Wrong lug pattern! Drilling wheels?

Bought a used set of 17" Cragar S/S to stick on a Caprice wagon I just bought- they were 5 on 4.75 non uni lug- come to find out the wagon is 5 on 5- looks like if I got a machine shop to open holes up, they'd fit using shoulder type lugs, ala uni lug style. Anyone ever tried/done this? I got a hell of a deal on these wheels n tires, I'd like to use em. Or is it wishful thinkin?

 

a caprice with a 5 on 5, sounds like a non stock rear, i'd redrill the axles to 5 on 4.75"

 

newer caprices were 5x5. I would let the machine shop inspect the wheels and decide.

 

caprice is 5x5 if late model. give it a try, I've seen it work before. On second thought, you could get some adaptors from 5x5 to 5x4.75

 

78-91 boxy caprice were 5x4.75 if non police or taxi version. they have 10" rotors, the 11" rotors on police pkg and 5x5

Iwould modify the axles before hacking up a clean set of wheels. redrill the axle whith hole clocked in between the existing

you didnt say what year car, that might help

 

I had a set of torque thrusts opened up to 4.75 from 4.50. They worked fine. When redrilled you will actually end up with sort of a figure 8 pattern instead of an oval (two circles overlapping). The only problem is making sure there is enough aluminum meat there to redrill them.

I sent mine to a wheel shop on the west coast (I think Wheel Smith) and the shipping cost more than the drilling. Any machine shop should be able to do this, but you might be better off to stick with someone that understands wheels.

Good luck.

 

I would lean more towards drilling the axels. The cragers are chromed steel with a tapered seat? Usually universal types are aluminum and the sides of the lug nuts help position the wheel by fitting tight in the slot that is about 1/2"thick.

 

Yes I have done this successfully more than once. At home.

Think about it, all you really have to do is move each hole 1/8" inward or outward, depending on which way you are going (for 1/4" different bolt circle).

Do a careful measure, mark with a circle template or something, and grind away. Make sure you are marking correctly

I used a bit that looks like a round cutter thing in a 1/2" drill, hand held. Take your time, sneak up on the fit.

This will work with shank style mag lug nuts and is really just recreating the Cragar uni-lug deal.

You can do it.

 

Make sure there's enough of a hub on the backside to accept drilling.

Most early mag wheels have a solid hub, but later on many of them went to what's shown in an attempt to save material.

 

i've done this many many times, trying to uni-lug the wheels will work, but if your wheels are only 5-5 bolt pattern it would be better to redrill and insert the hole, and make the wheel accept acorn style lugs. if you need help let me know, i have the acorn inserts on hand.

 

Dont seem to me as a HAMB car or wheels!!!!!!!!!1

 

True, but it seems to be the kind of question and answers that pertain to many HAMB cars....

 

Much easier to modify the wheels, if possible,

or get new wheels.



"Drilling the axles", involves modifying the rotors and drums,
and when you need new rotors or drums, they need to be modified as well.
Big PITA if you are going to put some miles on it.

 

Caprice, Roadmaster, Caddy Fleetwood use 5 on 5, it's stock.

 

Or you can change the brake rotors and axles/drums to 5x4.75". I know this works for sure on box caprices.

Rotors = 3rd gen camaro 1LE

Axles = caprice without heavy duty suspension, but with a towing package. Should have the wide 8.5" rear with 4.75" bolt pattern.

 

Seems like if you make the holes bigger in the wheel you would need to re-check the tightness of the lug nuts on a regular basis.

 

You may want to run some adapters instead of having the wheels drilled.
Ive got a new set for sale $155 shipped (5x5 to 5x4.75)

 

adapters, that might work to if you've got the extra inch to play with. I can help you with those as well.

 

Thanks guys! Yeah I know it's not a HAMB rod,( it beats the crap out of a mini van!) but I have several that are,(56 Plymouth Suburban,63 Chrysler Newport,etc) post here some about those, and know there are a bunch of talented, creative,knowledgeable car guys here, who think outside the box, who would have the straight up skinny on a deal like this. Adapters were my first option, not enough space for them on the 1/4s. I really don't want to get into changing the axles/rotors if I don't have to, but it might be a good option. I'm going to take some pics of the wheels and post them, get more input. Thanks again!!!

 

The rear wheel wells are very tight, trying to change stock size rubber.

The larger diameter wheels might help, but I wouldn't want to go much wider.

 

I believe you'll find that most Chevrolet wagons would ahve the 5 on 5" pattern starting sometime in the 60s. That pattern is same as Buick, Olds, Pontiac, Cadillac full size cars and wagons. Also used on Ford wagons for some years.

 

Almost forgot- it's a 92 "Bubble Top" Caprice wagon...305 with duals and flowmasters. Not an old skooler, but it looks n sounds pretty cool. Enough room for the 2 yr old and cargo with out going Mommy Van-lol...stuck a Impala SS grille in it, helped the attitude. Hopefully the wheels will too.

 

Yea me too.

 

I have a 1983 Caprice cruiser rear axle that is a 10 bolt posi unit with axles that are 5 on 4.75 and has finned 11" drums. The axles aren't redrilled on mine, and the axle, as far as I've been told, is completely stock. I'm considering drilling my front 5 on 4.5 aluminum wheels to match the rear bolt pattern.

BTW: I know this is an old thread, but worth reviving.

 

I agree with I Drag, have done this, measure carefully, grind very slow and allow plenty of time to accomplish this. Could succeed without spending money in shipping or machine shop costs.....

 

All this talk of "adapters" without any concern about offset? Buy yourself some adapters and find out it pushes your tires out past the fender...

 

Wouldn't it be easier to just get another set of rims? No machining, no off set problems. That's what I would do...

 

Since the thread is 3 years old, he probably has it sorted out by now

 

lol