Ben ,
   Thanks for the info on the wheels . I have found that 14mm ball seat
bolts for audi 100/5000 alloys fit the seats in the  clk wheels perfectly
after I opened the lug hole up to 14 mm.
Gonna try some porsche 911/928 lugs (steel of course) as these are ball
seats too. If all else fails I will use a counter sink and change the seats.
  Do you have a source for the center caps you mention?
Thanks,
Dennis Atkins

>From: BenT Syncro <syncro@gmail.com>
>Reply-To: BenT Syncro <syncro@gmail.com>
>To: Dennis Atkins <bikeputz@hotmail.com>
>Subject: Re: Thread pitch on vanagon lug bolts???
>Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2004 07:25:01 -0800
>
>Dennis,
>
>I almost forgot about your inquiry. Yes, I used the conical seat
>lugnuts on the wheels. The pitch of the 12mm ballseats were close
>enough for my 2wd street driving needs. If this were going to be used
>on a Syncro or even a 2wd Westy, I would recontour the seats to match.
>I myself get my wheels done by CNC machine for accuracy. However, you
>can economically do the same thing on a drill press by using a 60�
>countersink. Best be careful though as it has to be absolutely
>centered in the hole. Lucky that the cone makes it self centering.
>
>Ball seats are trickier. The machinist has to use a purpose-built ball
>bit. I have not been able to find a commercially available
>alternative.
>
>Although the wheels will fit and clear in a 2wd, the center caps will
>not all fit. There are commercially available raised center caps which
>can be easily installed with Allen-head set screws from the back.
>
>
>Good Luck,
>Ben
>
>
>On Sat, 13 Nov 2004 04:32:59 +0000, Dennis Atkins <bikeputz@hotmail.com>
>wrote:
> > Ben,
> >    The wheels are in fact the forged,.polished  early clk wheels you
> > mention. 16 x7, 37mm offset.
> > Got  5 of them on ebay for $150.  I have drilled the lug holes on one of
> > them to 14mm so I can try them on the van (2wd carrat) and they fit with
>out
> > any clearance issues. I have also tried a 14mm mercedes lug bolt in that
> > wheel and the ball seems to fit fine ?but I may be wrong.
> > Your paragraph:
> >
> > "You just to bore the lugholes
> > bigger and recontour the seats. I used them successfully with concial
> > seat hardware which allowed use without expensive recontouring."
> >
> > is confusing , does that mean you used conical bolts in the ball seat
>holes?
> > If I end up recontouring the seats , how is that accomplished
>economically
> > clarify please.
> > Thanks,
> > Dennis  Atkins
> >
> > >From: BenT <syncro@gmail.com>
> > >Reply-To: BenT <syncro@gmail.com>
> > >To: Dennis Atkins <bikeputz@hotmail.com>
> > >CC: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> > >Subject: Re: Thread pitch on vanagon lug bolts???
> > >Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 18:38:11 -0800
> >
> >
> > >
> > >On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 01:44:03 +0000, Dennis Atkins
><bikeputz@hotmail.com>
> > >wrote:
> > >
> > > > Does anyone know the thread pitch  for the lugs on the vanagon? I am
> > >trying
> > > > to come up with lugs to mount some Mercedes CLK wheels on my van
>without
> > > > destroying the wheels by countersinking the lug holes. I have found
>14
> > >mm
> > > > ball seat lugs and bolts ,but the thread pitch is 1.5mm. I don't
>know if
> > > > this is the same as the vanagon or not. Also in searching the
>archives,I
> > > > have found posts that seem to suggest that the lugs for the steel
>wheels
> > > > are ball seat lugs. Is this true?
> > > > Thanks in advance,
> > > > Dennis Atkins
> > >
> > >Dennis,
> > >
> > >You have the correct thread pitch. You are correct in that the steel
> > >wheels used on Vanagons use ball seat hardware. The factory Carat
> > >alloys use a 60� conical seat. Be aware that the typical MB CLK alloys
> > >are bored to accept 12mm bolts with ballseats. If you enlarge those
> > >holes to fit the 14mm lugbolts/nuts, you will find that the "bowl" or
> > >contour of the 14mm ballseat lugbolts/nuts do not match your CLK
> > >wheels.
> > >
> > >Solution? Recontour the lugholes to match your hardware or find
> > >hardware to match.
> > >
> > >I am assuming that you have a 2-wheel drive Vanagon with stock US spec
> > >hubs. Syncros use studs all the way around vs. bolt sup front and nuts
> > >in back for the 2wd. The SA big brake kits convert the front to studs
> > >as well.
> > >
> > >Another issue you need to contend with is the thickness of the
> > >mounting pads. Steel wheels are at about � inch. Many alloys are �+
> > >inches. That means you will need longer bolts or studs. Not only that,
> > >if the offset is not similar to stock, you will need to use spacers
> > >which will require even longer bolts/studs.
> > >
> > >Merecedes used several different wheels for the CLK's. Many are
> > >typically ET35-ET38. Those should fit most unmodified Vanagons
> > >reasonably well. Consider wheel width as well as that affects
> > >clearances both inboard and outboard. Best CLK alloy I've found for
> > >use in the Vanagon is the polished forged alloys. Looks like the early
> > >Vanagon hubcaps. Thin enough not to need longer bolts/studs. Offset &
> > >width within clearance tolerances. You just to bore the lugholes
> > >bigger and recontour the seats. I used them successfully with concial
> > >seat hardware which allowed use without expensive recontouring.
> > >
> > >Don't forget centercaps. The fronts should snap right on (MB star
> > >logo). Rears will somewhat challenging as the axle nut will not clear
> > >the centercaps.
> > >
> > >Oh yeah, take the two drum retaining bolts off each side so the new
> > >wheel will sit flat on the drums.
> > >
> > >BenT
> > >http://members.aol.com/bentbtstr8/myhomepage/index.html
> >
> >