I just looked that bolt up and it lists for 17.96, cost (discounted a bit because it's through my job) is 12.57. While still outrageously expensive for a dumb little screw, it's not $23.55 at least.
I am a marine mechanic and i have been seeing this trend for a while now. A Yamaha throttle body stamped, coated, thin metal gasket about 5" x 3.5" with 4 mounting holes and 2 throttle bore holes is about $250.00 U.S. That screw is most likely sourced off the shelf from somewhere and the box designed around available off the shelf parts and the screw may still be used on assembly lines today on multiple models so it probably isn't a out of production part. If GM did a special design of the screw it proves the lack of brains in the corporation.
That's interesting to think about. The way the partially-threaded design holds the airbox together does seem to make sense, in that it seems less likely to pop apart under vibration compared to airboxes held together with clips. I'd have loved to find an off the shelf option.
For what little it does, I'd have just printed it at home. Could probably design a clamp that fits there so you don't even need a screwdriver next time. Probably cost under 20 cents and work better. PETG to handle the heat, and bobs your uncle.
@@GibbsEmphasis Ya, you can print threads, especially ones that large. If you can CAD that out though, you could design some type of latch for it and pitch the screw. 3d printers are like hammers, every problem starts to look like a nail. When cheap plastic things break in my life, the printer is the first tool that comes to mind. Some people like to print figurines, I like to fix things, or improve them even.
@@piquat1 that's awesome! Thank you for that. It's been a few years since I've tried designing anything for printing, guessing the tech has improved a lot since then. I'll do some research!
Here is my theory: How many dealership techs have lost these over the years? I bet they never had to pay that much for a replacement at the spares counter…. Cough free issue cough. And they wouldn’t be able to charge the customer for something they did. So now the DIY consumer is covering the cost of all those lost ones at dealerships over the years.
The zipties did work! They were just really tough to tighten enough that the airbox would seal. Having to redo that for every filter swap was just getting inconvenient.
you could get a used airbox from a salvage yard for about 20$ and it would come with a full set of bolts.
I don't have space for an extra airbox in my garage 😅 I do like the salvage yard idea though, might do that next time I need something like this.
Definitely the latter. That plus its a stealership part. AVG price online is like $13.
I could have replaced it with something from Home Depot for under $2
I actually did go to hardware stores first, but I couldn't get a size that'd fit 😅 the half-threaded design seals but fully threaded ones don't.
That’s a screw not a bolt.
Yeah... It's a cheap drywall screw with the tip cut off.
So, definitely a Chevy part.
That's when it's worth going to a wrecker.
I definitely will be finding used parts at a junkyard next time, good point.
I just looked that bolt up and it lists for 17.96, cost (discounted a bit because it's through my job) is 12.57.
While still outrageously expensive for a dumb little screw, it's not $23.55 at least.
I am a marine mechanic and i have been seeing this trend for a while now. A Yamaha throttle body stamped, coated, thin metal gasket about 5" x 3.5" with 4 mounting holes and 2 throttle bore holes is about $250.00 U.S. That screw is most likely sourced off the shelf from somewhere and the box designed around available off the shelf parts and the screw may still be used on assembly lines today on multiple models so it probably isn't a out of production part. If GM did a special design of the screw it proves the lack of brains in the corporation.
That's interesting to think about. The way the partially-threaded design holds the airbox together does seem to make sense, in that it seems less likely to pop apart under vibration compared to airboxes held together with clips. I'd have loved to find an off the shelf option.
For what little it does, I'd have just printed it at home. Could probably design a clamp that fits there so you don't even need a screwdriver next time. Probably cost under 20 cents and work better. PETG to handle the heat, and bobs your uncle.
Would a printed part be precise enough in the threads to be a reliable replacement? I like that idea a lot!
@@GibbsEmphasis Ya, you can print threads, especially ones that large. If you can CAD that out though, you could design some type of latch for it and pitch the screw.
3d printers are like hammers, every problem starts to look like a nail. When cheap plastic things break in my life, the printer is the first tool that comes to mind. Some people like to print figurines, I like to fix things, or improve them even.
@@piquat1 that's awesome! Thank you for that. It's been a few years since I've tried designing anything for printing, guessing the tech has improved a lot since then. I'll do some research!
Well, they're not pricing the screw because they're trying to prevent people from losing it. You wouldn't know it's expensive until you lose it.
I certainly won't lose one again though 😅
Maybe expensive because people are willing to buy it instead of a sheetrock screw.
That 'bolt' is just a scew.
thievery it's all about gouging the consumer for all they can get ! I've been saying for years now "we don't own anything anymore we rent it" !
Bugatti owners are laughing at this
Here is my theory: How many dealership techs have lost these over the years?
I bet they never had to pay that much for a replacement at the spares counter…. Cough free issue cough.
And they wouldn’t be able to charge the customer for something they did.
So now the DIY consumer is covering the cost of all those lost ones at dealerships over the years.
Um its a screw
I would have bought $23.55 worth of good zipties and fuck the dealer.
That was your mistake.
The zipties did work! They were just really tough to tighten enough that the airbox would seal. Having to redo that for every filter swap was just getting inconvenient.
My guess is unless they had it in stock probly the shipping
go to a junk yard and get more