Wheel plugs??
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,871
Likes: 0
From: Coutts Canada
Wheel plugs??
Now i'm thinking about using the same thing that the dirt track racers use to keep the mud from building up inside the wheel when i'm in the pits (front hubs aren't a concern as i'm switching to drive flanges, comp. rig only), as with a the wide 16.5 rim that i'm using there's alot of weight that can build up in there from the mud, and thus my main reasons for this.
Now does anybody have any ideas on how to go about this? I want something that can removed quickly but won't come, and i don't want to spend any more than a 100 bucks on this, anyone got any ideas, i'm hoping to get some good tech on this so lets hear your ideas
.
Now does anybody have any ideas on how to go about this? I want something that can removed quickly but won't come, and i don't want to spend any more than a 100 bucks on this, anyone got any ideas, i'm hoping to get some good tech on this so lets hear your ideas
.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
you talking about actually inside the tire/wheel? i wouldn't think so b/c that would mean there is no air pressure in the tires and also the tires wouldn't be seated.
so i am going to assume you mean mud getting inside/behind the wheel. what i would do is weld on tabs/fins inside/behind the wheel that act kind of like a propeller... like a washing machine or cement truck, so that when you are spinning your tires/wheels the fins are actually pushing the mud back out. also what would help tremendously is use lots and lots of baby oil or WD-40 or something so as not to let them mud stick.
-cutts-
so i am going to assume you mean mud getting inside/behind the wheel. what i would do is weld on tabs/fins inside/behind the wheel that act kind of like a propeller... like a washing machine or cement truck, so that when you are spinning your tires/wheels the fins are actually pushing the mud back out. also what would help tremendously is use lots and lots of baby oil or WD-40 or something so as not to let them mud stick.
-cutts-
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
He's talking about (I believe) a plug to fill up the concave portion of the rim itself, where the lugnuts and hub is. Think of the old style moon type rims. About the only idea I have for that would be to weld on four mounting tabs along the inside of the rims edge, that you could easily screw on a piece of sheetmetal. Light, and fast to take on and off, plus it will keep mud from filling up that inner portion. If you have slotted mags or something you'll still have to plug the slots though.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
He's talking about mud plugs. A lot of the guys I wheel with run them in their beadlocks to keep mud for building up in the wheel, beadlocks make this problem worse. As stated before, if you just have regular wheels, weld tabs arround the inside of the wheel and cut out a piece of maybe 14ga sheet metal or 3/16" aluminum and fasten them in there.
When I get my beadlocks built I might make provisions on the outer lock ring to fasten mud plugs to. In the thick gumbo our wheels tend to build up with mud fast.
When I get my beadlocks built I might make provisions on the outer lock ring to fasten mud plugs to. In the thick gumbo our wheels tend to build up with mud fast.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 851
Likes: 0
From: Longvalley, SD
I think he is talking about on the face of the wheel to close it off so that mud cant pack in where the lugs and hubs are. So that it is flat and not concave on the wheel face. I have seen this done on Top Truck Challenge 2003 i think. The orange 72 jimmy had them. I think pro's idea is about as good as it's gonna get.
Trending Topics
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
No pics because I've never done it. The concave part of the rim where your hub and lugnuts reside. That often gets packed with mud and I believe he's looking for a solution. Long day already? Just get dsl and spend all night downloading **** or what? 
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
Originally Posted by proeliator
Long day already? Just get dsl and spend all night downloading **** or what?
no i have exams tom and i am just a hair stressed out!
-cutts-
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,871
Likes: 0
From: Coutts Canada
Yeah i talking about the plugs on the outside of the wheel so that its a flat surface from the top of the tire down to the bottom, as its amazing at how much the 35x16x16.5 boggers weigh when the centre of the wheel is packed full of mud. But yeah i was just thinking of welding on 3 tabs welding nuts to them then use a bolt and then it can be removed with the impact, but i'm worried about wrecking the rims doing this, any thing i should be worried about when welding on wheels?
For the open slots in the wheel i will take some sheet steel or something thin and light and wrap it around the inside and tach weld it in place out something.
For the open slots in the wheel i will take some sheet steel or something thin and light and wrap it around the inside and tach weld it in place out something.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
But yeah i was just thinking of welding on 3 tabs welding nuts to them then use a bolt and then it can be removed with the impact, but i'm worried about wrecking the rims doing this, any thing i should be worried about when welding on wheels?
Nope, nothing to worry about while welding on the wheels. Heck, I'm running a continous bead arround mine while attaching my beadlock rings. However, I'm not sure about welding with the tires on the rims. It should be ok as long as the beads you run are relativly small and don't build up too much heat. Might want to remove the valve cores to keep pressure from building up too much due to the added heat, maybe thats not an issue, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Also, be sure to make each of the tabs as close to the same size as possible and weld them evenly arround the rim, otherwise you might have an off balance problem.
Last edited by BigBlockF-250; Jun 7, 2005 at 06:57 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,871
Likes: 0
From: Coutts Canada
Yeah i'd take the tire off (have a machine to that for me ) to do this, and i have a buddy with a bunch of metal working machines that i would get to make equal size tabs, but they will pretty much be little pieces of 3/8" thick by like 1 " long tabs.
Good thing i got steel rims instead of aluminum.
) to do this, and i have a buddy with a bunch of metal working machines that i would get to make equal size tabs, but they will pretty much be little pieces of 3/8" thick by like 1 " long tabs.Good thing i got steel rims instead of aluminum
.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Duncan,OK
At the track we just wipe the wheels and the rest of the car down with tranny fluid to keep the mud from sticking. Re do it before every race. If you cover the outside of the wheel it will still build up mud on the inboard side. Some of the Sprints, Supers and Modified run those big aluminum moon wheel covers that are held on by screws,But this done to cut down on drag not for keeping the mud out.
Pat
Pat
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,871
Likes: 0
From: Coutts Canada
Good point, but the back side of the wheel has the brake rotor, steering knuckle, etc to keep that volume of mud down to a minimum, as i'm only running a 16.5 rim which there is maybe at most a 1/2" of clearence between the rim and caliper.
Also i am taking into account the type of mudding i'm doing, its bogging not drags (like what monsterbaby does), and the mud has been on average 30" deep and its the thick and heavy stuff to, plus it will make swapping tires to compete in different classes easier as well (no mud to deal with), but i'm normally not running speeds fast enough to worry about drag issues as well, but it would make a slight difference.
Also i am taking into account the type of mudding i'm doing, its bogging not drags (like what monsterbaby does), and the mud has been on average 30" deep and its the thick and heavy stuff to, plus it will make swapping tires to compete in different classes easier as well (no mud to deal with), but i'm normally not running speeds fast enough to worry about drag issues as well, but it would make a slight difference.