Register now to get rid of these ads!

Technical Measuring a bolt pattern

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by HOTRODPRIMER, Feb 25, 2017.

  1. In the never ending battle of loosing tools & parts in the abyss I call my garage I have misplaced a bright red wheel pattern guide similar to the one shown below.

    $T2eC16Z,!zoE9s5ngM9gBRYbpufkd!~~60_35.JPG

    And I'm trying to determine the bolt pattern of the wheels that are on the red deuce sedan.

    Years ago I knew how to measure with a tape to determine the pattern,but the wheels were off the car...how in the world do you measure the pattern without removing the wheels from the car? HRP

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Danny I think you have a Jag rear on the sedan, if you do the wheel bolt pattern is the same as a Chevy PCD.
    It's the same that I have on my Center Door "T".
     
  3. Yeah Alan it does have a Jag rear axle in the rear. HRP
     
  4. mgtstumpy
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 9,253

    mgtstumpy
    Member

    Yep, Jag is same as Chevy bolt pattern. He's another way.
    Bolt pattern.jpg
     
  5. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,544

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Have an old fashioned set of calipers? That would be the easy way but Jag is normally 5 on 4-3/4 as Alan suggested.
     
    lothiandon1940 and Texas Webb like this.
  6. The reason I ask is I'm not sure if they have been re-drilled or not. HRP
     
  7. Danny..draw an imaginary line(circular) thru center of all lug bolts..Then measure the circle..it wont be from one lug to next,from one lug straight across to meet imaginary line
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  8. Canuck
    Joined: Jan 4, 2002
    Posts: 1,104

    Canuck
    Member

    Drew this up in CAD and put it on the back of my business cards:
    upload_2017-2-25_17-17-6.png

    Canuck
     
  9. boutlaw
    Joined: Apr 30, 2010
    Posts: 1,253

    boutlaw
    Member

    Measure from outside diameter of any lug, across bolt circle to center of opposing lug. EZ way to tell what bolt pattern you have as long as you have a measuring device...Has always worked for me.
     
    Harms Way and HOTRODPRIMER like this.
  10. KoolKat-57
    Joined: Feb 22, 2010
    Posts: 3,092

    KoolKat-57
    Member
    from Dublin, OH

    Now that's a service, well thought out!
    KK
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  11. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,618

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Use a 'tall' caliper ("wing dividers") In a 5 bolt circle, measure from the center of #1 stud to the far side of #3 bolt. (just skip the one next to)
    Measure with a ruler or tape. This is accurate, and you don't have to remove center cap, nut, wheel, or anything.
    I like the method mgtStumpy provided: When I was 13, I 'allowed' this was the most accurate, due to its 'logic'...
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  12. If you have 5 studs, you can't measure straight across. The difference between 4 1/2 and 4 3/4 when measuring by eye and not being able to get your tape on the studs isn't enough to be sure. If it were me, I would pull the wheel, then measure on the mounting surface of the wheel. 1/2 the center hole diameter plus the distance from the edge of the center hole to the center of the stud hole. (You should be able to eyeball the center of the stud hole)
    There is a way by measuring the distance between any 2 studs and looking at a table, but I don't have the table to share.
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  13. Measure from one stud across, skipping one stud, #1-3. Add 1/4".
    Always works on 5 lug.
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  14. boutlaw
    Joined: Apr 30, 2010
    Posts: 1,253

    boutlaw
    Member

    wow......
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  15. Harms Way
    Joined: Nov 27, 2005
    Posts: 6,931

    Harms Way
    Member

    I've been using this method for 50 plus years,..... This is EXACTLY how it's done. taught to us from all the wheel manufactures when I worked for Gratiot Auto Supply (Many decades ago)
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  16. Los_Control
    Joined: Oct 7, 2016
    Posts: 1,182

    Los_Control
    Member
    from TX

    If you measure from the edge of the wheel hole over to the center of the wheel hole, you will get the correct bolt pattern such as 4. 3/4" for chevy, 4 1/2" ford dodge etc ...
    Of course you can measure the studs also, just more difficult with the hub in the way.
    Excuse my crude drawing but you get the idea.

    Somebody beat me while playing with the drawing :p
    Bolt pattern.png
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  17. Ron Brown
    Joined: Jul 6, 2015
    Posts: 1,744

    Ron Brown
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Danny....los Control and Harms Way is correct. just take a stiff wire, and bend into U shape then measure like Los Control shows. Keep bending as needed until its outside edge one stud, skip one stud and center of next stud, then lay wire down on tape measure for reading....done this many times at wrecking yards...works perfectly with just a tape and bent wire.
     
    RICH B and HOTRODPRIMER like this.
  18. Moser Engineering had a thin cardboard tool in the back of their catalog.
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  19. fuzzface
    Joined: Dec 7, 2006
    Posts: 1,822

    fuzzface
    Member

    I love those plastic red and blue wheel pattern guides. I have 2 sets of each that I got at the swap meets. one set in my shop that I keep losing too all the time until I clean up and then the set I keep in my truck door panel that I mainly use for auctions, especially when I go to farm auctions. they always seem to have loose rims around. should see the look of other people when I first drag that out instead of a tape measure like others. then before I know it they have me measuring all the rims for them or they are passing my guides around the rim group.
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  20. TTTT8
    Joined: Jun 2, 2011
    Posts: 61

    TTTT8
    Member

  21. Merlin
    Joined: Apr 9, 2005
    Posts: 2,545

    Merlin
    Member
    from Inman, SC

    Danny my old sedans jag was Chevy bolt pattern also, I seriously doubt they re-drilled it.
     
  22. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,969

    BamaMav
    Member Emeritus
    from Berry, AL

    I've got one saved here on the computer in a PDF file, but can't figure out a way to upload it. Seems I have Adobe PDF reader, but it won't let me do anything but print it out on paper.
     
  23. D.N.D.
    Joined: Aug 15, 2012
    Posts: 1,385

    D.N.D.
    Member Emeritus

    Measure from the ' center of your center dust cover to the center of any lug nut '

    Then double the size and that is your bolt circle, very simple and correct

    DND
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.