Wheel Adapters
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 208
From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Wheel Adapters
I am currently running some 15" WHeel Vintiques Gennie wheels. Due to spacing in the rear or lack of I need to run wheel adapters until I change the rear end out to a longer one. Has anyone used wheel spacers like these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Wheel...QQcmdZViewItem
I have read on the HAMB board and elsewhere that cast/pot metal spacers are not safe. Recommended ones are billet. Can anybody help me out based on F100 experience? Thanks Donald
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Wheel...QQcmdZViewItem
I have read on the HAMB board and elsewhere that cast/pot metal spacers are not safe. Recommended ones are billet. Can anybody help me out based on F100 experience? Thanks Donald
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Donald -
I haven't read anything bad about those particular style of spacers. However, I have a hard time imagining that a spacer could be unsafe. If the wheels are torqued correctly, why would they fail? Are they talking off-road racing or something? Drag racing? What?
Summit racing sells some universal billet (plate) spacers.
I haven't read anything bad about those particular style of spacers. However, I have a hard time imagining that a spacer could be unsafe. If the wheels are torqued correctly, why would they fail? Are they talking off-road racing or something? Drag racing? What?
Summit racing sells some universal billet (plate) spacers.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,688
Likes: 4
From: Southern Oregon
I was thinking about using similar adaptors on my rear, to convert from 5X5.5 to 5 X 4.5, and to push wheels out. Put out feelers in hot rod forums and FTE forums, and the feedback was negative all around. Several said they would not run adaptors on any vehicle for safety reasons. Why and how they can fail I'm not sure, but would guess cracks develop around mounting points.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,231
Likes: 1
From: Near Fresno, California
Originally Posted by tacson
I . . . cast/pot metal spacers . . . billet. Donald
cast is cast aluminum?
pot metal is a lead/brass casting?
and billet is what?
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
I've used those type adapters over the years with no problems. Just be sure the lugs are tight and re-check them each time you pull a wheel for something. I'd check with Summit before buying those on Ebay. Unless the price has gone up recently you can buy those same adapters from Summit for $39.95 a pair and the shipping is less too. I'm using a pair on the rear of my truck just to get the tire and wheel a little closer to the edge of the fender... 
Vern
Vern
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Be sure we are all talking SPACERS and not ADAPTERS. Spacers are just that. The wheel studs are in the axle flange. Adapters bolt to the axle studs and provide a different set of studs (on a different BC) to attach the wheel. Adapters are dangerous because the wheel mounting studs are not as well anchored as the axle flange studs. They can work loose.
Spacers are a no brainer, as long as the axle studs are long enough.
Spacers are a no brainer, as long as the axle studs are long enough.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Originally Posted by Randy Jack
Be sure we are all talking SPACERS and not ADAPTERS. Spacers are just that. The wheel studs are in the axle flange. Adapters bolt to the axle studs and provide a different set of studs (on a different BC) to attach the wheel. Adapters are dangerous because the wheel mounting studs are not as well anchored as the axle flange studs. They can work loose.
Spacers are a no brainer, as long as the axle studs are long enough.
Spacers are a no brainer, as long as the axle studs are long enough.
I was referring to ADAPTERS...not SPACERS, and I respectfully disagree with you on their safety. I've never had a stud work loose or any other type of adapter failure and I've been using them off and on since the 60s.
Vern
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
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From: Riverside, So Cal
Well, Vern...as long as it's "respectfully". 
That's good to hear about those adapters. I obviously had a different impression from second hand info. Never have used them myself.
Do you know of any that adapt a 5-1/2 pattern to 4-3/4? My front wheels are Monte Carlo disk and the rear is Ford 9-inch. It would be nice if they matched someday.
That's good to hear about those adapters. I obviously had a different impression from second hand info. Never have used them myself.
Do you know of any that adapt a 5-1/2 pattern to 4-3/4? My front wheels are Monte Carlo disk and the rear is Ford 9-inch. It would be nice if they matched someday.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Spacers can be had a lot cheaper yet, but you may need longer studs as Randy says. We use 1/4" spacers on our race car all the time.
GNW, despite your good fortunes with them I would never ever use cast or even billet aluminum bolt pattern adapters, my own safety and the safety of my loved ones is not worth the risk. Anyone who has been around high performance engines will tell you it's not a matter of IF a stressed aluminum part will fail, it's simply a matter of WHEN! My friend that is a 2 time Pro Mod champion has some really cool looking crowd control rope stantions made of welded together aluminum connecting rods that cost a couple hundred $ each. He changes them every 25 or so runs because he knows that the likelyhood of failure will go up exponentially after that point, and they WILL fail.
It's all a matter of how much risk you'rer willing to accept.
GNW, despite your good fortunes with them I would never ever use cast or even billet aluminum bolt pattern adapters, my own safety and the safety of my loved ones is not worth the risk. Anyone who has been around high performance engines will tell you it's not a matter of IF a stressed aluminum part will fail, it's simply a matter of WHEN! My friend that is a 2 time Pro Mod champion has some really cool looking crowd control rope stantions made of welded together aluminum connecting rods that cost a couple hundred $ each. He changes them every 25 or so runs because he knows that the likelyhood of failure will go up exponentially after that point, and they WILL fail.
It's all a matter of how much risk you'rer willing to accept.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Originally Posted by Joe Gaddy
Randy Jack, that is what I have on mine now. Joe