ive been in a question mood lately

i was lookin around for 4 lug wheels and there are way more of them for the import cars. now i was wondering, what would need to be done to make some of these 4 lug wheels work on our car

i think ive got the understanding that it is the backspacin that is the problem, but what would need to be done to fix that?

or if u used those like lug adapters that were say an inch and a half thick, what backspacing on the wheels would u then need?

 

really guys... no help at all? lol

 

i think most of the ...import...wheels are front wheel drive...that would take some serious backspacing...

......

 

It's been discussed before, thats why you got no answer.

 

well i have spent all of the morning lookin around at the various threads and using the search feature

the one post interested me, but i did find it a little bit confusing
if anyone can help put it into dumb guy terms that would be awesome

The use of spacers is an old and honorable tradition. The worst thing that happens is that they place more load on the axle bearings. The spacers, Whether they are made from aluminum or steel, are unlikely to break. They do just about double the leverage that the vehicle weight plays on the axle bearing. If you are using them in conjunction with internal ofset wheels to keep the bearing load the same while using wider wheels then they are a good idea. Using them to space your wheel out an inch is not so smart because you can get 1 inch offset wheels for thesame price and you don't add weight to your un-sprung weight. As an adapter from one wheel to another (running chevy wheels) on your Maverick is a way to get popular wheels to fit on your car without custom wheels and their cost.

and well esentially right now i am considerin goin with a modern mustang rim, and since i have the 4 lug, i would have to go to a 5 lug pattern anyway, i was thinkin of doing this with a spacer kind of like this - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-LU...019QQitemZ290165034126QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

i see this change my backspace needs, but then it got me to thinking, wouldnt that make the mustang bullits and other wheels like them fit pretty well in there? thanks in advance for ur patience with me

 

I ca'nt really help you much, but I know what you mean about finding old threads. The archives suck and are hard to follow. I would just enjoy reading/searching through several hundred pages of posts. Call me odd, but I enjoy it.

Most questions have been asked and some answered. So normally I like to browse.

 

What is honorable about having your wheels fall off when the spacer shears, and putting added stress on suspension components and wheel bearings? You ever had a suspension related failure while driving down the road? Let me tell you, it isn't much fun, even if you're lucky enough not to wreck the car. And being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a bad wheel bearing can't be much more fun. Some may have perceived faith in their spacers, but they will never see the light of day on my car. Get wheels that fit your car right in the first place.

 

one of the problems with the import wheels are the bolt pattern. most of them are metric and will not fit our bolt patterns. you may find some that will, but it will be trial and error.

 

Slots yo.
Classic and easy to find.

 

For once, we actually agree on wheels.

 

well ive got a line on some daisy mags and some slot mags, but they are the 5x4.5

what is the cheapest possible way to go to the 5 lug, i understand it would be nice to have discs, but i would be ok with 5 lug drums all the way around, its just a driver, nothin fast at all

pls let me know

 

The front drums should be easey.5 lug mav/comet drums should literally bolt right on.A 70 mav may have a smaller hub though compared to the later ones which would necessitate a bearing change.(I could be wrong)so dont take it as gospel.The rear is another story all together.If you have the 7.5 rear axle the only way to go to 5 lug is to have the hubs drilled(not wort it)If its the 8 inch your still up the creek.the axels from a 5 lug 8 inch wont work(bearing dia. is different)so is axle dia. Best bet: get a 5 lug 8" axle from another mav/comet it will bolt right in.(you may have to do some U joint cahanges)I am not sure.I think its a direct swap.Correct me if im wrong guys.Good luck.

 

As for wheels.If you have a line on some Daisey wheels or slots for a 4 lug,Get em.you will be cheaper off in the end considering whats needed to go to 5 lug.Besides you said its just a driver right??? you dont need that kind of durability.When you build it up and start making lots of power.Then you should step up to 5 lugs.Dont put the cart before the horse.Do the important things first,like safety items.then driveability.then dress it up.Good luck,have fun.

 

If you can afford front discs, I really would make every effort to install them, especially on a car that's just a driver. They make the car so much nicer to drive, and require much less maintenance then drums. Take it from someone who has driven a Maverick with front drums for 25,000 miles total (between two different Mavericks). Looking back now, it seems I spent almost as much time maintaining the drum brakes as I did driving the car. Seemed there was always something to go wrong with them every few thousand miles, and I only got about 10-12,000 miles out of brake shoes. My discs on the other hand, have worked flawlessly.

 

If you have the cash by all means listen to Mr.Miles.He is sooo right on this.If you cant.Get the car road worthy first then pretty it up.Little by little it all comes together in the end.