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Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:50 am

I am sick and tire if buying the wrong lug bolts for my car. Here's the skinny I bought a set of 914 porsche wheels for my bug. I first started with CB screw in wheels studs. They did not work because not enough stud was sticking out to tighten up the lug nut. So then began to search the WWW and could not find something suitable some suggested using porsche lug bolts. Original porsche lug bolts were out of my price range so I got the dimesions from the local dealer for a lug bolt. I found the a company by the name of top line made some in the conical type. I bought these and they worked but to my dismay when screwed in the lug bolt stuck out past the threaded part of the drum about 3/4" in. Not feeling comfortable I use some washers to stop the the lug bolt from totaly screwing in and with this it only stuck about 1/2" past the drum, better but not great. So while surfing through ebay some one was selling oem lug bolts for the porsche 914, talk to person and showed them the kind of wheel and said yes it would work. So I bough them and installed them and would you know they also went past the drum about 1/2" because they were also conical. I cannot use ball seat because the wheel will not be centered on the hole (is this correct?) To make matters worse the aftermaket lug bolts tens to loose up by themselves, which cause me to almost completely loose a tire and wheel while running. SO I have to carry a wrench and socket and make sure the're tighten before I go anywhere. I have seen other people run with these and have no problem, how do I fix this problem?

PS pressing in studs cost too much around here, the lug bolts I have bought are 38mmx 1.5x 14mm. Please visit the link to see an example of the wheel I am using http://www.enid-underground.com/ph , bug is a std 73. I appreciate you reading this and lending some input.

Wed Jan 12, 2005 12:21 pm

no one, man I though If posted this on the Porsche forum I would have better luck. This one to post on the front page name it a " Real stumper"

Wed Jan 12, 2005 12:30 pm

What wheels did you get?

I've been using Pedrini 5.5x15 914 alloys for 25 years. You need the correct 914 lug bolt which are 38mm long with a 1.5mm thread pitch and a 19mm head.

I've seen ads on ebay for chrome lug bolts, but they have a 17mm head and are VW/Audi watercooled bolts. They have a tappered seat, not the correct ball seat needed for the 914 alloys.

They simply don't fit correctly.

Wed Jan 12, 2005 12:53 pm

yeah!!, that the kind i bought with the 17mm head

this the kind of wheels I got

[url] http://www.enid-underground.com/ph/displayimage.php?album=2&pos=2[/url]

thanks for the help

Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:00 pm

Those are aftermarket and could require their own special lug bolts.

I think those are Dan Gurney wheels.

Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:03 pm

OHHH!!!!! well that explains alot, would you happen to know any links on the web to a reseller..

Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:05 pm

If they do require special lugbolts... you'll have to find them used. Thosre wheels have long been out of production.

You can try the 914 forum on Pelican Part's website or contact some of the 914 speciality shops.

Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:15 pm

Well if is that complicated, I think I will sell the wheels, cause I am tire of spending money.

Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:23 pm

If you're looking for a bolt on wheel, get the "real" 914 Fuchs. They are forged which makes them very light and strong. But you do need the correct lug bolts and center caps are no cheap.

Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:41 pm

Well , I am thinking of selling the bug, I have a bus now and want to get it on the road. But I do not want to sell something that is not working properly.

I also have a dilema I need a motor for the bus, and if I take the motor away, the bug is usless. I do not think anybody would buy a rough 73 body.

Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:20 pm

I'm willing to bet a machine shop could turn the right angle for you...

Or the wheels could be modified... but that gets a bit squeemish when it comes to thinning out the flange on the wheel! :shock:

Fri Feb 18, 2005 2:48 pm

OK, here's what a friend and I went through trying to get 4 lug Pedrini's to properly fit on his 69' ghia. Hope some will help or apply. I had also picked Glenn's brain and after taking his advice and trying to get some original 914 lugs twice on ebay, I grew frustrated as I got swooped both times in the last few minutes of the bid and lost. I hate dial-up.
Anyway, I purchased these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33749&item=7954468714&rd=1

Long story short, I had been in contact with Alex Magro down in Tampa inquiring about some original lugbolts and come to find out this guy on ebay is his aftermarket lug supplier. I bought some through Alex just for being honest and when they arrived some were chipped and jacked up from being thrown in a USPS Priority bag and shipped from Texas.

Anyway, the 5 chipped ones were replaced with 8 new ones no charge. We went to bolt the Pedrinis up and here's what happened even though I was guaranteed that these lugs would work perfectly. The rears bolted up great but when they were spun, started to catch and grab the shoes and springs inside the drum. 1/4 inch spacers solved the rear problems. As far as the front went, we went to bolt them up and the bearing collar on the rotor bottomed out on the inside taper of the Pedrini's before the back of the wheels even touched the rotor face. After putting 1/4 inch spacers on the front as well, and removing the zerk fitting from the lower balljoints and plugging them, it all finally worked. We had even gone to the trouble of purchasing some nylon sleeved sockets meant to not scratch and mar the new chrome lugs and the cheap ass things chipped and flaked anyway. As far as the ball seat on the Pedrinis, these lugs fit the contour perfectly, but were too long and cheaply chromed.... Alex was a stand up guy completely, but these lugs were really lame. I just had to bite it on that one, as he was just selling them through another supplier.

Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:14 pm

I went to the spacers and it did work but the lug over time loosen, I posted this question on another forum and a guy pointed me to the right lug nuts. It is using cragar style lug nuts , as in for muscle cars with the cragar style wheels. Worked like a charmed.

Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:40 am

Where did you get them from? I've got a set of 2.0 Fuchs and I've read enough not to get the new chrome repro lugs.

Sun Mar 27, 2005 11:32 am

if you mean the wheels I bought them on ebay, if you are referring to the lugs I bought them at the auto zone and they worked great.[/i]

Sat Apr 09, 2005 4:28 pm

I just bought a set of aluminum wheels that came of a 914. The back of the wheel has VW on it and a part number of 914.361 . Are these Fuschs or 2.0 liters? Do I have to buy Porsche lug bolts? How expensive are they? Any suggestions on what to use to clean them or polish them? They are in pretty good shape, and I only paid $250 for 5 wheels. Just hope the price of the lugnuts don't kill me. Thanks,

Danny

Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:55 pm

imn2vws wrote: I just bought a set of aluminum wheels that came of a 914. The back of the wheel has VW on it and a part number of 914.361 . Are these Fuschs or 2.0 liters? Do I have to buy Porsche lug bolts? How expensive are they? Any suggestions on what to use to clean them or polish them? They are in pretty good shape, and I only paid $250 for 5 wheels. Just hope the price of the lugnuts don't kill me. Thanks,

Danny

The original cost up to $30 from a dealership, after market I have seen them from 8.95 tp 10 a lug bolt. :D