ridiculous amounts of money.

I found class 12.9 steel (stronger than grade 8) uncoated bolts...plenty strong for nearly every fastener, but they would rust instantly if not coated in something. I went for nickel phosphorus per AMS2404.

Heres some pics, Turned out pretty well for my first time dealing with the process. Before I attempted this I quoted a few local shops for the same process, for 300-400 bolts, they wanted $400 bucks. The plating kit was less than half of that, and will let me coat a bunch of little details as well. Sorry for the blurriness.

Don't breathe the fumes.... :shock:

[Razi]

Nice!
I'd love to have a zinc kit so I could replate some stuff.

[superDorifto]

The nickel was surprisingly easy...lets you take a $0.25 bolt and make it look like a million bucks.