Postby Rick » Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:22 pm
In the US I would probably use a 5/16" bolt, only 0.002" smaller diameter than 8mm. The overall length and thread length combination will be hard to find, but worst case you'd buy a longer bolt that doesn't have enough threads after being cut down, and then run a die down it to get the correct thread length. Not much tensile load on the bolt so I wouldn't worry about buying a high test bolt, but it wouldn't be foolish to use the best bolt you can find. If you can find a longer 8mm bolt and cut down/rethead it, better yet- a threaded rod with a nut at each end would be my last resort choice- bare threads fretting against the hole in the soft crankcases would probably auger out the crankcase hole. Or, a piece of 8mm rod and run threads on both ends.
Your MK3D looks great.
Rick