Original hardware or new hardware kit?

BAFRAID · Aug 29, 2020

I hope this is posted in the correct forum. Before I spend hours cleaning up the original hardware for my 69 super bee I thought I would ask, at what point do you just toss the original hardware and buy a new hardware kit? These are the front bumper bolts which are pretty badly pitted, worn and some of the washers are cracked. My instinct is a new hardware kit. I just wanted to get some opinions before going that route. I figure with cracked washers there is a safety issue as well as with how badly some of the bolts are pitted.

tnfastback · Aug 29, 2020

If available for your model, get an AMK master body bolt kit. Has correct head markings, washers, etc. Everything is separately packaged and marked for application. Save yourself the hours and hours of time.

Charger Dana · Aug 29, 2020

Whatever you do, don’t throw out your original stuff. I have learned this the hard way. At worst, wait for your new ones to come ***just to be sure***. At best, your new ones are fine and someone (me?) would likely take your original bolts. I have had lots of new clips, screws, plugs, boots etc. and none of them have been exact. Usually they’re sufficient, but usually worse than new. The new body plug kit was about 1/2 useful, fortunately I kept my old ones.

Hilljack68 · Aug 30, 2020

If the originals are decent and will clean up, I use them. If there is a safety concern, I try to find oem hardware at swap meets. It I can't find them, I get new stuff. Of course mine is not a concourse car. 521 Restorations has some nice kits for various areas of the car. I was missing a lot of hardware, so I hit the swap meets; went new when I had to.

Jax_1975_Dart · Aug 30, 2020

OEM Bumper bolts are not high up on the collectability scale. If it were me, I’d bench grinder them and slap them back in. If you’re worried about the threads... either thread chaser them or, if too far gone...get some similar thickness diameter ones from a hardware store.

vintage chromoly · Aug 30, 2020

Original when possible, repop when you have to.

Geetex · Aug 30, 2020

My opinion is original always looks the best and fits the best, if they're not too far gone. Don't forget if you have some hardware that's too far gone you could put up a WTB post, in that forum, for what your looking for. I'm sure some of the members here have a bunch of this stuff laying around that they could help you with, some of them may even give it to you for the cost of shipping, there are some good people on this site.

roadrunner57 · Aug 31, 2020

I purchased new screw set for the interior, saved hours I believe. I am not restoring completely though.

BAFRAID · Aug 31, 2020

roadrunner57 said:
I purchased new screw set for the interior, saved hours I believe. I am not restoring completely though.

I’m not really worried about it being Concourse restored. So I may just go with the hardware kit.

QOTHL · Sep 2, 2020

Try cleaning them up and see what happens. There are people who can re-plate stuff like that if you want to spend the money.

Original hardware or new hardware kit?

BAFRAID

She’s looking like a Super Bee again!!

tnfastback

Well-Known Member

Charger Dana

Well-Known Member

Hilljack68

Well-Known Member

Jax_1975_Dart

Well-Known Member

vintage chromoly

Well-Known Member

Geetex

FBBO Gold Member

roadrunner57

FBBO Gold Member

BAFRAID

She’s looking like a Super Bee again!!

QOTHL

Well-Known Member

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