Installing painted bolts
 

Anyone have tips on on installing painted bolts without chipping the paint? I use a good 6 point socket but that doesn't always keep from knocking paint off.

Most of the body bolts were not painted. They were parkerized. Really easy to do, and you don't have to worry about chipping.

If you are dead set on painting, I have used done this in the past: Buff the bolt head on a wire wheel to make sure it is REALLY clean. Paint with a very thin layer of high heat paint.
Bake the bolts at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. This will require some creative layouts to insure no part of the head is touching anything. Let cool. The resulting finish is so hard you will not chip it with a six point socket.

Regular paint is going to chip unless you just don't tighten it down. Not recommended for obvious reasons.

I've used the nylon inserts that you can put in the sockets with good results.
The kit came with different sizes for the six point sockets.

I originally bought them to protect the plastic lug nut covers used on my truck wheels but they have come in handy for other purposes.


No idea where I bought them from though, it's been over 25 years.

I've got a set of those inserts. I think they came from Snap-On.

Eastwood used to sell the nylon insets for sockets. Worked great for molars w/painted body bolts and engine bolts

I often put a small piece of masking tape inside the socket, sticky side towards socket; extra thickness of paper helps keep good contact with the bolt flats. Also better quality sockets have less 'slop' than cheaper ones.

Seems like the only ones you can find at 1/2” drive and fir lug nuts. There is this option.

https://www.kctoolco.com/knipex-86-0...yABEgIgVfD_BwE

I believe Mac tools sells the "nylon" lined sockets that might work.