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Technical wide 5 adapters

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Alaska Jim, Jun 27, 2018.

  1. Alaska Jim
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 319

    Alaska Jim
    Member

    I have done a search on several forums but have come up with nothing that I am looking for. Does anyone know if there is a wide 5 adapter made from steel , not aluminum ? I am looking for something to adapt a ford 5 on 5 1/2 to the ford wide 5 wheels. I need some that have the wheel mounting stud countersunk on the rear where it seats against the brake drum. There are some ( I consider them cheap junk ) Aluminum ones on my car now (were on it when I bought the car ). the studs in the adapter to the wide 5 wheels are not countersunk and that causes the adapter to not sit flat against the drum, only the head of the lug stud sits against the drum. this causes them to distort and twist when you mount the wheels . I have tried every way I can think of as far as torque sequence to tighten them down, but I always get some distortion and therefore I get wheel/ tire wobble, not to mention that I may possibly have distorted the axle flange tightening the adapters to the studs on the axle. I would appreciate any help anyone can give me on my search for such a product. If I can not find anything , I may look into having some custom made locally, but it won't be cheap. Thanks, ----Jim
     
  2. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    Do a search here on the HAMB........there is a member, whose name escapes me at the moment, who has worked on making wide five adapters for sale.

    Ray
     
  3. 4wd1936
    Joined: Mar 16, 2009
    Posts: 1,288

    4wd1936
    Member
    from NY

    Hey Jim, Speedway sells these for race car applications but I am not sure about the 5.5 bolt pattern. A call to them might prove fruitful.
     
    BradinNC likes this.
  4. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    Why not simply change the drums to 5X5 1/2? cheap, easy, fast
     

  5. The member goes by 55Willys, his name is Jim Ford
    Highway 101 Rod and Custom 360-536-1441 [email protected]
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  6. I believe he already has that, and wants wide 5 wheels...
     
  7. wuga
    Joined: Sep 21, 2008
    Posts: 563

    wuga
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    There is nothing wrong with aluminum adapters, as long as they are made for the application. Speedway says their adapter will not work well with drum brakes because the bolt head causes interference. Unless somebody out there is custom making them, it may require a trip to the machine shop. A disk of 1" aluminum indexed for the 5.5 allowing the wheel nut to sit inside the face surface and the wide 5 indexed pattern wheel suds installed so the heads are counter sunk so as not to interfere with the brake drum. This is just a typical wheel adapter except for an unusual application. Might be a saleable product.

    Warren
     
  8. Alaska Jim
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 319

    Alaska Jim
    Member

    The axles and drums are already 5 on 5 1/2 but I am using a wide 5 wheel
     
  9. Alaska Jim
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 319

    Alaska Jim
    Member

    I looked at his adapters, and it looks like they may work, but they are made of aluminum. He lists them on his web site as being close to $200. I do not know if that is for one, or for a pair, either way it could end up being an expensive paperweight if they don't work out, at least I could use them to properly get the wheels and tires spin balanced.. Thanks for you help, I appreciate it.---Jim
     
  10. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    Wouldn't a photo or two of 55Willys' product answer your questions about fitment?
    And a message, email or phone call clarify pricing per unit? Seems like obvious and simple ways to find out information.

    Ray
     
  11. Alaska Jim
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 319

    Alaska Jim
    Member

    I have found a company called Southwest Speed that sells a wide 5 adapter, but they do not make it with the 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern. This may help others. this company sells tons of stuff and has a catalog that is about a 1/2 inch thick they sell a lot of racing and hot rod stuff.. My brother is a machinist, and I may have to have some made at the shop he works for, if I can get them to squeeze me in, as the owner, and my brother both are getting ready to retire and sell the machine shop. At that point I think there will only be one machine shop left in town.
     
  12. cvstl
    Joined: Apr 15, 2009
    Posts: 1,499

    cvstl
    Member
    from StL MO
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    Seems like you could make an alum spacer plat to pull them down tight without distortion.

    If you have early brakes up front, just get some 37-39 drums/hubs.
     
  13. 51504bat
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 4,755

    51504bat
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

  14. Alaska Jim
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 319

    Alaska Jim
    Member

    I plan to call him sometime this week when I have a little more time so I can take some pictures and show him what I have and show what I need, along with the phone call. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.---Jm
     
  15. typo41
    Joined: Jul 8, 2011
    Posts: 2,571

    typo41
    Member Emeritus

    I just saw steel wide five adapters in the SpeedWay Race catalog
     
  16. wuga
    Joined: Sep 21, 2008
    Posts: 563

    wuga
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Just another thought. You would probably have to use 3/8 steel plate to make the adapter due to the large circumference of the wide five. Also if you use wheel studs in the wide five pattern, they should clear the brake drum with their shallow head. I looked at Speedway's adapters and I didn't see anything that went from 5 on 5.5 to wide five. Good luck on your search, it is a worth while one.

    Warren
     
    Robert J. Palmer likes this.

  17. Hit oval track swapmeets might they show up there.
    Steel wide five adapters were once common place in oval track racing. 5 on 5 1/2 will be hard to find. You may have to have them made.

    These are some vintage 8 lug floater to Wide 5 I had a few years ago.

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  18. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,264

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

  19. Alaska Jim
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 319

    Alaska Jim
    Member

    I will ck out their race catalog, I think I
    have one around here somewhere, but it is probably 2-3 years out of date, probably better to check the web site. Thanks for the tip.
     
