The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop how to install bolts in painted parts

Have been painting the various parts to my truck as they were prepped and ready and now at point where I need to start putting them back on my truck. Used a base coat/clear coat process, and the parts have been done for a good while (weeks). Have noticed installing bolts has a tendancy to "spin" the paint under the bolt when it gets tightened, especially the bolts with the big washer heads around fenders and front end pieces.....Any body have some tricks on how to prevent this (other than painting the truck assembled)? I am where I am on restore, and had to paint parts off truck so if anyone has some tips, it would be a big help.

thanks

A washer under the head will help, though may not be original. If it's a nut/bolt combo try holding the more visible one fixed and spin the hidden one. And just live with the fact you'll need to do some touchup - it's inevitable.

Eastwood sells a Nylon Washer Assortment (#43191)for that purpose.

thanks for the tips, the nylon washers sound like they will work and not be too visable

Apply car wax to both the head/washer and the paint. That relieves enough friction and keeps the paint protected. And, did you know that there is an up side and a down side to every washer? When putting a washer on a painted surface you want the sharp edged side OUT. It will look upside down, but it won't cut the paint.

I have cut little gasket washers from the gasket material you can buy. I use a regular paper punch for the circle and then cut a nice circle around that. Put that against the paint. Tony always put a tiny bit of grease under there to, so if there is any scratching, the metal will be covered. Not to much because the grease will collect dirt and dust.

Ok, I've got a question along these lines. How do you keep paint on the bolts you've just spent extra time on from chipping off when bolting them down? I'm assuming it's touch up time after assy......

I have that problem too. Best I have come up with is to take the next size up in a metric socket or wrench and line it with electrical tape. not foolproof, and still some touch up but better than metal scraping paint. Have found some thin fiber washers in plumbing dept at hardware store that match both id and od of bolts. Using these selectively to protect paint on parts being bolted on.