UPDATE: High School Auto Shop Tow'd

[manxdavid]

Hey David, That's a good question. I was talking about lugs toattache the wheel directly to the drum, I hadn't thought about lug nuts to mount the wheel to the adapter. Here's a link to the ones I was talking about http://www.mamotorworkstv.com/vw/product/319990/,  However, they also carry washers that fit into the beveled areas where the lugs fit, So I'l see if those will work with conventional nuts to mount the wheels to the adapters.  http://www.mamotorworkstv.com/vw/product/370603/

I've a feeling those bolts are made to fit modern repro Sprinstars that are cast aluminum, not stamped steel. For the adapters you'll be wanting to look for a nut to fit a 1/2" fine thread on a steel wheel, maybe something like an old Mustang or Jaguar but again, make sure the outside diameter's big enough or use some sort of washer.

My Sprintstars are mounted to stock VW 4 bolt drums with stock VW bolts, I've fitted them with polished stainless steel push on covers to pretty them up. I always prefer standard VW over aftermarket.

[Scott-Drolet]

Wow David, That's  a beautiful Manx. It's exactly the look I'm going for with my Manx.

And, as far as the Tow'd goes . . . I've switched gears.  I want the Tow'd to look like an old school off road car, so the rear 10" wide original 4 lugs I have that look like yours are too wide for the tires I'm going to be running.  I decided instead to buy the repro 5-lug Sprintstars for the Tow'd which means I can use standard 60 degree acorn-shaped 12mm  lugnuts.  Since I'm going to be using 30" tall rear tires, I'm going to have to install a new transmission.  I'll plan on swaping out the rear drums to five lugs at the same time.  In the meantime, I actually have in my garage a set of adpters that'll allow five lug wheels to be mounted to the existing four lug drums.  The tires are going to be Mickey Thompson Mini-Mags E78-15's (27" tall x 5" tread width) on the front and Mickey Thompson Baja Pro 30/7.0-15 (30" tall x 6" tread width) on the rear, mounted on 5" wide rims . . . The Baja pro tires are not DOT approved, whatever that means (kidding).  I will use them on the street even thought they are tehcnically an off-road tire only, just like the Mini-Mags used to be.  The Baja Pros are rated to handle 2000lbs each, so I'm thinking they'll do fine on my 1250 lb. Tow'd.

Here's pics:

Mini-Mags -




Baja Pro:





Meanwhile,  I'll save the 4 lug Sprintstars for my Manx which is being rebuilt in early 2012.

Ed, thanks for reminding me about Topline . . . I've used him in the past and he's a great source.  I also found that Mid-America was about 20% more expensive than Topline. Plus, freight would be more as well.


 

[1856]

That's great Scott you'll be able to run around on one tire ....

Mark

[louisb]

One word: Centerlines



--louis

[Scott-Drolet]

HA!  Don't be ridiculous Mark . . .I'll have TWO tires.   Jeese . . .