I've finally started doin' a little work on my 56 Dodge pickup. Just want to get it runnin' and drivin' first. Got a set of wheels I really like, 10 slot mags off a late 80s Cherokee. Pilot hole is a exact fit on the Dodge hub, drilled threads out of the hub, installed studs and new 'bulge' mag lug nuts. Backs worked great. Fronts not so much. There is some interference between the tie rod end and the wheel, not a lot, guess about 1/8" up would make it work. Tried grinding the tie rod end, and can't get enough there. Looks like I've got a few of options" Flip the tie rod to the top of the arm, but will require buying a high dollar reamer that I may never use again. Replace the tie rods with Heim ends which should be shorter. or, heat and bend the arms up a little. I could just use different wheels, but that's too easy and I LIKE these. I'm leaning toward the heat/bend option. Should be simple enough, just put a jack under the end of the arm, measure the distance to a fixed point above the arm, heat and jack. Any advise???
Hows about a thin spacer 'twix the wheel and hub? The heat and bend should work also ,how much you need to move the end up? You go that route a re-alignment will be needed for at least the toe.
I tried some washers to see it a spacer might work. It would take 1/2" or so moving the wheel out, enough to require a machined spacer to keep the center hole/hub alignment.
Car wheels center on the studs/nuts , center hole don't matter. Hub piloted wheels use flat faced nuts,normaly seen on larger trucks. If your wheels use taper face or nuts with a extended sholder thats what they center/pilot off of.
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