General questions about fastener vendors

[Larry Rosamond]

I will be making a fastener order for my 66 real soon. I'm detailing the front end/underhood area of the car so will be ordering misc fasteners for such items as hood supts, headlights, bumper, grille, etc.

Are most of these fasteners only produced by a single manufacturer which results in all the major houses such as Corvette Central, Paragon, Long Island, Dr Rebuild, etc. suppling the same product or are different product lines and quality available depending on vendor? I also found a catalog from a Corvette fastener specialist called Walters Engineering when I was looking at the documentation of a car for sale a few months back. Anyone had any experience with them?

It is not my intention to start a thread where posters are stating "company A is great, company B is bad". My guess is that there probably is only one manufacturer of reproduction bolts for a hood supt, for example. If I am incorrect, would someone please enlighten me?

E-mails gratefully accepted should anyone not want to post about a particular supplier in the forum.

TIA for everyone's help, as always. Regards, Larry

[Gene M.]

Re: General questions about fastener vendors

Larry,
Contact Paragon I think they have contracted suppliers of hardware to produce many of the fasteners.

[Larry Gawron]

Re: General questions about fastener vendors

Larry,

I am interested in obtaining a copy of that fastener catalog.
Can you provide more info (phone #, address, or web site)???

[Grant M.]

Re: General questions about fastener vendors

Larry,

I would second the suggestion to contact Paragon as a supplier of high quality, accurate fasteners; however, your reference to seeing a Walters Engineering catalogue (it's rather crude with hand drawn illustraions of various fasteners) reminded me of a Walters Catalogue I picked up at either Carlisle or Bloomington several years ago. I'm not sure whether Walters is still in business, but I recall that many parts suppliers sold Walters' fasteners (in the Walters Engineering pacakaging with a blue fold-over label at the top of the plastic bag). One of the interesting items that Walters offered was over-sized trim screws for stripped holes. The shaft was oversized, but the normal head size remained for appearance purposes.

Good luck with your restoraton!

grant

[Larry Rosamond]

Walters Engineering...

8817 SW 131 Street, Miami, Florida
305-235-2156 fax/ 305-254-6798 ofc
waltersengineering.com

The last time I checked the website was under construction. The catalog has nice photos of a goodly number of fasteners, clamps and misc rubber.

I have not bought anything from them so have no idea of quality or service. It did take 2 requests to get the catalog which concerns me some.

Any info obtained, please forward. Regards, Larry

[Larry Rosamond]

Recent catalog has excellent photos *NM*

[Patrick H.]

Re: General questions about fastener vendors

My guess, based on the location of the Walters Engineering in Miami, is that it is run by Dave Walters. Many of us know him for his real 1967 L-88 he drove (!) up to the Bloomington meet a few years ago. He does great work, and is as knowledgeable and anal-retentive about details as any of us. I'd think any parts he makes would be first rate.

He also writes the Q&A section in Vette magazine.

I know that Caledonia Classics also makes a fair number of fasteners, and you can pick up their latest catalog at Carlisle in a few weeks.

Patrick

[Dan Grunwald]

Re: General questions about fastener vendors

Larry,
I have good luck with Restoration Specialties & Supply 814-467-9842 or www.restorationspecialties.com. They are not corvette specific on most parts but their catalog is 1/2 inch thick and they have LOTS of weird clips, felts, screws etc. also, if you send them a sample they will attempt to match it up for you. their prices seem really good compared to many of the fasteners sold by the regular Corvette suppliers.
Daniel Grunwald

[Grant M.]

Re: General questions about fastener vendors

Patrick,

You're absolutely right, it IS Dave Walters. I recall that the older catalogue had a note if the front with either his signature or at least name appended to it.

grant

[John H.]

Re: General questions about fastener vendors

Another excellent fastener source is AMK Products, 800 Airport Road, Winchester, Virginia 22602 (540)662-7820, www.amkproducts.com . Excellent catalog, two-view pictures of every part showing headmarks, exact thread size and length measurements, etc. Not just screws and bolts - also many pages of clips, clamps, straps, molding retainers, etc.

[Grant M.]

Re: General questions about fastener vendors

John,

You're right about AMK. I recall your recommendation from a thread some months ago and ordered their catalogue. It's great! Too bad they seem a little 'blue oval' oriented, though.

grant