In a message dated 22/05/2007 4:26:57 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

I am  going to have metric stainless steel sheet meal screws coated with
black oxide  finish. This is for attaching the lower grill to the Vanagon.Got to
have that  black finish or the grill looks strange. Black oxide is the premier
finish for  metals exposed to the elements.It is top of the line for corrosion
resistance  and durability. These are going to be done with the hot tank
method (the best  and most expensive).. OEM screws are plain steel and  just
painted  black.. Most are rusting a bit.

American sized screws wont fit.  The #12 is just a tiny bit too small.The
screw spins and spins after the screw  seats. The #14 is a quantum leap of a size
difference, and may actually bust  the plastic nut on a hot day.Besiodes ,
the larger head looks like the buttons  on Micky Mouse's shorts. The metric fits
just right. Unfortunately, this  metric equilivant of the American sized
sheet metal screw is 3 times as  expensive, and I have to get them from
Switzerland. The cost difference for  stainless steel machine screws or bolts. over
American sized bolts is only  about 30 percent..I would use the American size if
they fit,but they  do

I am about top push the buy button on these screws. When I  get them from
overseas, I have to send them off to Wisconsen for the black  oxide. Then they
send them back to me.If all goes well, I will have these for  sale.They are the
best, but also the most expensive.Infact,they will be the  only ones
avaliable anywhere, as far as I can tell. Not sure of the  price, as I wont meet the
minimum order for Black oxide and will have to  spread this cost to the 300  or
so, I get done. Any one interested in  something like this for their super
sharp  Vanagon??.

Roger, this is a REALLY  GOOD idea.  I'm always searching for a screw for
those pesky grill  clips.  Since VW decided to supply them without screws but the
plastic push  pin which I DO NOT LIKE !  I've been assembling the van for two
days now  that just got back from the paint ship using your newly acquired SS
screw kits  and I notice a few things that are lacking in your kits.  Here
are my  recommendations:
    Three screws and flat washers for the gas  filler neck to plastic
surround.
    Screws, nuts and washers for the licence plate on  the rear and front if
needed.  Here in Ontario we have front &  rear plates.  Each screw & nut
assembly should have three flat washers,  one for on top of the licence plate, one
for between the plate and door and one  for under the nut.  Nut should be a
Nylock nut.
    Bolts, nuts and flat washers to hold front  & rear bumper to the body.
Front requires two 8mm bolts with flat  washers.  Rear requires four 8mm bolts
with nuts, flat and lock washers or  Nylock nuts.
    Machine screws with Nylock nuts and two flat  washers, one for inside the
cap and one for under the nut, to  hold the bumper end caps to the body.  I
like this way better than the OEM  style sheet metal screw because the hole in
the body is often to large for the  sheet metal screw.  The flat washer on the
inside needs to be a fender  washer style to offer good coverage of the
possibly damaged metal.
    Two screws and washers to hold the cover of the  sliding door track.
    Screws and washers to hold the headlight  buckets in.  Round headlights
and rectangular headlights.

    I may find more today !

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
for sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )_ Frank Condelli &
Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)  - Vanagon/Vanagon
Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley_ Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)  _  BusFusion_
(http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,
2007