Alcoa's Warranty and warning

thomas g. warner

New member
Mar 24, 1998
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Just got off the phone with Alcoa 1-800-242-9898 after 1/2 hour of talking
and checking information about the Alcoa wheels and accessories finally have
some answers. Not good for me.

After someone saying that imitation Alcoa wheels were circulating asked her
how to identify the correct one. Answer, part number 160231 stamped on the
inside of the rim, Just before the Forged Alcoa aluminum there is a hour
glass symbol. I was pretty sure that mine were ok to start with and was
more worried about the nuts, center caps and nuts. I confirmed that my alcoa
wheels are OK. Nuts and center pieces were not however!

There is also a warning on the outside of the box "Use only with two piece
flanged cap nuts P/N 39987 or 139987 (9/16"-18). Do not use nut plates and
cone nuts.

Gateway had dropped shipped my wheels, nuts, center caps and covers from
continental tire and Wheel, 203 US 31 South, White Pidgeon MI 49099. The
dealer had put in 8 1/2" center caps made in china, and nut covers from the
same origin. Have not received the lug nuts yet but suspect that they are
also Chinese and that none of the parts are genuine Alcoa.

Alcoa told me that the 8 1/2" center cap would void the warranty since it
covers the whole center section of the wheel and comes between the lug nut
and the wheel. Also the correct Alcoa lug nut is P/N 139987 and has a
chamfer on the outside lip to compensate for the 003611 cneter cap, as well
as a free spinning washer on the bottom.

The correct lug cover is the Alcoa hug-a-lug part number 000190.

Bottom line. Be careful, not all GMC parts distributers are using the
correct parts when you order them. to compare prices you need to be sure
that the part numbers are correct and that they are genuine Alcoa parts.

Hope this helps someone.


>Does anyone "stock" Alcoa's rather than drop-shipping from Alcoa??? Anyone
>have a set they wish they didn't??
>Lanier
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
 
>
> Just got off the phone with Alcoa 1-800-242-9898 after 1/2 hour of
> talking and checking information about the Alcoa wheels and
> accessories finally have some answers. Not good for me.

Just a reminder that I have pictures and part numbers of the correct
wheels and accessories on my web page. I bought mine at NTB with a
total pre-tax cost of $1137. Just be sure to insist up front on the
proper *Alcoa* part numbers. The first set of wheels NTB received were
LTS's for Ford application. The salesguy apologized and sent them
back. The second set were the correct wheels.

As I've done for several GMCnetters already, I'll be glad to fax a copy
of my invoice(dated 6/18/98), useful for getting both the right parts
and right price.

Patrick
- --
Patrick Flowers
Mailto:patri63

The GMC Motorhome Page
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com
 
Tom,

If Gateway drop shipped the Alcoas from Continental Tire and Wheel in MI,
has anyone thought of contacting Continental about ordering direct and
pricing also. Cuts out one middleman.

Roger
 
We could easily do that. Better yet maybe each club should do it as a
service for its members. Continental number is 616-483-7661.

>Tom,
>
>If Gateway drop shipped the Alcoas from Continental Tire and Wheel in MI,
>has anyone thought of contacting Continental about ordering direct and
>pricing also. Cuts out one middleman.
>
>Roger
>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
 
I live about 45 minutes N of White Pigeon and delt with Continental when I
obtained Alco wheels. The contact there is Ron Kline, 800-638-9447.
Paul Bartz
From: Thomas G. Warner
Sent: 1/13/99 9:42 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa's Warranty and warning
We could easily do that. Better yet maybe each club should do it as a
service for its members. Continental number is 616-483-7661.

Tom,
If Gateway drop shipped the Alcoas from Continental Tire and Wheel in MI,
has anyone thought of contacting Continental about ordering direct and
pricing also. Cuts out one middleman.
Roger
 
Here is the latest and hopefully final information on the Alcoa Wheels and
accessories that are available from the various dealers. I talked to Alcoa
again this morning and discussed my lug nuts and studs.

1. It is anbsolutely NOT necessary to replace the wheel studs on the GMC
motorhome. Another myth put to rest and one that more than likely cost a lot
of owners money that did not need to be spent (replacement of 58 studs is
not cheap!). The whole thing started because the 160231 wheel was made for
the GMC truck, and when they are used in th etruck application on the rear
with another Alcoa inside wheel, the studs have to be changed for longer
ones because of the added thickness of the 2 Alcoa rims over the two steel
ones.

2. The 8 1/2" center cap that some dealers are trying to sell us is not
satisfactory for the Alcoa wheel. The one I have has 11 holes in it on a 6
1/2" bolt circle, and fits over the studs. Four (4) of the holes are 3/4"
diameter and four(4) are 1" diameter. The lug nut than goes over top of the
cap. The problem is that on the 1" holes, very little of the lug nut is
contacting the cap and none of the wheel. The bottom swivel nut is 1 3/8"
outer diameter and inner is 1 diameter. Not good says Alcoa and should not
be used.

If you are ordering Alcoa wheels make sure that you know what you are
getting before plunking your hard earned money on the counter.

Here is some info that may help you compare prices.
1. Every 2 Alcoa wheels weighs 46 You can go to WWW.UPS.com and find out
the shipping cost from the dealer to your house. In my case it was $12.38
from zip 49909 to 13477. total shipping for 6 wheels than would be $37.14
plus a little for the lug nuts.

>I live about 45 minutes N of White Pigeon and delt with Continental when I
>obtained Alco wheels. The contact there is Ron Kline, 800-638-9447.
>Paul Bartz
>From: Thomas G. Warner
>Sent: 1/13/99 9:42 PM
>Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa's Warranty and warning
>We could easily do that. Better yet maybe each club should do it as a
>service for its members. Continental number is 616-483-7661.

>Tom,
>If Gateway drop shipped the Alcoas from Continental Tire and Wheel in MI,
>has anyone thought of contacting Continental about ordering direct and
>pricing also. Cuts out one middleman.
>Roger
>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach