So I generally have stayed away from purchasing or owning Unilug wheels. I know about specialty and proprietary washers and nuts. What I’m unsure and asking about is the “standard” bolt circle accommodation. Are they all 5 on 4-1/2. To 5” ? Are some different? How can you tell? I’m looking, sellers state weird things and don’t know a bolt circle from a back space. So if I knew a little more I can get what I want. I’m looking for some nice vintage wheels in 5 on 5” bolt pattern Thanks
I have been hot rodding since the 1960's and when unilug mags came out they were great. From my experience, the most common washers are for small Ford pattern, 4 1/2" to common GM 4 3/4" bolt patterns. Looks like you can still purchase unilug washers on the internet. I have used them for many miles with no problems.
Did they sell two sets of washers, one centered for 4.75, the other offset for 4.5 and 5? I'm just guessing
I'm assuming you are talking about ET or similar wheels that use washers or like an Appliance wheel that uses a lug insert. I believe all those fit the 3 patterns as you describe. Western aluminum wheels commonly used slotted lug holes and they normally accommodate 2 patterns...4 1/2" and 4 3/4" or 4 3/4" and 5".
The ET’s that I had on my old hotrodA roadster were either 4-1/2 or 5, depending on the orientation of the offset washer. There was also a centered-hole washer that gave you 4-3/4. I hope that’s correct, C.A.R.S. comes and goes. The ET washers are still available, in fact I may still have some.
That’s kind of what I’m guessing towards also, but looking for some verification before buying some MORE old stuff I can’t use.
No sure about the 5, but my friends and I traded mags back and for using the 4.5 and 4.75 washers. All of a sudden Ford guys liked Chevys and vice versa..haha.
The Unilug wheels worked out OK as long as He-man wasn't hanging on the breaker bar tightening the wheel lugs, or the guy with the impact gun was hammering the lugs home. If some moron really put the power to tightening the lugs, that action tended to compress the wheel under the washers (enough to put a washer sized indentation into the wheel) which nearly always started cracks. Some of the wheel manufacturers made washer indentations for the washers to set in to help hold the wheel in place, but those wheels always had the indentations for all the lug patterns. If you have a unilug wheel with an indent for only one pattern, don't use the wheel! As stated, some wheels only offered 2 different lug patterns and some offered 3 different lug patterns. The 3 lug pattern wheels were more prone to clasp at the center lug location then the 2 lug pattern wheels did because the 2 pattern slots for the unilug still had 3/4 of the material present to support the wheel where the 3 lug pattern only had the two sides for support at the center position. I worked at a gas station during the mag wheel heydays, I saw a lot of the damaged 3 lug pattern unilug wheels. We saw enough of them my boss had a policy to not mount tires on any unilug wheels that showed washer indentation unless that washer indentation was a factory cut. If you came in with unilug wheels, he personally inspected the wheels and made the determination if we (I) could mount tires on the wheels or not. On some cars we had to pull a lug nut off the wheel for him to look at the wheels before we could even bring it in the shop. He was pretty serious about those unilug wheels. What was really fun was when someone used a cone shaped lug nut on a unilug wheel.
Anything kinda cool and old and cheaper side of things . I like the slots more than anything. There’s 47 or 48 different names on those. Cragar SS is next.
For the Uni-Lug wheels, ET's are the answer. They did it 1st - & best. Had a set of ET-IV slots when they 1st came out. You do need the correct tapered lugnuts. As mentioned, 2 sets of oval-washers, 1 covered ford/chry small pattern, & other big chev. & I used McGuards locking lugs(tapered sides w/the cloverleaf end-cutout). They saved my wheels from growing wings at least once... I also carried a few extra washers & nuts just because. Never had any trouble w/them, wish I still had them. Marcus...
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