Shane's SLC Build

Shane

Supporter
I wouldn't use chrome bolts. Chrome plating imparts brittleness in high strength alloy fasteners. Use stainless, titanium or A256 alloy bolts instead. AN/NAS/MS fasteners are excellent. SPS makes good commercial fasteners, too.
Hey Neil, you seem to know a lot about this, but I reached out to the bolt manufacturer to check about the baking process to eliminate the Hydrogen Embrittlement risk from electroplating.

This was their response:
Chrome is just a plating or a coating, just like zinc or phosphate. Hydrogen Embrittlement is an issue in electroplating, which is mitigated by baking appropriately. Any plater worth their salt simply includes the baking in the plating process, as ours does. Same applies to chrome platers, if there is an electroplating element to that particular process. We chrome plate bolts for all kinds of high-strength applications. Again, our process is called“Polish, bright chrome, and bake.”

Not sure if this satisfies me, but it is more data than I had before. I have learned a lot about the process because of your post, thanks!
 
Also, your bolts don't appear to be long enough (based on the pictures, can't tell if they are torqued down or not). You should have a minimum of 1 thread protruding past the nut, and 2-3 threads is recommended. The nyloc part of the nut in your picture is not being engaged.

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Shane

Supporter
Also, your bolts don't appear to be long enough (based on the pictures, can't tell if they are torqued down or not). You should have a minimum of 1 thread protruding past the nut, and 2-3 threads is recommended. The nyloc part of the nut in your picture is not being engaged.

View attachment 149000

Thanks for the thoughts. Yeah nothing is torqued down yet. I just wanted to see how it looks. I might have to remove the washer on one side. Thanks for commenting!!
 
Hey Neil, you seem to know a lot about this, but I reached out to the bolt manufacturer to check about the baking process to eliminate the Hydrogen Embrittlement risk from electroplating.

This was their response:
Chrome is just a plating or a coating, just like zinc or phosphate. Hydrogen Embrittlement is an issue in electroplating, which is mitigated by baking appropriately. Any plater worth their salt simply includes the baking in the plating process, as ours does. Same applies to chrome platers, if there is an electroplating element to that particular process. We chrome plate bolts for all kinds of high-strength applications. Again, our process is called“Polish, bright chrome, and bake.”

Not sure if this satisfies me, but it is more data than I had before. I have learned a lot about the process because of your post, thanks!
It is good that they recognized the potential problem but baking out hydrogen successfully requires detailed knowledge of the metallurgy of the alloy. An alternative to chrome plating is to use an "electroless nickel" process.
 

Shane

Supporter
Okay, I know this is out there, but I am looking at doing something completely out there for the engine dress. Here are a couple of renderings of my first go at it. I am not in love with it, but it is a start. Go ahead, give me honest feedback.

CHEVY LS3 ENGINE(5).png
CHEVY LS3 ENGINE(4).png
CHEVY LS3 ENGINE(3).png
 

Hector

Supporter
that will be a nightmare to keep clean and I am not sure what it achieves, you can still see the engine and parts underneath
 

Hector

Supporter
The suspension and polished frame are total eye candy. gorgeous, but I would be afraid to drive the car and scratch it or get it dirty :-) mine is totally filthy right now , but I have been driving a lot and got caught in a bit of rain a couple of times, not helpful .
Keep up the good work
 
looks pretty now, but you might have some regrets in 20yrs - the frame gets grungy after a while .... similar with my polished firewall on my 65 cobra ... i remember what it looked like 25yrs ago when I polished .... 25yrs later, not as good, haha.
 

Shane

Supporter
Gorgeous - Are you just building it for show?
Yes, I grew up in my dad's shop building customs and street rods. We went to many car shows and I would like my son to experience what it takes to get a car ready to show. We will drive the car to the shows and back, yes, I know it is a lot of work and you have to clean and polish. But that is just busy work.

I guess the point is, not many kids now a days have the opportunity or desire to work on cars, let alone a show car. Once we show it the first time, we will drive it and have fun.

Again, I see two different car enthusiast, go fast guys, and show guys. We each have our place in the world. Haha!
 
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