aerotrukII,3&4

[aerotruk63]

First remove the centers from the rings. The newer black ring on the left is for a Dodge Magnum, 17" dealer take off. The rusty center on the left, in the black ring, is from the 17.5" original rim, that I drilled the rivets out using a drill press. You can do it with a hand drill but is it ever easier in a drill press. On the old wheels I used a center punch to locate a center on the rivets. Started with a1/4" drill bit, then reamed the hole with a 1/2" bit. You need to whack the center towards the back of the wheel once the rivets have been removed. Piece of hardwood and a BFH does the job nicely!



The newer wheel is welded. PITA. You can cut the welds with a hand grinder or if your lucky enough to have a steel lathe with enough swing ( can take the diameter of the wheel ) you can machine the welds. I was given an old brake lathe recently and used it for this step. It can only remove a bit of metal at a time but it's cleaner than a hand grinder, slower than a steel lathe. My Dad built the stand with all the hooks to hold the different attachments for it. Wrap a rubber bungee cord around the ring when machining, it will dampen the vibrations from the cutting process and maybe save you from some hearing loss. Make sure you remove all the welds or it ain't coming out. Once again, remove towards the back cause it tapers towards the front.




Placed the 17.5" center into the new 17" ring and took some scrap pieces of flatstock to shim the difference. The center from the 17.5" wheel is smaller than the 17" center. Installed the tire I want to run onto the assembly.Placed the yet welded assembly on the truck to check for clearance.


3/16" flat stock fit the bill well, so measured for the lengths required, cut and curved them on the rolling machine. You could also bend the 3/16 using the centers as a buck. Get yourself a steel bandsaw when you can. It does alot around Dad's workshop.


Small rolling machine Harbor Freight Tools.



Pieces cut and rolled. Notice on the floor, Dad made bases out of the unused centers, as flower pot holders.



Vise gripped to the center.



Center on the left welded, only two more to go.