Custom bolts/fasteners??? For IC setup

[copgtp]

Hey all! Hope everyone has a great Easter weekend!

Okay, here is my problem. I have a custom intercooler core, 1.75" thick. Unfortunately Mcmaster Carr has bolts available in 10mm increments when you get to the longer lengths. The shorter bolt is just a hair to small, but I have a feeling the longer one will be much to big. Also, some of the bolts I think are bottoming out in the LIM thread....how can I tell if this is happening?

So my question is, should I buy the longer bolts and cut them to size? Will that hurt the integrity of the bolt?

Or can I have bolts custom fabbed for me? If I'm going to have them custom made, what is the best way to measure for them? Does anyone have a good place to do so?

 

[Bio248]

you can cut bolts to size without any ill effects. you can also do what ron vogel did and cut threaded rods to size and just put nuts on them.

 

[GR8racingfool]

^ya, many buy metric all thread, and use that cut to length. Measure twice, cut once.

I have custom made some studs for a few people. Once set was made from stainless, the other set some time later was made from a very tough grade of carbon steel. (the name and RF slips my mind at the moment.)

They were spun on a lathe, and the ends were threaded for the right pitch needed. We went a step further and made the ends to have a hex head allen head insert for them, for threading them in, that way you can pre torque them to 10 ft. lbs. so you knew they were seated, then add all your gaskets, IC and supercharger, and torque the nuts on the tops to speck.

They cost a pretty penny because they were custom one off's, but they were pretty damn *****ing when done.

Many go the all thread route, cause most can handle the use of a measuring tape, a hack saw, and a bench grinder, and its waaaaaaaaaay cheaper.

~F~