Technical bolt pattern change

does anybody know if there is enough meat to re-drill a '55 rear axle pattern to a 5.5.1/2 big ford pattern? the reason i am asking is, i want to run model a wires on a t i am building and i don't want to use an adapter to get the pattern. i know you have to also use that ring they sell to center the wire wheel to a late model drum. i don't have the rear yet but it is coming. i do have a '79 ford f100 rear with the big pattern but i would most likely have to narrow it to fit my project, not a big job but it would cost money i don't have. thanks

 

55 rear axle of what? Are you asking if you can drill a 5x5 axle pattern to a

5 x 51/2 Bolt pattern? s'plain

IF you are trying to put Model A wheels on later model drum brakes you will have MORE issues than a wheel bolt pattern, !!! or axle diameter....

 

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I think what he's asking is there enough 'room' to do this. You'll need an axle flange of at least 6.5" diameter to have enough 'meat' to install wheel studs, 6.75+" would be better.

 

I have a set of axles for a 66 mustang right here and they are only 6.25, plus has big access hole, so looks like not a go..

 

help me understand,
Are you attempting to put Model A wheels on a Mustang Rear end?
or a Ford PU rear end.?

 

Crazy Steve is right, you need that much diameter to have room to drill the new holes and still have sufficient meat around the studs for strength. We had Moser drill their 9 inch Ford axles to 5.5 on my Sons RPU so that he could run 40 Ford wheels, and there was enough diameter there to do it, but just barely.

Don

 

Come on you guys: Think how a MODEL A wheel is made..

 

Yeah, we know. He said he realizes he will have to run the adapter ring to center it, so all we are addressing is the bolt pattern change to 5.5 x 5.

Don

 

i may be wrong , but i don't think the Model A wheel will fit on the 9" Ford brake drum even with those centering rings....i believe he will need an adapter

 

Don, the Model A wheel fits WAY over the drum, to put it on a late model drum, he would need wheels studs 2 or 2 /2 inch long. PLUS a spacer at least 2 inches thick. The wheel bolt pattern change is only the ending of putting the wheels on, not the beginning. JMO

 

First the accountant told the engineer to make the edge distance for the lug bolts to be as small as safe to reduce the amount of metal required in manufacturing. Then the performance department told the engineer to make the edge distance for the lug bolts to be as small as possible to save weight and increase performance. On top of that there are standard engineering practices that set out the edge distances for bolts. And your question is can you reduce the edge distance for the lug bolts? Of course you could bring up the fact that your car is lighter than the original application for the rear end. But on the other side of the equation you are going to need some very thick adapters to make the wheels fit. Be sure that your adapters account for the fact that the Model A wheels were designed to be supported at two levels and without this support will probably eventually crack.

Charlie Stephens

 

Now days,Can't find Many Model A wheels that aren't cracked.

 

i am sorry about the rear!! it is a chevy '55.