The V8 Owners Forum -

Hello all,
sorry if this subject has been covered before but im just about
to bolt the sump and front cover/waterpump on my rover v8 engine,,
i was going to use stainless steel bolts that are on ebay all the time,{with copperslip } but i was told recently that using SS bolts are in fact a 'bad idea' on aluminium ???...and that i should use normall steel bolts? , is stainless a bad idea??........ what do you think ......................
thanks steve

I've used ss fasteners in aluminium for years - they ca setup a reaction, but this can be minimised by using something like Duralac (you'll find it on fleabay for about a £10)

end result - looks nice and sod all if any corrosion...

Any boaty will tell u the same...

MGR
No problem with ss into ali.
You can use a silicone spray between the two if you want to just as belts and braces.
We use ss to ali fixings on an almost daily basis in the marine industry and have no problems.
The real problem arrives when you introduce salt water but am guessing you are not likely to be float testing your car
cheers
Paul

Copper grease works as well.

As said above wouldn't worry, especially in you application, road salt would be your only reason to worry and that is unlikely to be a track prep at the pod.
Best regards
Mike

It has to do with dissimilar metals and the reactions between them in the presence of an electrolyte.

Use a goodly dab of Never-seez, Dow Corning DC4 (not silicone), Copper slip and you will be OK.

mgrv8 wrote:Hello all,
sorry if this subject has been covered before but im just about
to bolt the sump and front cover/waterpump on my rover v8 engine,,
i was going to use stainless steel bolts that are on ebay all the time,{with copperslip } but i was told recently that using SS bolts are in fact a 'bad idea' on aluminium ???...and that i should use normall steel bolts? , is stainless a bad idea??........ what do you think ......................
thanks steve

The first Rover workshop manuals dealing with the V8 insisted you use ScotchGuard sealer on any bolt thet went into ally - it seals and locks the thread and prevents corrosion. A litre tin costs about 30 quid and will do many many rebuilds. I still use it, and have never had a bolt shear.

I had a 2 litre Alfa some years back that lost one of the plugs they fit to the cranks when they drill the oil galleries, running a bearing and when I stripped the motor it took a lot of cursing and swearing plus lots of WD40 to remove the head because it had been fitted dry and quietly corroded solid over the years.

I cursed the bugger that built that motor to hell and back, but it was sweet to drive after I fixed it!!