McMaster Carr is an excellent source for metric-stainless hardware. Note
there are two common types used, A2 (18-8)and A4 (316). The A4 is a bit
stronger, galls less, and is slightly more corrosion resistant.  Depending
on size it also much more expensive. Always use an anti-seize when joining
stainless nuts to stainless studs or bolts. They even have Bumax 88 if you
want extra good stuff.  Avoid mixing metric with standard hardware. It
drives me crazy when I have to get another wrench set when the 13mm wrenches
are sloppy on 1/2" standard heads or the nuts get mixed up.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Larry Alofs
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2011 4:07 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Nuts and bolts to use on exhaust

I've been using stainless steel for all exhaust fasteners for many years
with good results.  At the heads of course you need the proper metric size
and thread pitch.  At other joints you can use the less expensive 5/16 SS
from your favorite big box home center.
   When I was in Chicago I found a little speciality place that had the SS
metric fasteners.  Now I would probably go to We$t Marine.  Use a little
anti-seize when going into the aluminum head.

Larry A.

On Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 6:06 PM, Gregg Carlen <gregg.carlen@gmail.com>
wrote:
> So, while doing the head on my van (1990 2WD Westy), I was able to
'safely'
> remove the header bolts and nuts between the exhaust and head. Of
> course, these are one-time use hardware. Aside from just using 12 and
> 13mm nuts and bolts, can anyone recommend good quality hardware that
> will stand the test of time to use on the exhaust system so the next
> time I have to remove them for whatever reason, that I have a better
chance of safe removal?
>
> Thanks,
> Gregg