wheels - changing/reversing centres ?

[japchris]

I just bought a little T-Bucket project in UK and want to widen the rear track a little.
Its got 4 stud 4 & 1/4 inch pcd Hillman Minx wheels which I'd like to alter the off set on.Å@I don't imagine there are any companys set up to make these from scratch.
Banding wheeels to make them wider is illegal in UK so it might be difficult to find a firm willing to do that work.
The other options I've thought of is having a precision engineers cut out the centre, reverse it and weld back in - Dangerous ? (not a high horsepower engine, 1500cc on skinny crossplys) - Or is it feesable to just put the wheel on backward with some sort of spacer between the wheel and brake drum to spread the load so its not all on the 4 little lips round the lug holes ?
Or have I got the expense and hassle of finding and fitting another axle ?
Limey - Didn't you have similar work done on your roadster's wheels ?

[metalshapes]

Thats what I did with the rear wheels of my roadster.
I ended up using 4 wheels to make 2, I wanted more offset and a slightly wider rim.
I guess I could have just drilled out the rivets, but I ground 2 rims down to save 2 centers, and 2 centers to save 2 rims.
And then I Mig welded those together.

[Bigums]

bobbleed did a kick-ass tech on just this topic.

I just found it in the tech-o-matic. Click here:

Reversing Wheels (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB4&Number=87791)

Bob rules!

[Mart]

Chris, check my Pop buildup pages, I just made a pair with VW beetle rims, only slightly wider but lots more offset.
Mart's web site (http://www.martsrods.com)
here's the money shot:
http://www.tomspages.freeserve.co.uk/pop/pop8/minxwhl08.jpg

Mart.

[japchris]

Thanks guys! The info and pics really help. Feel confident I can do it myself now.( I've got two spare Minx wheels if I do cock it up !)