I absolutely love seeing someone who talks about the real details that make the difference. No one thinks about the couple thousandths here and there that add up to a half inch of slop and make that $100,000 race car or even just a basic restoration car feel like garbage. Good hardware, electrical connections, and plumbing make all the difference, but these cars wanna skimp on all three of these parts of a car.

Another subject that needs to be covered is re torquing after the first runs are laid down. Heat cycles and such. Thanks for all the effort making safer race cars.

I've been an aircraft mechanic in the airforce and built a few cars (nothing nearly as fast as tim) and there is a ton of good information in this video. The only things I would add is if you are using self locking nuts (distorted thread or nylock) they have a limited number of uses, usually 2-3 times before they lose a significant amount of locking foce and should be replaced. I would also disagree with Tim when he says to machine down hardware so as not to show too much thread. If you have only one thread showing on a nylock nut, that nut only needs to back off 2 threads before there is no more locking foce and it will fall off. Airforce technical orders require 2 threads showing outside of every nut. I will always use as much thread as practical because id rather have a loose captured bolt than a bolt with no nut at the end liable to fall out at anytime.

Some of the best content on YT. Tim is such a straight shooter its refreshing.

We come around because you still talk like a person, not just a sales asshat. Refreshing as hell, even when its stuff I knew. Some kits I see cheap out with smooth inserts over the threads that fail and shimmy. Note to garage racers: If your bolt-shortening cnc is a grinder, you can't let the bolt get hot or it will lose temper; keep a water bucket handy and dunk often.Thanks for the info Tim.

Another big difference in how fasteners are made is how the thread is generated. Cut threads or Rolled threads. Generic stuff may have cut threads, so when they make the thread they remove metal in the process. This is weaker because you have cut through the grain of the metal. The AN, NAS, and MS fasteners have rolled threads. The threads are generated by rolling the bolt blank between dies that have the thread form. The bolt metal is squeezed and forced into the correct shape. The result is the grain then follows the peaks and valleys of the thread. This is much stronger and much less likely to break.

Proper fastener usage is not something most racers know well unless they were military or aviation mechanics. Thanks for posting this.

Wright tools makes all their tools in Barberton Ohio. Their stuff is in the Snap On realm for quality but it is much more affordable. I like their stuff and it's easier to get than the box trucks.

So.. I worked at 4 Chassis Shops over the years.. Two shops built only T/F Dragsters and Fuel Funny Cars. One was A Super Famous Super Comp Dragster Shop.. The Forth was A Very Famous Shop that built PRO STOCK and PRO MOD Cars.. Really Enjoyed this video.. I have made Many Titanium Bolts, Regular and Heavy Washers & The Nuts. All out of Titanium. Plus made Many Titanium Bungs for Wheelie Bars and Front A Arms.. I Always liked making Cool Parrts.. Worked as a Aviation Machinist in Seattle for Boeng too. Then a AVIONICS Machinist.. So that was 4 1/2 Decades of Machining... Really Love All of Tim's Videos. He is So Spot On!! >> Builds Awesome Cars Too..!!!!

I've always heard great things about Mr. McAmis but never encountered him or seen anything he'd done like this before. This is pure gold, real talk, no bullshit just the facts.

Tim is the best! Basically if you’re using hardware store crap “throw that shit in the trash”. Many people say this but never really explain why safety and strength are affected! The best race shop in the US. Thx

Great advise. A video on when safety wire should be used might be a good subject for another vid.

Very good video. -AN is ARMY/NAVY. We adopted that as our military spec years ago. Copied from the British who use BSW (British Standard Whitworth) as their military spec. I’ve been an automotive engineer for 32 years now and it’s a bit misleading to just toss Grade 5 and Grade 8. They simply have to choose the correct shoulder length. They come in different shoulder lengths if you choose a distributor that offers the different options. The “thin” lock nuts are simply “Jam” style nuts and although they look less bulky then a full length Nyloc…they have significantly less grip strength. Depending on pitch…some diameters have as little as 2-2.5 turns of thread inside the nut. Just pointing out a few facts. I mean if guys are watching this for info…some vital information was overlooked or missed. Again…very well done video.

I was taught the unthreaded part of the Bolt is Called the "Shank". Great Info!! A+

As a student of Carrol Smith of many years ago I appreciate your sharing of this knowledge and find your "tone" refreshing 👍

Hit 'em in the face with a piece of tubing Lmaooooo Love it Tim!

