how do you determine bolt pattern?

this is probly a stupid question. how do you measure the bolt pattern on a wheel? I am looking to install 1940 ford brakes on my 29 A and am looking for some rims and would like to be able to check to see they will fit. thanks.

29arod

 

You buy on-a-those plastic thinggies at the swapmeet It's got all the bolt circles drilled it it.... But there's red ones and green ones and I can't ever remember which is metric and inch

Hope that helps

 

Those plastic things are the best damn junkyard tool, ever. It sure beats squatting in poison ivy while trying to measure and avoid bugs/snakes...

 

Measure from the outside edge of one hole to the middle of the hole directly across from it.

edit: and yes those plastic things rule.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...019QQitemZ290019059543QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

thank you
so i just went anc checked my A and it measures 5.5 for the bolt pattern ( stock) is this correct?

 

Yup!!

 

thanks
i just bought the little plastic thingy online.

 

if I'm looking for 5.5" bolt pattern wheels, I just look for this distinctive shape, notice the square indents around the stud holes.

one of these days I'll buy a dozen of those plastic thingies, one for each car and several to lose around the shop

 

Contact Heidt .... they have a FREE one they give out !!!

http://www.heidts.com/moretech2.htm

 

I thought it was from middle of one to middle of opposite one... edge to middle????

 

Depends on number of lugs.

http://www.mrt-wheels.com/boltpattern.html

 

with a 5 lug pattern, the diameter of the circle is a bit larger than the center to center distance between two opposite studs, because the studs are not all the way opposite each other. You have to add about a quarter inch to the measurement, and a quarter inch is about half the diameter of a stud...so it just happens to work out right if you measure from the center of one stud, to the outer edge of an opposite stud.

 

Go to Moser Engineering

http://www.moserengineering.com/index.html

click on the link for a 2006 cataloge...it comes with the wheel measurement guide included.

 

I could just go out to the wheel pile with a sharpie and a piece of cardboard

 

That's why I love this place!
4-bolt is center/center or edge/edge then right?

 

if there is an even number of bolts, 4, 6, 8, 10, etc you go center to center.

If it's an odd number of bolts, use the center to outer trick...but on a real big bolt circle like a wide-5 ford or early VW, it wont' work right.

 

Try this site, all about wheels:

http://www.rsracing.com/TECH-WHEEL.HTML

 

now i know why all the old timers told me to join this site.

1. becouse the wealth of knowledge is so great.
2. and so i would stop bugging them every other day or so.