CAUTION re: Left-Hand Lug Nuts for Alloy Wheels

[Dana Loomis <dloomis@domain.elided>]

Finding lug nuts with left-handed threads in the right pitch is not the
only problem in fitting alloy wheels to pre-1972 Alfas.  The other issue is
that the studs are too short to work with most alloy wheels.  The original
studs were made for pressed steel wheels, but cast alloys tend to have
thick centers, so the amount of stud that protrudes when the wheel is
installed is reduced.  This is the case, for example, with the alloys
supplied by the factory for the 2000-series cars; I haven't checked
Panasports.  

BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THIS.  For safety, I would use only open lug nuts,
not the acorn type.  There should be at least a couple of threads
protruding from the lug nut with the wheels installed and the nuts torqued
down.  If not, you must change the studs for your own safety.  

On my 71 GTV vintage race car, the solution was to replace all of the
original studs with US-made aftermarket pieces that are longer than stock
and have right-hand threads.  

Dana Loomis
Durham NC, USA 

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