I’ve been a mechanic for 45 years and I have yet to see a quality made China tool

Hi Tim, Thanks for spelling out a lot about some things that most of us don’t normally consider. Obviously your way is “the right way” and I appreciate the information. . Preamble: I noticed that you don’t talk about (or probably use) lock washers. Question: Is it bad form to use split lock washers or star washers? I’m not a big fan of nylock nuts, because they wear out very quickly. You need to replace them often. (I’m my opinion) As a former dealership or Journeyman Certified Repair Technician, I believe in using the right parts for the job. It is a lot more difficult to deal with that in the aftermarket or racing type of projects. I’m really glad to hear that you have the quality hardware. I always have trouble finding good hardware and hate having to wait for it to arrive. Another great video and good lesson. Thanks for the info.

I was taught the faster you go the higher quality parts are required, including hardware.

I remember when I got my first job as a line tech, had me a somewhat large selection of craftsman tools I bought to get started and I said that I didn’t need the high dollar snap on stuff. After a short time I began rounding off bolts trying to take crap apart. I’d go to guy next to me a barrow a snap on socket and it’d take the bolt loose, even after I rounded it off, and his tools were wore out. It really does make a difference, it’s expensive at first, but time is money.

Man you do some great videos I love how you’re always putting the USA made products first! Your customer service is excellent and you guys are always willing to help! Can you guys do a video on repairing a chassis?

This is a great primer on nuts and bolts for anyone working on race cars. Further information can be found in the other Carroll's (Smith, not Shelby) book Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners, and Plumbing. His books should be on the shelf of every performance automotive worker and shop.

Now this is a boss I would like to work for. Someone who cares about the quality of the work and will make sure it perfect or it doesn’t fly. Just because no one sees it doesn’t mean it’s ok. At the end of the day he will know and he cares. Not a lot of companies are like this any more

I’ve worked on high power dirt cars, using titanium bolts milled to length and center drilled for weight savings. Some of those guys are borderline crazy about weight!

first of all I'd like to say how much I learn watching your videos even though I no longer race I still enjoy learning something new all the time , but right now I do have a slight problem with this video , and it absolutely does make a lot of sense using the proper bolts in the proper applications , but what you fail to tell everyone is that it's almost impossible to purchase these particular bolts online , I am building an old-school gas with the old-style latter bars so I decided to go online and purchase some of these bolts to use the proper ones in my application , so I went online and all I could find is that you have to know part numbers for these particular bolts they do not show sizes or tell you sizes all I could find the matter who I searched they go by part numbers which makes it almost impossible to purchase any of these bolts or knots that you are talking about , but I do have a suggestion if you can find a way to make it easier for someone to purchase these bolts or to put out a chart of different sizes and with the part numbers are ? I gave the example what I'm looking for I need 4 - 4/3 inch by two 1/2 inches long in the grip would have to be about 1 5/8 , these are just four bolts that I was before and there's no way I can find them or understand how to purchase them online because everything goes by part numbers and they do not give your prices ? But I do agree with what you're saying and understand exactly what we're coming from is just for an average person such as myself I have no choice used bolts that you showed in the beginning of the that would have to be purchased from Home Depot or Ace Hardware but thank you so much for taking the time and doing these videos because like I said I no longer race because I am 68 years old but I enjoy these videos tremendously because of what I learn

This is dream for a person with OCD like myself! Awesome!!

Thanks for putting out all this very valuable information Tim. Can't tell you how many times I see grade 5 hardware on cars. Most people either don't know or don't care enough to do it correctly. Nylon lock nuts are a must and the shallow ones save weight. Having a bolt stick 2 inches out of a nut drives me nuts.

Good information. I suggest adding information about the radius under the bolt head and the radiused ID washers that are needed. Carol Smith books are also helpful.

How about "truck frame bolt" SAE grade 8.2 with matching "truck frame nut" for replacing rivets that have failed (gone loose allowing movement in crossmembers). AN is Army Navy as the air force was branched out of the Army after the standard was set.

