I have an extra set of 15x7 (nominal) slotted mags but they are in the Ford 5x5.5 bolt pattern. Is it possible and a safe idea to take them to a machine shop that will fill the old bolt holes and drill a new bolt pattern on the wheels to fit a Mopar? Will this weaken the hub of the rim?

Thanks

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

I would not do it. They would have to be very, very good to drill the holes in the right places and I think the center hole will not fit.

_________________
50 chrysler,54 Plymouth, 64 Valiant conv 4 speed, 66 Valiant V8 wagon, 70 Challenger R/T 440+6 conv 4 speed,80 Colt, 98 Neon ACR,84 Honda V45 Magna
Taking care of 57 300C conv,48 T&C conv. Missing my 67 GTX and 36 Ply coupe

If there were room to add a 2nd pattern offset 36° to put the holes between and inboard of the originals I think it would be fine to do so.

_________________
Joshua

I think there is enough room to redrill, I just need to find a wheel shop I trust to do the work. The are lots of semi truck shops here in Tacoma, so maybe I can find one that repairs aluminum rims.

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

You dont need to fill the old holes. Drill the new holes between the old holes.


Take a Mopar hub with you to the machine shop.

The holes need to be the correct size for the shoulder wheel nuts.

Prepare to pay for at least 2 hours of shop time.

_________________
Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Hmmm,.. Food for thought. Thanks!

GodsRods Duster II has drum brakes with the 5X4" bolt pattern and Center Line wheels up front. If I can have the wheels drilled for 5X4 1/2" I may go ahead and swap to disc brakes now instead of waiting...

Reed, how many sets of Slotted Mags do you have, anyway!?

_________________
Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Rob- Let's see, I have the set on my Ford van, the set on my brother's Duster, and the extra set in the Ford 5x5.5 bolt pattern I have accumulated over the years. While they are not slotted mags, I do also have the set of aftermarket aluminum rims that came on my Ford van as well as another set of aftermarket aluminum rims that have the snow tires for my Ford van mounted on them. I also have a set of factory Mopar "Cordoba wheels" that were the all aluminum wheels you could get on Cordobas and LeBarons in the late 70s. Then there is the set of factory steel rims (with tires) that were on my 83 Dodge van when I bought it. Its a good thing I have a big attic above my garage, I am a packrat and I have a knack for accumulating "stuff."

I am still looking for a shop that can do the redrilling. I have found lots of places that advertise curb rash and bent rim repair, but no shops that say they are a dedicated wheel fabrication shop. I guess it is time to start calling around.

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

I took a closer look at the backside of the rims I am thinking about getting redrilled and made an interesting discovery. The centers of the rims are not one uniform thick casting. Both styles of rims that I have have clear bosses cast into the body of the rim where the lug holes are supposed to be drilled:

Ansen Sprint bosses



Fenton "Gyro Racing Wheel" bosses



The design of these rims makes clear that second set of bolt holes cannot be drilled in between the original bolt holes. Any modification of the bolt pattern on the rims would have to be done on the existing bosses for the holes. To redrill these rims for a different mounting pattern, I would have to either make these unilug rims or fill the holes and redrill them. I would rather fill and redrill. Couldn't the holes be filled by tigging them? Then have the right pattern drilled in the rim and get the front of the rim machined for the proper style of lug nut and washer? Hmmmm

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Bummer on the wheel design. At this point I think you're going to be money ahead to get 16" Mustang wheels like Lou suggested. Cheaper still would be to use something you own that fits.

I've never found any Ansen Sprint type wheels which had the correct offset for a Chrysler product. They have all been offset too far outboard. The new American Racing version is close with 4" backspacing on the 15x7", but 4.25" backspacing would be better.

_________________
Joshua

If you are starting with the 'big bolt ford pattern' first thing you should do is measure the center hole and see if its small enough for the 'car' pattern. If the Fenton wheels are the same 'big' pattern just turning them into Uni-lug would be the easiest, AND cheapest to do, IF they will go that small. By the pic the smallest they would go would be to make them into a Ford 'Truck' pattern to a large GM pattern (5X5). I have done the GM 5X4 3/4 down to the Ford/Mopar 5 X 4 1/2. ( With a Die Grinder with a cyl shaped burr and lots of lube). But from the 5 X 5 1/2 to the 5 x 4 or 4 1/2 is going to be a stretch... Most shops (but not all) don't wanna really 'mess' with trying to re-invent the wheel from all of the checking with the shops here locally.


And as for tigging the holes closed, re-drilling, re-machining of the bolt holes you would have more in the wheel than what you can buy the proper wheels to begin with.

_________________
MRO....

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.... Pick 2...

Excellent points, and exactly what I am thinking about right now. Further, I am not sure that these rims will even clear the front fender since the backspacing is, at best, 3.5 inches on a 15x7 rim. Perhaps it is a better idea just to watch and wait for the right set of rims with the correct bolt pattern to come along.

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

OK- Josh answered the question. Looks like I am back on the hunt for a set of rims. That's easier than redrilling anyway.

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Dang Reed you sure make this stuff hard to keep up with, quote from one topic and post it in another....

_________________
MRO....

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.... Pick 2...