Turn signal lens screws - galvanized or other?

[LeeH]

I just bought new turn signal lenses and would like to replace the screws as well. How are these treated to prevent rust? Should I be able to buy suitable replacements at Ace Hardware?

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Whenever I replace a nonstructural part like that, I use stainless steel. I don't know if Ace Hardware carries them, but fortunately, we still have good small-town hardware stores that carry complete selectins of fasteners of every kind, material and thread. The chains and Home Despot all carry junk.

Stephan

[RickM]

Lowes seems to have one of the better SS metric fastener selections. I too would use SS.

[buster73]

Stainless steel or galvanized, just make sure you have the right thread size and don't mess up the fragile (and costly) signal lense housings. And don't over-torque them or you can ruin your new lenses in an instant.

[Wil Ferch]

As I recall, the black oxide (?) coating on these didn't go bad...and they seemed ro have a very coarse pitch...you're talking about the screws that hold the amber lens on...correct? This coarse thread might be hard to duplicate in stainless...

Wil

[LeeH]

I've been amazed at the selection at our new Ace Hardware. At 1/4 mile away from my house I can run over there and find just what I need a lot faster than I can dig through all the stuff in my garage closet. It will be interesting to see if they have SS metric with the right thread.

[RickM]

As mentioned by Wil, the black can be replicated by using a "Gun Blue" type process or paint.

[LeeH]

Were they black on early cars?

[Early_S_Man]

As late as the 1973 models ... the lens retaing screws were chrome-plated brass.

[Jays72T]

I used to manage a few Ace Hardware stores and through other distributors you can get whatever you want, all depends on what your customers are buying. I alway had fastener vendors bring in metric everything.