If you want to step up the hardware fastening game even more, consider the use in fasteners like Hi-lok or Hi-Tigue for fastening parts that will not be taken out, meaning you wont be adjusting or removing that hardware -more or less for the life of the car- they have a significant advantage in clamping, and filling the hole to put it simply. They are an interference fit and is one of the strongest ways to fasten two separate pieces together

One correction is needed. AN bolts are equivalent to a Grade 5 at 120 kpsi, Grade 8 from the hardware store is significantly stronger at 150 kpsi. Everything else he said about fit over the threads is correct. Like he said in the video, what you have to do is buy a longer bolt to get the solid section you need then cut back the threads, but there is nothing shitty about a Grade 8 and it could save you some money.

A retired mechanic involved in motor racing ( circuit) also wheel alignment. Had a 10.000 hour apprentiship, every time i got involved with a new car i would insist on pulling and checking every chassis related bolt and nut . And generally replacing 90% of every bolt and nut .fortunately the front guy at my faourite bolt shop build racecars on the side, i could get any bolt that was listed as unobtainium within 7 days from anywhere in the world. My base country ? New Zealand

Yup, Aerospace specs call for for 2 - 3 protruding threads. Self locking nuts have a 3 cycle limit. Never thread directly into Aluminum, use helical coil inserts and preferably the non-locking variety.

Wow! You sir are very passionate about them bolts. The way you caressed that bolt at the end was uncomfortable as hell lol. Keep up the ggod work

Can you make a video just on tools you use and recommend? would like to know about some of the imported stuff you talked about. Thanks!

With Snap-on make sure you aren’t using Flank Drive Plus or Flank Drive Xtra. Those are for working on your rusty tractor and will leave marks on fasteners. Stick with standard Flank Drive for wrenches and sockets.

Young men need to watch Tim! It doesn’t matter how difficult something is, you do it because it’s right!

Thanks Tim, I learn every time I watch one of your Videos. Oh and get a laugh as well.

When I bought the 1996 Super Stock Championship Firebird, "Hatari" I found out the hard way that someone had used fully threaded bolts in ALL of the 4 link holes. Unreal. If you can find the 1996 Indy Super Stock Finals you'll see the car dangerously crab walking after the finish line. You can see the drivers eyes WIDE OPEN he was so scared. Every hole was CHEWED UP bad. .

The best bolts/hardware video ive seen. Thank you vey helpful

The devil is in the details. It's this level of craftsmanship that separates the Pro's from the Billy-Bobs

I like 3 threads out the end of all bolt.

Love this bloke. Reminds me of my apprenticeship back in the day when kids used to have respect

Got me a whole hardware setup from Amazon plus a Long Duck Dong wrench set for my rice car ...see ya at the track jack!

I was curious on the price of those ans bolts. I assumed they would be crazy expensive. I am shocked how cheap they were. There is absolute no reason not to use them!! I work in a factory and have seen first hand how bad bolts chew up stuff. Most of that stuff runs 24/7 till it fails.

Very good!! Thank you sir! Been wrenching 33 years, I learned A LOT!!!!! Thanks again sir!!!!!

Great video...you certainly opened a can of worms with this video. I have quite a bit of experience dealing with hardware for major OEM truck manufacture. A few more dirty little secrets of the industry: Chinese hardware suppliers have been known to stamp any marking in the head no matter the material property Plated grade 8 fastener will compromise the strength UNLESS special processes are used..hence the expense aero NAS Flange head should be used in any critical clamp joint, ie compression retention One thread past mating nut is all you need Top quality fasteners have much better thread tolerances Those tractor grade 5 or 8 fasteners will likely not meet those specs for strength...because who is checking Thanks again...very good!

Awesome lecture Tim, if you have ever seen GE stainless tools you will throw away any other tools. Only problem you can only get them when you buy a GE jet engine.

You had it right the 1st time Tim throw that shit away don't even give it to somebody

I love your Diction, Never Change Few more closeups would be appreciated! Subscribed

Awesome video, I'm about to start building another race car, will now search to see if the correct bolts are available here in OZ, must admit to using 12 point sockets, I now know better. Cheers

Just say NO to shyt made in "Chang Fung" LMAO. Never could understand why after spending a ton of money on high end cars like Tim produces, that some people all of a sudden get frugal with fasteners - this has serious safety implications!

