Date:         Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:29:36 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Wheel alternatives...
In-Reply-To:  <3f9f887a0909131501m201e9375o8ed694e3cd5d8dea@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

  I guess you'd be a couple of grand into custom wheels from one of the best
wheel builders.  But you would have exactly what you wanted.  Perfect.  Made
for the job.
  There seem to be some people buying and driving Vanagons that want
'perfect'.  Look at what people spend to have their vans restored or to buy
one from the Go Westy shop.  I think I've seen Westies for over $60k and
some think nothing of spending $10k on a motor.

  If you can make do for les$ with used wheels and a bit of time and effort,
and that is your style ( Probably more the norm on the Vanagon list)  why
not?  But if your time is better spent 'executing financial instruments or
selling insurance' or something and you get CEO-style compensation, I reckon
you might wanna just go buy the perfect custom HREs or something to go on
your Go Westie WRX powered gold-plated Syncro.  Custom made to order wheels
are certainly  pretty, light, strong and servicable.   I really have not
looked into how hard and expensive fitting other brand wheels might be, only
seen the posts on the list. Looks like many are into it around a grand, just
guessing.

  On that same subject, is there a source for inexpensive Vanagon steel
wheels in 15"?  I'm gonna need tires soon and wouldn't mind having 15"ers on
my backcountry driven van..
  Don Hanson

On Sun, Sep 13, 2009 at 5:10 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >  Dunno what kinda money everyone is talking when they describe making
> other
> > brand wheels fit and work properly on a Vanagon, but some of the
> > modifications (drilling, different studs, spacers, machine work) sounds
> > pretty pricey.  We might even be up into the custom wheel price range by
> > the
> > time all is done, eh?
> >
>
> Not really. I paid less than $400 for my used MB C230 17" wheels and tires,
> bought the twenty studs for about $50, two drill bits (good ones), one for
> the wheel stud holes, the other for the rotors (big brake kit, rotor
> wouldn't sit because of the knots on the front studs), and balancing the
> wheels, of course, which can still be done inexpensively down here. Vented
> rear disc brakes on the way for the rear, yeeeeeeessssssssssssss.
>
> Héctor
> 1990 Carat 'Ursula'
>