got a little question regarding early halibrands and the lug nuts that were used ....the pair of rears i just acquired have 5.5" pattern but the lug holes are barely 1/2" ....thus no shank could be used....my question , what lug nuts were used back in the day .....say around 55-57 or so....? brandon
I just ordered Gorilla Lug nuts from M***ey's accesory shop in Oklahoma city 405-239-2010 the part number I got is 73188sm these are a closed end , they are for a 9/16 hole so most likely with any lug you may have to open up the holes on your rims, the shank is 1/2 in length and if it's for an early ford the thread is 1/2 20. I also like the american but they are a bit harder to get because I can never find anybody that has them with a short shank.
here is a shot of the different sizes......like someone mentioned ....they very well could have been 5 pin knock off style ...that used a pressure plate ...hate to drill them ....as i have another pair that were drilled because of being the same way.......thanks brandon
My A/Altered Halibrands 15x8 used stock 50 ford lugs.The lug hole was stud sized and a hardened flat washer went on the outside of thewheel then a regular nut tightened against the washer.this system p***ed tech on many occasions at Ct.Dragway between 60-68.there was also no known failures in that time even on a blown rear.The car was powered by both a 396 Hemi and a 430 Merc in that timespan.there was no form of lug taper in the wheels
I think the original way was a steel ring with lug pattern drilled in it taking normal flat nuts. Leon has done functionally the same thing, essentally a pressure plate to avoid local stress on the magnesium. I think the wheels were drilled for early Ford and Olds, the two normal drag car standards for heavy and light cars respectively, and the original plates covered the unused pattern.
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