AN represents Army/Navy. The Army AIr Corp existed prior the the formation of the Air Force (1947) and AN bolts were used during WWII prior to the formation of the Air Force. It got the designation to standardize the hardware supplied by every supplier - they had to meet the specifications the military required so there was less problems with hardware. I hope this ends your confusion. The AIr Force requires shouldered bolts as you use them and when the nut is installed and tightened, approximately 2 threads of the bolt should be exposed. Too long adds weight, too short is not acceptable by the inspectors. Luckily, the planes are repaired and, not fabricated when deployed and the T.O.s (Technical Orders) give all the specifications of the airplane so you can find the exact bolt to be used. Split lock washers are garbage. If you ever have issues with a bolt coming loose from vibration and stress, check out the Nord-Lock style lock washers, also called Wedge Lock. They are a 2 piece washer and when the bolt assembly is torqued, it will not come loose. It can even take more torque to dismantle than the tightening force. They are reusable. Can you say tenacious?

Hi Mr McAmis, I'm 17. Watching you since I was 14. Love learning for you and appreciate you sharing what you know, so much.

I've been saying things like this for 40yrs, and all I got was shouted at... now I just shut up and beat the opposition fair and square. If you do like Tim says, then all the other things you do on your car / bike /boat will be impacted with an increase in quality and reliability, and things will take a substantial turn for the better.

Excellent information. There is always something more to learn and improve upon.

After machining the end of the bolt to minimize exposed threads, what do you do about corrosion resistance?

Excellent, excellent, excellent content and appreciated. Your candor and humor is refreshing. Thanks

I get so tickled listening to him " this NSA bolt here will have enough shoulder to go through both plates" Picks up the grade 8 bolt- "now this piece of Sh!+ here....." LOL

Man I love your videos, telling it like it is. You've helped me understand the way things work and make setting up my car a breeze now. Thank you

Aviation standard is 3 threads past the nut. No more, no less

"I just hit them in the face with a piece of tubing..." Genius! I love this! Excellent value entertainment right here.

Good stuff , I learned alot of this from hanging around the airport with my dad and his buddies who build planes and whatnot. No doubt I picked up some good stuff in this vid , made me realize I'm very lucky to be around some smart fellas.

Great video. I learned a lot. Now I have to get under the race car and start checking rod end bolts.

Shoulder length is correctly call GRIP LENGTH. A/N, NAS and MS fastening devices are called out by DASH size (diameter) and GRIP length, (length from under head to end of threads) These bolts can be spec'ed for safety wire holes also. Correct length of fasteners SHOULD BE measured with an A/N flat washer under the bolt head. An A/N washer under the nut, and a minimum of 3 1/2 threads showing after correct tightening. NO LOCK WASHERS ARE ALLOWED! Either LOCK TYPE NUTS (NYLOC nuts or METAL DEFORMED NUTS, self locking or SAFETY WIRE!!!) Look at a AIRCRAFT SPRUCE catalog. The catalogs are free and they explain all the terminology for motorheads that can barely read.... This would cover just about everybody that races... hopefully.....probably not "those guys"....

I’m so glad you addressed this subject. Tim this the first time I ever disagreed with you. Granted grade 8 bolts and up are stronger but when they fail, they “SNAP”. Grade 5 bolts tend to bend a good bit before they break. That being said for safety I’d rather use the grade 5 on my undercarriage, if I take hit or something goes horribly wrong down there I’d rather it bend out of wack and stay attached then snap parts off completely while at speed. If something bad enough to bend a bolt happens then I’m already in trouble. I gotta say though I completely agree with you on bolt fitment and tools.

At four minutes and 15 seconds into the video half inch bolt that he is holding is threaded to the head because the formula for the thread on a half inch bolt regardless of the length is as follows twice the diameter plus a half inch.

Surprised you didn't cover the importance of using proper torque settings .

The fully threaded bolts are referred to as "Tap bolts". The unthreaded part of a bolt is the shank. The shoulder would refer to a flange just below the head.

Ret ac mech... Great info for guys building cars. Safety first safety wire ect. Cars may hit a wall and kill a driver or not, but airplane can't pull over on the side off road.

any bolt you get that’s military related, they are made on the next block over from me, called quality socket and screw down here in SW FL. every bolt and nut are cnc machined On a lathe out of a solid piece of whatever their tinsel strength is I never asked… that’s where i get all mine and i’ll tell ya…. it ain’t cheap and watching every nut bolt and washer be hand inspected and stamped for millimeter perfect ✌🏻

For the dimpled Jet Nuts, you can run a tap through them and run loctite if you want it to be serviceable

What size tubing do you hit “yer guys” in the face with, and what grade is it?😁

You should have a segment every once in awhile where you go over race cars at an event and just roast them.

