SS, is way more expensive - $6 per lb as opposed to $0.90 per pound for 12L14. Easier to cut, easier to thread, easier to broach, and for this application - more than strong enough. When things are easier and faster, the parts cost less to make, and in turn cost less for you to buy. The whole point to this exercise is to make a fastener that is considerably less expensive than the dealer ones. Zinc plating is also cheap and comes in several different colors.

The hex socket is done by "broaching", a hex tool of the proper size - in this case 5mm is pushed into a slightly undersized pre-drilled hole. It simply cuts the corners and flats into the hole, another undersize drill comes in after that to excavate the chips.

 

I like the idea of the brass bolts myself.Brass on aluminum is the next best thing to brass on brass for natural lubricity and may end the "stuck" cam cover bolt problem.I seem to think that a lot of the broken bolts are from electrolysis of the steel bolt in a aluminum head.I'll take a couple of sets in brass if you can do them and many sets in steel depending on price.

 

Still curious about pricing....any idea when we'll get a range of possible prices?

 

Yes please post prices. You guys can sell many or few, depending on price

 

Sharky, they look great. Can't wait to get pricing and get a set. Still concerned about trying to remove my cam covers for re-finishing and it progressing into an engine pull to get broken pieces out. I will probably wait until next winter so that I don't lose use of the car for an extended period.

 

Does anyone have strategies for getting the old spacers out without breaking them? I mentioned it earlier that PB Blaster didn't make any difference to my spacers. Has anyone tried heat or even a few whacks with a rubber mallet? Just wondering what methods others have used to lessen the likelihood of snapping bolts.

Another tidbit on pricing....used S4 fasteners are available for $6 each, so I'm hoping that these are priced below that amount.

 

There are four shorts. The rest are long.

Only broke one!

 

IIRC a short one goes in each corner.

 

I think it's 3 shorts per head, but I'll have to go check to be sure. I recall DR saying the same thing in my original thread.

 

I cannot speak to the 85-86 setup. But, on the S4s and later it's 5 short and 8 long per cover IIRC.

Also, didn't D.R. say that the bolts are $26 EACH new from Porsche?

 

I am watching with interest. Beautiful work.

 

Sorry, I wasn't able to stay late tonight, had a milion things to do elsewhere. I did play with it a little bit this morning, tweaking it in but that's about as far as I got.

Once I change over to steel I am going to drill/tap a few holes in a block of scrap metal, and tighten down one of my bolts until it breaks with a tourqe wrench to see just where the breaking point is.

 

Coolio.