Ron Salmon wrote:
>>Of course, the best cost-saving option is to find a mechanic who will simply
>>allow you to supply parts. And as these vehicles get more rare, that is
>>increasingly an option. The mechanic would rather not spend an hour calling
>>around looking for an obscure Vanagon part. The profit he makes on the part
>>is eaten up by the time he spends locating it. From that standpoint you are
>>doing him a favor, and you both win.

I have been reading this thread for a few days and thought I would add something.  A few years ago I added 15" Audi rims and Nokian tires to our van.  The rims required spacers and longer studs.  I thought that the van was due for new rear brakes and had acquired the parts required to replace them (drums, shoes,wheel cylinders, etc.)  The parts I bought were all "premium" quality.  I bought the longer studs from a list member (Ben T).  The tires were bought at Kal Tire.  Kal Tire has a good reputation for the mechanical work they do and had the correct tools to torque the big nuts on the back wheels.  I arranged to have the new tires installed on the rims I supplied and to have the brake parts and longer studs installed at the same time, no one complained about the customer supplied parts..  When I stopped by to check how the job was going the mechanic commented that he enjoyed using the better parts I supplied compared to the jobber parts that they would normally acquire locally.  I am sure I did not save any money but I have been happy with the brakes and tires and I did not have to wait for the shop to find the longer studs.  If there was anything questionable about the entire transaction from a liability standpoint it would have been using the re-worked Audi rims and spacers.

George
"85 Westfalia