I fix lawn equipment for a living so all I get to deal with are cheap bolts, but the worst are three sided self tappers. They use them to hold mower engines down …basically good enough to sell the equipment then it’s your problem. Can’t tell you how many engines and mower decks are tossed from being wallowed out by loose self tapping bolts

Work in the areospace industry for almost 10 years and 1.5 -2.0 threads required extending past the nut is required so many people dont get it or they use a nyloc and the threads dont even go all the way thru the nyloc so its not even able to do its intended job thx for showing people the right stuff💪 , ps Im a retired professional car builder , thx love the vids Its time to prank Shawn 187 customs again 😎

That's one major thing, other than winning, that sets my car way ahead of my competition, nice, proper, and light weight hardware. Good hardware isn't cheap, cheap hardware isn't good, unless your fixing some farm implement.

This is for fixing a plow or some sheeeet. Bro, had me laughing.

So I can't use bolts that I buy by the pound, my cheep tools are going to piss me off...... next your going to tell me that there are no leprechauns 😊 Thanks for the time to put the vids out, I hope new people to the sport understand how much info you are offering.

do you cut some threads in the shoulder or just use a bolt with a longer shoulder and add washers for a better fit.

I use all Facom tools. Realy nice fitting too.

Awesome information,thanks.

Awesome video with some great information. Im curious why you guys chose the 1/4” MS/NAS bolt for your steering linkages instead of a AN386 taper pin and AN975 taper pin washer combo? They work exceptionally well in eliminating all slop in a torque tube assembly when properly drilled and reamed, they also stay slop free longer than a conventional bolt as well in my experiences.

always learn something from these videos, keep the knowledge coming.

Hi. Ok thanks and will do. I appreaciate your wisdom. Karl

Love it. If one of your guys grabs a 12 point socket on a 6 point bolt you hit them in the face with some tube lol. Plus the way you said it. I have been buy snap on tools since I was 9. I don’t even try to explain why I spend so much money on tools and the hardware that holds my truck together. If someone has to ask me why and just doesn’t get it after I try once the. They are not smart enough to get it and should spend then money on them. More stock for me

Great information and you tell it like it is! Love it!

Love your videos, been using nsa bolts for years now

Great Information everytime

Do you have any recommendations for choosing a rear and front differential housing for a car that I want to build to go 300mph?

He's the most successful person because of his intelligence and hands on knowledge of everything he does.

Washers are to spread a load on any surface that is not self-sufficient to maintain its own shape, the washer cut on the underside of a bolt head is complete inadequate for spreading load, it is cut there to protect the underlying surface from the corners of the bolt marring it. Also, just a bolt through a tube and shaft is a "garbage" solution, a flat washer or bolt head on a rounded surface? There are washers called saddle washers for tubing and shafts, if you want to clamp that shaft in properly you should be using them.

I live in Germany and own an US van converted in the US to Ambulance in the 90ies. And it is pretty much the opposite on all relevant bolts like: the 4 ton airbag rear suspension! I am not an expert by any means and always thought "are they stupid or am I? 3/4" huge bold - all threats.

I have been a working on machinery for 30 years your dead on it would be a privilege to work for a guy who talks straight to the point like a man hate working for someone who knows less than me

Well done and very informative. thank you !

Where does a guy buy the ms, an, and nas fasteners? McMaster Carr? Or is there some better suppliers

very interesting,, nice stuff there,, thanks for the video/

Friend is an engineer , The Jet nuts are used in engine compartments on Turbine engines. called Ms210's. you can get silver plated as well.for really hot areas. Its rare to use a 6 point socket in aircraft they said, only 12 point never an issue but you only see 12 point nuts in turbine engines. but on worn nuts 6 point is better. Aircraft bolt threads are rolled on vs machined on as well so 40% better for wearing out . and the cad plating helps when you tighten them up. Aviall has lots on info on that stuff in their catalogue and there is a reference called AC43-13 he said to help on things On wrenches Carquest has wrenches that are like the snap on medium lengths up to 5/8. he just shortened the longer ones , Craftsman sockets with a date code of G2 and higher, are snap on flank drive clones, supposed to be made soon as the flank drive patent ran out.

I got a really nice Snap-on adjustable wrench. Will that work?