Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Galvanic Corrosion ?'s

Derek69SS · Founding Member

I have seen thin clear plastic washers used to separate dissimilar materials... not sure where to get them though.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Nylon nuts, bolts and washer can be found at any good hardware store, Home Depot and Lowes have them. I was going to suggest nylon bolts or fasteners.

Lost in the 60s · President

All I use is clear packaging tape. It only takes a film of insulation to prevent the galvanic reaction. I used the tape under the mirrors and lights on the Pete, as all the brackets were SS and the cab was aluminum.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

If it't excessive you may want to check your grounds, adding current through those parts will accelerate the galvanic reaction.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

It not a big problem as I replaced some screw headed bolts about 9 years ago with a flat headed bolt and there seems to be little or no reaction. I just thought if there was something easy to try I would do that. Thanks, probable with look for some thin nylon washers, like those used on some bolts and washers on my doors and strikers or just the packaging tape.

So Kevin, if you have good grounds, then the process is reduced?

John D · 2K+ Club

I'm running a salvage/scrounged (300% better than what was in him) grille assy in Blackie that I pulled from a yard.

I dunked it in a lye solution to remove the anodizing, and spent a few zillion hours one winter smoothing the 40+ years of sandblast and dents. Another 1/2 zillion hours with various buffing wheels and compounds and I've got a really nice polished grille. It's not re-anodized or cleared... I just hit it with some "Blue Magic" polish occasionally.

I remounted it using stainless 10-32 allen button-heads and nylock nuts. It's been there 7+ years and ZERO reaction so far.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

jim larson wrote:
So Kevin, if you have good grounds, then the process is reduced?

I think it will help, at the very least it won't be accelerated by other means. I also believe poor grounds will accelerate corrosion and mineral deposits in your radiator as the water becomes a partial conductor.