Hardware Guidelines

THIS PAGE IS OUT OF DATE. MAKE SURE YOUR HARDWARE IS IMPERIAL AND UNF UNLESS IT IS A SPECIAL CASE. REACH OUT TO SOFIA VARNER WITH QUESTIONS.

All of the following are general guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules. If there is a part that requires any other hardware or you think would benefit from a different piece of hardware, that is definitely an option. Just be sure to communicate with a mechanical Head or the Chief Mechanical Engineer. This may seem like a lot but there’s been some very strange hardware choices in the past, and we are trying to avoid that happening again.

Imperial vs. Metric

The primary system for the car is imperial. If there are off-the-shelf components that are metric, metric hardware is permissible.

Diameter

Allowable diameters include:

  • 1/4”

  • 5/16”

  • 3/8”

  • 1/2”

For PCBs and other electronics with smaller mounting holes, sizes like 10, 8, and 6 are acceptable.

Threading

Coarse threading should be the default, unless fine is needed for a particular reason.

  • 1/4-20

  • 5/16-18

  • 3/8-16

  • 1/2-13

Pick fully threaded unless you need partially threaded for a particular reason.

Length

All lengths should be chosen at ¼” increments (or 5mm if using metric hardware).

ex. 1”, 1 ¼”, 1 ½”, 1 ¾”, 2”

Grade

Minimum grade requirements:

  • Imperial Grade 5

  • Metric Class 8.8

Coating

Preferred: zinc-yellow chromate

Do not use: black oxide, anything else not corrosion resistant