Dress up parts

[tattooed_pariah]

Lock if this becomes a flame war, I'm just curious..

20 years ago I'd always hear "Chrome won't get you home" in reference to the crap aftermarket chrome dress up kits that were poorly designed and didn't do their jobs.. Is Billet aluminum the new chrome?

The pieces all look pretty, but do they hold up?

This morning I had a billet aluminum alternator pulley nut strip out all of it's threads while I was driving. I admit, I didn't install it "correctly" in the sense that I didn't use a torque wrench, but I wasn't expecting it to fail. I tightened it up the way I (and probably most of you) always do, get it snug, then go about 1/8 to a 1/4 turn further.

This alternator pulley and nut came from a reputable source, and I've e-mailed asking if they think I screwed something up or if there is some other problem, so I don't want to put them on blast without giving them a chance to get back to me, but I'm disappointed..

The pulley had a bit of a taper, and the nut had a matching one, but tightening it as I did cause the nut to eat into the pulley and was doing damage, so I wound up putting a washer between the nut and the dress up piece that separates it from the pulley, that stopped further damage there, but I feel like I shouldn't have to do things like that..

I'm probably just being whiny about it.. thoughts?

_________________
-pariah (just a novice from "that other VW site")
'72 Volksrod "Effigy"

"Never worry about stepping on people's toes. People who get their toes stepped on are either sitting down, or standing still on the job."
-Admiral Arleigh Burke, USN(ret.)

[Stripped66]

[FreeBug]

Apparently billet won't get you home, either...the purpose of the dress-up kits is to dress things up, not make them work better (or at all).

Stock Rocks!

And billet is the new chrome...of the 1990's.

[tattooed_pariah]

[modok]

[Glenn]

The chrome on that steering wheel looks tired. Might want to replace it before it fails
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[earthquake]

[tattooed_pariah]

got a reply from the maker, he offered to replace the nut, said it looks like not all the threads were engaging.. which they weren't, because due to the amount of spacers needed, i couldn't tighten it enough to engage all the threads.. I'm going to politely decline his offer and just go back to rattle canning OEM steel pulleys.

All in all, a good customer service experience with a part hat didn't work well for me, so no need in my mind to give a negative review about it..

lol, that steering wheel needs to be replaced, I just don't wanna pay close to $200 for one i like. haha, it came with the car, and until i find one i really need to have, it'll stay on the car.. even if it is only held on with 2 of the 3 bolts..
_________________
-pariah (just a novice from "that other VW site")
'72 Volksrod "Effigy"

"Never worry about stepping on people's toes. People who get their toes stepped on are either sitting down, or standing still on the job."
-Admiral Arleigh Burke, USN(ret.)

[modok]

It's lightweight design. The minimum number of fasteners to locate a plane to an axis should be 3, but
If you count the nut in the middle it is 3
I approve your bolting strategy

[Mikedrevguy]

"not all threads were engaged" -
might a slightly larger/smaller belt help get more threads engaged?
_________________
74 1303 (RevBug): plan for German Look
76 914 with 2260
79 VW Iltis
69 Bwajaja
"The wise speak because they have something to say; while the foolish speak because they have to say something." Plato

Illigitimi non-Carborundum!!

[mcmscott]

100 percent user error. The user has 2 bolts kinda holding his steering wheel on! And he posts pics of it!! Obviously has no clue how to adjust the belt tension on aircooled engine and is trying to point blame on some one else!
_________________
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people,

68 Ghia
67 T-1
65 Notch
02 Mexican beetle
74 Thing
15 Long travel rail
07 Nomad
05 f-250

[modok]

Perhaps it needs clearer instructions.
100% guaranteed for suckers think your pulley looks kewl.
For decorative and racing only.
End user responsible for determining suitability for other uses.

[Frank Bassman]

Where is Mark Tucker to remind us all that we need to be smarter than what we are working on?

Maybe he can also bless me on my possible slant 6 '74 Dodge dart with 3 speed slushbox I may buy soon

-Frank

[tattooed_pariah]

This is the belt I'm using: https://www.vbeltsupply.com/3lk360-1.html

same width as factory. With two shims, I got 1/2" deflection, 3 shims got me 3/4" deflection. I was running with two shims, vertical alignment was on spot.

also note: i never said I was blaming anyone, if anything I believe I said I'm probably at fault.. like I said in the first place I got it from a reputable parts source, and they are providing great customer service.. let's not turn a civil discussion into a "the OP is a jackass" thread..
_________________
-pariah (just a novice from "that other VW site")
'72 Volksrod "Effigy"

"Never worry about stepping on people's toes. People who get their toes stepped on are either sitting down, or standing still on the job."
-Admiral Arleigh Burke, USN(ret.)

[grandpa red]

Now if that aluminum nut had a thread insert it may not have failed.

Also tightening aluminum to aluminum is going to gaul.
_________________
'72 Beetle

[tattooed_pariah]

[Glenn]

[grandpa red]

[74 Thing]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1660200

I believe the alt nut is 12x1.5mm - a lug nut works too if you are in a jam if you use the same size studs on your drums or discs.

[LOWE TECH]

From what I can see I'm running the same set up. Works good for me. I think the mistake was putting a washer between the conical piece and the nut. I noticed them wanting to scrub a little putting mine together so I used a lil' slick'em.