  20. Alaska Jim
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 319

    Alaska Jim
    Member

    T
    That is what I also thought, maybe even may have to use 7/16, if I could find it. the problem I see with using steel is the weight , like gimpyshotrods. said. but If I found some in Aluminum, I would need some that would not distort, like the ones I have now. Thanks, ----Jim
     
  21. scootermcrad
    Joined: Sep 20, 2005
    Posts: 12,382

    scootermcrad
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    For what it's worth, I used the Speedway adapters on mine. I ditched the bolts and pressed in some Dorman wheel studs. They are correct in saying that they don't fit well up against the drum because of the heads of the bolts/studs. That is an easy fix. I set them up in the mill and machined off just the right amount so they fit perfect on the drum. This could be done with a grinder as well, but I wanted each one to have the same height. There was still plenty of meat left on the head of the stud to prevent pull-thru. Yes they're heavy, but unless you're overly concerned about weight, it will not make a bit of difference.
     
  22. Fred A
    Joined: May 3, 2005
    Posts: 290

    Fred A
    Member
    from Encino, CA
    1. Upholstery

    Not that I'm opinionated but seem that the whole concept of an adapter where another drum style could be substituted at far lower expense and without the weak link of an adapter. Manyolcars didn't get any play on that remedy. Could it be that the drums are late where no wide fives existed? Alaska Jim didn't help if that is the case but left some of us unclear what he's adapting to, beyond "Ford 5 on 5 1/2" . We come to the board looking for our thoughts, but sometimes the key elements are omitted and revealed later. Wouldn't care much but many of us prefer the clean solution, not stacking adapters which could be weak and dangerous. Back in my VW days I used adapters and broke one against a curb. Beyond that, offset can be an additional problem. Come on Jim, WTF? Fred A
     
    X38 likes this.
  23. Alaska Jim
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 319

    Alaska Jim
    Member

    Ok the car is a '30 ford coupe with a '57 or later 9" Ford rear Diff . has M/T rear brakes, axles are stock ford with a 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern. the car came with the adapters on it. they are aluminum and fit poorly, and distort when tightening them down against the drums, the car has wide 5 wheels on it . I am just looking for a better adapter. I thought that was pretty clear when I ask about a an adapter to go from a 5 on5 1/2 bolt pattern to wide 5 wheels, maybe not . do you get it now Fred, sorry it was not clear enough. Thank you to everyone who offered advise or possible solutions. most do not understand the lack of resources available here in Alaska. There are no good swap meets, parts and cars older than 1980 are extremely hard to come by. everything was crushed in the '80 by the scrappers when the scrap prices were high. there are only about 2 worth while machine shops with in a 100 mile round trip from where I live. I am a retired heavy equipment and automotive mechanic, but due to health and financial issues there is a lot I can no longer do. so I ask for help when I have trouble finding information. I am capable of building my own adapters but do not have access to the equipment to do so since I retired..--------Jim
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2018
  24. wuga
    Joined: Sep 21, 2008
    Posts: 563

    wuga
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I thought it was pretty clear. The ones from A1 look good but again the stud head problem. You could install a 1/4" spacer on the 5.5 studs before installing the adapter. This again moves your wheels out further, although I suspect the A1 adapter is thinner then the aluminum one you are currently running. The only other issue is another layer of hardware on your wheels.

    Warren
     
  25. Alaska Jim
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 319

    Alaska Jim
    Member

    wuga, Thank you for your additional suggestions. I will deal with this problem later in the fall. I am having hip replacement july 10th, so I will not even be able to get in the car for over a month, not allowed to drive for at least one month, maybe longer. hopefully I may be able to have some made at the machine shop my brother works at before they sell out and liquidate this fall. They are real busy trying to clear off all their back log, and may not want to take on the job, that is why I was looking at just buying some, if I could find what I want. I also realize that an adapter is a weak link, and would not have been my first choice , but the car was bought this way, and short of changing the read diff. to get the wide 5 drums, or change wheels, and get rid of the wide 5's, then I would end up changing the front hubs and drums to get away from the wide 5's. the adapters on the rear was/is the easy way out, and if the ones on the car would have been built correctly, I would not be having this problem. Thanks to all that tried to help and thanks for the suggestions.---Jim
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2018
  26. The highway 101 adaptors are what you seek. Again, no concern wih an aluminum adaptor at all.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320AZ using Tapatalk
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  27. Alaska Jim
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 319

    Alaska Jim
    Member

    Thank you George, I am leaning that way.
     
  28. 55willys
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 1,711

    55willys
    Member

    My adapters work well in the situation you are talking about. I used to use the ones made by Dick Spadaro before he died and ran into the same problem with the stud heads hitting the brake drum. When I started manufacturing my own adapters I countersunk the holes in the back to make the stud heads almost flush. Unfortunately I am totally out of stock on adapters and don't know when I will have more made as they don't sell very fast and the cost of materials went up. If I get some people wanting them it might be worthwhile to do another run.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  29. I had some adapters made up to my design allowing an SU carb to be used on Citroen 2CV engine. Lots of people said they wanted them until it came time to put hand to pocket. I was stuck with 20 sets for nearly 5 years until someone posted a rave review on a specialist forum - they then sold in a few days. I then had people wanting more but once bitten.....


    Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    RICH B likes this.
  30. bct
    Joined: Apr 4, 2005
    Posts: 3,154

    bct
    Member

    curious about price . please pm
     

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