Lotus Steels - welding and regrinding bolt holes????

[cortinaman]

I took the 6" Lotus steels off my Mk1 'tina last night to get access for a bit of rust repair, and noticed the holes seemed to be quite a bit larger than the wheel studs, also the nuts seemed very deep into the wheel (if that makes sense) when done up. Should I be worried, and are the wheels going to fall off?

 

Can anyone help?

[escort21]

Get some washers made up with a taper on to seat on the wheel hole and a smaller hole for the wheel studs

[escort21]

Or change your wheel nuts....loads on rally design, could try nuts for alloys....they have bigger tapers on...

[4parajon]

Speed shack do 'em as well for Fords

[cortinaman]

Anyone know about having the holes welded and re-ground? Someone on another forum has suggested it - any suggestions who might be able to do it?

 

[Gonzo]

Any competent machine shop I would imagine. Its not all that hard to do if you got the PCD of the studs.

[Durham Fiesta]

be a lot easier to get differant bolts

[V8ian]

I would not be tempted to weld anywhere around that area, after all it is the most stressed area of the wheel, Most steel wheels seem to have a generous hole around the stud, and are located by the taper and friction between the wheel and hub, On old steel wheels, you do have to watch is the wheel nuts may bottom out before they seat on the taper of the wheel, and the nuts have to be turned down on their ends, Standard type wheel nuts should do fine, but check the shape of the seats on the wheel, if they are tapered, they use ford wheel nuts, but if they are radiused they were made for a Hillman, and need Hillman style radiused nuts. mix and match and your wheels will not stay tight.

Ian