distributorguy Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 I'm on the hunt for narrower rims to use at Bonneville, and I'm wondering if any of you folks know if ANY application used a 15" space saver wheel with out lug pattern? I've read about options online but never find any at the local salvage yards. Plus its -25F here right now. Not junkyard weather. A 4" wide rim would be ideal, but narrower will work too. 5" is a litte too wide - I have those brand new from Cragar. Thanks in advance for any leads - aluminum or steel. Quote Link to comment
G-Duax Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 I use aluminum narrow space-saver wheels on front of my Cressida at both the drags, and the Texas Mile. Been kind of looking for one in 16" to carry as a spare in on the 620, but have as of yet to find one. You might try the Honda Passport, Infiniti QX56, or Toyota 4Runner. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 The space saver ones I've seen say 45 MPH max speed and 50 miles distance. They're just for getting you to a place to fix your flat. This is probably meant for the 'rubber' cover on the rim but are the rims built to the same specs as regular rims? Are they really good enough to go 3 times as fast? Quote Link to comment
G-Duax Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 If you have enough $$, and/or are extremely lucky to find 2 sets of 6-lug 3-piece wheels, they can be disassembled , and using only the outer narrow halves, made into narrow rims. I did this just to get narrow fronts, that matched my wider rears. You end up with a bunch of wide halves, that you can pawn off for someone really wide rims. Here is what I had left over. Sold them for cheap. 1 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 Nissan or Mazda 2wd trucks during the late 80's or 90's. I have one for my red truck as the original spare is pretty old lol. Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 Toyota's used a full size spare, so no luck there. Wouldn't cost a lot to have a set modified though. I bet you could have them done for $100 per wheel. 1 Quote Link to comment
G-Duax Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 Now that you mention it, I've seen different shops saying they an change wheel widths. My first drivable car, a '60 bug, had the worst looking, crack-addict skinny wheels. My dad cut the center out of 4 VW wheels, and then 4 13" Corvair wheels, and made me something that would hold more rubber. A couple of years later, he did the same for my '66 mustang, using outer rims from 15x10" farm wagon wheels. No lathe, no dial indicator, just talent, a cutting torch, and a stick welder. Damn wheels run truer than some aftermarket wheels I've bought since then. Quote Link to comment
Rjawm Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 I have 2 "space-saver" spares from a couple of my past D21 2wd projects being used as rollers on a parts truck. They are the 6 on 5.5" pattern. Could be a source for you to look for them. Although I can't remember for sure whether they are 15" or 16" rims. 1 Quote Link to comment
FrankRizzo Posted February 2, 2018 Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 WheelVintiques makes a 15x4 with a 6x5.5 bolt pattern, but it is the "Artillery" style in steel... and it's $168. https://www.wheelvintiques.com/15x4-artillery-primer-6x5-5-bolt-2-5-8-backspace.html A few months back I saw a 15x4 in our lug pattern in a "smoothie" style at an online hotrod shop. I thought "wow, that would make a great spare wheel replacement" Of course, now I cant find it. I searched my History, but all that does is remind me that I look at a lot of pron.... . Quote Link to comment
Rjawm Posted February 2, 2018 Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 A few months back I saw a 15x4 in our lug pattern in a "smoothie" style at an online hotrod shop. I thought "wow, that would make a great spare wheel replacement" Of course, now I cant find it. I searched my History, but all that does is remind me that I look at a lot of pron.... I found these but both are 15x5... https://www.ebay.com/itm/ARPR1546L258-15x4-Artillery-6x5-5-bolt-2-675-backspace-Primed-finish-/253252636096 https://www.wheelvintiques.com/smoothie-bare-finish.html Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted February 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 Frank - THANK YOU!!! I've searched and searched and searched for anywhere that makes wheels to find something new. Yesterday I also found a kidney bean wheel in 15x4.5 undrilled so they can be made to any bolt pattern, but well over $400 each with shipping. Wheel Vintiques is also well known for smoothie wheels, so maybe they can make something up for me? Its worth a call to see what I can find, then I can get a full set since I now have different bolt patterns front/rear. I was hoping to find narrower, but it seems like that's a pipe dream. Quote Link to comment
G-Duax Posted February 2, 2018 Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 I now have different bolt patterns front/rear. Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted February 2, 2018 Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 Though they aren't exactly in your back yard, Stockton Wheel can make or modify wheels for you. They are relatively inexpensive too. http://www.stocktonwheel.com/ 2 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted February 2, 2018 Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 I found this - https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/repairingyesterdaystrailers/spare-tire-options-for-older-trailers-with-6-lug-r-t3874.html 1 Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted February 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 I agree whole heartedly. I would like for there to be a way to easily modify the front hubs to 5-lug. Then I can run much lighter wheels all around as ANY 5-lug pattern will have tons of narrow wheel options. Its something I haven't had the time to investigate. Since I run different tire sizes front/rear, the lug pattern isn't that big of a concern. Its not like I have to plan on rotating wheels every 5k miles. That would be 100 years of salt flat racing. Stockton made my current front wheels to get the right backspacing, but they don't have any narrow hoop options. They also offer full perimeter welding at a very insignificant extra charge to meet rules. 1 Quote Link to comment
G-Duax Posted February 3, 2018 Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 I don't have a 620 hub in front of me, but is there any chance of re-drilling them to 5-lug? Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted February 3, 2018 Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 You have disc brake front spindles? They use the same bearings as 720/d21. On those trucks you can use Toyota 5lug hubs with mild modification. Its possible it would work for you as well. Talk to member MKlotz, who runs Blue Hands Inc. Video for reference (it's mklotz video): 2 Quote Link to comment
Str8jacket Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 "2 by 2 hands of blue!" 1 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 Firefly is one of my favorite tv shows ever. But about the d22 compatibility I do not know. 1 Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted February 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 Toyota uses 5x4.5 while my rear axle is GM at 5x4.75. Still not a legit solution. It looks like there may be room to re-drill the bolt pattern. I'll look into that more this week. Think about how many GM aftermarket wheel options there are floating around on CL!!! Quote Link to comment
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