Date:         Tue, 18 Apr 2000 11:22:42 EDT
Reply-To:     Merrag@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Raul Cisneros <Merrag@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Need Alloy Lug Nuts/NAPA
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

Last year I needed a full set of these pricy puppies and found a way around 
the cost;
I found that NAPA auto parts stores sell 14 mm thread lug nuts intentioned 
for some GM trucks. They are really beefy and sell for around $1.50, however, 
the face-the part that seats to the rim is tapered at a different angle than 
the alloys I was using (SA “wolfsburg” 15"). So I bought a bunch, then had my 
father who happens to have a metal lathe cut the angle to 56 degrees. You 
could probably find a machine shop who'll do the same for probably not too 
much. In turning these on the lathe, we chucked a 14 mm threaded bolt, 
shimmed it perfectly staight, then just screwed the nuts on and off, with 
perfect alignment each time. I found that slow cutting produced a better 
finish. I've had them on for almost a year, they work great.
I'm assuming that the standard vanagon 14" alloys have the same nut taper? 
Measure and cut, then adjust/test and cut again.

Raúl Cisneros
87 Syncro Westy
86 Syncro GL
87 Syncro GL (parts)
97 Subaru outback
89 Saab 900 (Wifes, getting new headgasket because it was jealous of the 
waterleakers)