Rick Morrison wrote:
>
> On Fri, 20 Nov 1998 19:27:11 -0800 Mark Snowdon <racer45@bellsouth.net>
> writes:
> >Am I the only one to try this, or would this post be of benefit for
> >anyone else. I want to try to put Alloy wheels on my Midgets. I have
> >been eying some of the 4 on 100mm wheels that come through our
> >wrecking
> >yard, on cars like Hondas, Mitsubishis, and VWs. I tried to bolt one
> >on
> >my 71,it hasn't gotten to the shop yet, so it sits forlorn in the junk
> >yard, and found that it will bolt up, but the studs are a little
> >short.
> >I was using the stock lug nuts for holding on Rostyle wheels, so an
> >acorn style nut might be a better choice. Looks as though the front
> >wheels will just touch the frame, at full steering lock, so a half
> >inch
> >spacer might correct this.
>
> If you're planning to use the Midget in competition, forget spacers (I
> know, some folks use them BUT....). They are a last resort to fit a
> particular wheel to a car. The problem is they tend to put a shear load
> on the wheel studs, and nothing good was ever said about a wheel parting
> company with it's attendent hub.
>
> Before you lay out the cash, double check the bolt pattern. Midget's have
> a 4" bolt circle, which is about 100 mm , but not exactly. The 100mm
> pattern may start on ok, but when the lug nuts are tightened, it could
> cause the studs to be subject to a bending load, by not being centered in
> the wheel hole.
>
> As for the studs, the simplest solution is to replace the wimpy little
> 3/8 wheel studs with 7/16" studs in a longer length. Most performance
> shops have or can get them for you.
The problem as I see it, is that the Honda rim sits on the hat section
of the brake rotor, and using spacers would in fact just be used to fill
the space between the rotor and the backside of the rim. This would
prevent bending of the rim around the lug openings, and reduce the
possibility of tearing out the holes. As for the 2 mm spacing
difference, Hondas use much larger studs, and so there is some room for
adjustment, but you are correct in recommending larger studs, both in
diameter and length, so this play might disappear.Thank you for your
comments, I will use them in making a decision, as it sounds like you
have had some experience in this matter before.
Mark Snowdon
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