Rusted bolts

[camerazn]

Hi, I'm new here, and to the Protege (used to own a Mazda3 before a truck hit me on the highway, but that's a different story entirely).
Anyway, I'm looking at a Mazdaspeed Protege at a used car lot, and it's beautiful. Runs superbly, looks hot, and generally turns me on. There's just one thing that's worrying me. When I look under the hood, there are a few bolts on the engine that are pretty rusty (in an otherwise clean engine bay). Is this normal, or should I be worried.

It's a hot car. Should I get this one, or look elsewhere?

Here are pictures of the rusty bolts:
http://whalebone.cs.elon.edu/cis114/cagocs/PICT0011M.jpg

http://whalebone.cs.elon.edu/cis114/cagocs/PICT0012M.jpg

What do you think?

[jersey_emt]

Completely normal.

[camerazn]

Cool, thanks. If all goes well, I'll have an excuse to become an active forum member by the end of this week!

[terbow]

yea just be careful with those cause it IS normal and they will snap off at some point if u decide to remove em.

[camerazn]

Thank you both. I know this next point is off-topic and probably a major re-post, but how do I figure out which number MSP it is?

[protegeric]

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/faq/2003_MAZDASPEED_Protege.pdf
and
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/faq/2003.5_MAZDASPEED_Protege.pdf
the bolts are rusty cause someone had an Evo style carbon fiber hood. now that we`re on the topic though, what`s the best way to get rid of rust? WD-40 work good enough? or anyone know where I can get some stainless bolts to replace those? for when I can finally get a different hood of some sort.


Thank you both. I know this next point is off-topic and probably a major re-post, but how do I figure out which number MSP it is?

[BOOSTR]

Those bolts are pretty rusty. You could wipe them down with Right Stuff or Osphlo to chemically convert the rust, they will turn black. Or simply replace them, but make sure you saturate them will pentrating oil first or they will snap. I wash my engine all of the time and the bolts do not look anything like these.

[jflo]

i don't think the person that owned that car before necessarily had an evo hood...mine looked like that when i got my car new.

anyway, yes, it's completely normal. "they all do that."

[protegeric]

well, i would be very interested in replacing those bolts with some real nice stainless or something sweet that won`t rust. anyone know where I can get something that will work? or anyone know the exact size?


Those bolts are pretty rusty. You could wipe them down with Right Stuff or Osphlo to chemically convert the rust, they will turn black. Or simply replace them, but make sure you saturate them will pentrating oil first or they will snap. I wash my engine all of the time and the bolts do not look anything like these.

[terbow]

m6 x something. take one of the stock bolts to ur home depot and they have a sizing jig where u can screw it in and see what it is. but i know its M6 just not sure of the thread.

[Protege52003]

yeah, cheap bolts just attaching the heat-shield to the exhaust mani. you can replace them with some that don't rust......