Technical Cragar SS's on a '55 Cameo. Mounting Question.

I've got a '55 Cameo (purchased here on the HAMB) that I want to do a wheel change on. The Cameo came with reproduction 15" late 60's Camaro/Nova/Chevelle rally wheels.



I've got a set of 15" Cragar SS's that a good friend p***ed along. I think the Cragar's will look much better on the truck than the rally wheels.



I'm just wondering if anyone could advise what I need for mounting hardware? I've got old mag bolts that are too short for the wheel studs and the Cragar's don't seem to be uni-lug although the bolt holes are bigger than I'd expect. The Cameo does have a 2nd Generation Camaro front clip in it with disc brakes.



Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Allan

 

You'll need shank lug nuts,maybe 1/2" long. Washers,they made several styles tho. Oval with center hole. Oval with offset hole. Plain round.
Gonna take some trial and error.

 

Thanks. I found a couple in the wheel lug pile that seem to fit. Do I still need to use a washer with these?





Allan

 

Yes

 

IIRC, those wheels use a specific nut/washer combo in the 'uni-fit' configuration that you have. Summit should have them, and make sure you torque them on. Uneven torque can lead to one falling off...

 

Yes, they are ''Multi - Fit/ Vari - Fit'' per the Cragar website. They call for ''08/61 Series Wheels Mag Style Lug Nuts''.
The other style made today is referred to as ''Direct Drill S/S.

 

This is what I can post up. Top pic: 15x10 70's(ish) era Multi-Fit, along with a 60's era 15x4 GM small pattern wheel.
Bottom photo is the 15x10 bolted with the shown Cragar lug nuts on a '72 El Camino rotor. The lug nuts fit the 15x4s perfectly and the shanks don't stick thru the wheel, so it draws up tight. Having never run unilug wheels, I can say when the lug nuts were just snug on the Multi-Fit, it felt stable and didn't shift around on the hub. Shank protrusion was the same as the direct fit wheel. This was a bench test, to find out for myself also. Hope someone can chime in with some solid road experience. Wanna make sure the man gets good info here.

 

Looks like the holes on your rims have enlarged, and not factory.

 

See if that shanked nut you have fits into the hole without any side to side slop (it will be able to move towards and away from the center of the wheel, along the slot). If it's a reasonbly good fit, then get a set of new nuts and flat washers, and put them on. Make sure the nuts are not too long, so the shank does not bottom out on the hub. Also make sure it's long enough to get at least 1/2" of thread engagement (10 threads).

And torque them to 80 ft lbs, then re-torque them after you drive a few miles, then re-torque them every hundred miles until they don't tighten any more when you torque them. Might check the torque again at every oil change, too.

 

I picked up some lug nuts with a larger shank this afternoon that fit well into the rim and torque down fine. The unilug washers I have don't fit over the shank on the new lug nuts so I had to use them without washers. Am I going to have issues that I didn't use washers? I'm ***uming yes? The truck isn't going on the road anytime soon so I have time to correct whatever needs to be corrected. Safety first.



The truck definitely has a different look with the Cragar's on it.





Allan

 

Goggle Gorrila lugs they have just about everything including over size shanks like the Cadillac aluminum wheels I have on my LSR roadster.

 

you need flat washers. Don't drive until you get them.

 

Truck looks great with the Cragars...

 

^Squirrel is right. Washers are a must. otherwise you're gonna gall the **** out of the wheels and lug nuts. Not to mention never getting the proper torque.
Yes, the wheels look great!

 

The real CRAGAR washers are also like a belleville washer, bowed so when tightened it will keep tension on the lug nut like a lock washer. They will be marked WHEEL SIDE to show to install them. There are also plain flat ones made but I would look for the real CRAGAR ones. Unilug wheels I have had use the round washers for chevy 4 3/4" pattern and the offset washers for 4 1/2" and 5" bolt patterns.

 

Get the domed washer that drtop70ss posted a pic of or you will lose a wheel. They keep a bit of tension on the nut to keep it snug. I have picked them up at just about any swap meet that one of the lug nut vendors show up at.

 

^There's a dude called The Lug Nut King who shows up at Carlisle every year. That's all he does and usually there's a line of people at his booth.

 

Good thread Yes, Cragars look great, yes proper washers are an absolute must.

 

Ordered the correct centered washers today. Like I said, safety first. I really appreociate all the input. The sprung washers make sense.

Allan

 

http://www.ebay.com/usr/lugnutkingiv2005?_trksid=p2047675.l2559