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I only have a pic of the insert required to complete this job. After a few conversations with ChaseTruck754, i thought I would make an attempt.
Well lets just say, that after installing a few inserts, and the time required to prepare the mill, I will pay the money to have this procedure done. 8 lugs per wheel, and 5 wheels, thats 40 potential times to make a mistake. 1 mistake means the wheel is used for decoration. A drill press is not gonna cut the mustard here, since the hole needs to be offset if a straight insert is used. If the offset insert is used, a jig will have to be used to press the inserts into the wheel with the correct orientation. A fair bit of work here.
Alcoa made most of these wheels according to reliable sources, prior to the 99 model year, and these wheels were all made available with a 8 x 6.5" pattern
Thanks for the input! So my drill press idea is out.... I have a friend that is a machinist. I'll talk to him. In your picture caption you mention that these inserts are available from many sources however, I've been searching online and coming up empty. Can you give me a source? Thanks again!
After a little more thought, I have another question.... The tire shops don't have a mill, (atleast the tire shops I go to ;-)), so they must be doing the offset bushing?
no offset bushing. Tire shops either send them out or have a mill at an off site shop. Remember these are REAL, old skool tire shops. Ones that most likely do alignments by hand, not this computerized mumbo jumbo. Not discount tire or some other BS chain - a mom and pop type deal.
Out of the 2 places I've had um done or talked to about it - 1 does them on site with a mill, the other sent them out to the bigger shop they owned that was in the next town.
I have pics of the set of wheels I have were sleeved, but unfortunately I only have pics of the front - not the back, so Ed's pic might be better. If you want pics you'll have to PM me as I don't have a photobucket account. I guess I could add the pic to the gallery - but that makes them so small you can hardly see any detail.
If you've got the old lug pattern like me - the only reason I would go with the sleeved stupid duty wheels instead of the alcoas made from the 90's are cost savings. Even with paying the $40 or so a wheel to sleeve them, you can usually get stupid duty wheels cheap enough to get a set and have them sleeved for $300 or so.
$300 is pretty much the absolute cheapest the 90's alcoas go for - unless you find someone parting a truck who doesn't know what they have. Even then you'll have to be the 1st one to see the add or whatever.
The last set of the 90's ones I watched on eBay went for $900. Cool thing is I found another set on eBay that were NEW takes offs (off 2007 van) that I got for $300 + tax
Gotta find out where I ordered these from. I believe it was a local mom and pop wheel store. We are talking about guys that dont carry 20" or up wheels here, unless it is a set of Alcoas (22.5") that has s et of heavy fronts attached.
Probably not gonna find the inserts anyplace that you will find any "super bling wheels", but you can find these inserts. Not super cheap by the way, and since they are steel, not too light, so add a few bucks for shipping should you source them from a place that is not close.
I finally found a place to get the inserts from! Here's a link if anyone else is interested: Wheel Inserts I believe WI630 is the one to use. I plan on going to the machine shop today to make sure I want to go this route before ordering.