Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

epashhans · 09-17-2009, 12:33 AM

I picked up some 20" rims off a newer chevy pickup (mid 90's) but got home and the hub is bigger than the wheel hub opening (about a half inch I figure...so 1/4 inch on each side). Is there any way to correct this? Can I mill the hub? Mill the wheel (don't think thats a good idea)? I have a 67 with power drum brakes and 6 lug bolt pattern...I will have to space the rear, so should be a non issue with that. The front though, if I spaced it, then it woudn't space it out to far I think. Anyone with some advice other than taking back the wheels...

jeffspower · 09-17-2009, 12:42 AM

I haven't done this myself, but seen plenty of talk around here about it. Some have just ground the hub down with a grinder while spinning the hub by hand. It would be quick work on a lathe though, so I'd probably spend a few bucks and go that route.

epashhans · 09-17-2009, 01:26 AM

I tried searching...do you recall any threads that discuss this?

jeffspower · 09-17-2009, 01:44 AM

I found this one that I remember following...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=300737

Paul M · 09-17-2009, 02:18 AM

i had put some i think 03-04 factory avalanche alum rims on my 71 blazer. they didnt fit like you are asking about, so had a shop turn the inside of all 4 wheels down to fit over hubs. worked out well, but looked like crap on it.the offset made em stick inboard to far and just didnt look right.

**Green Machine** · 09-17-2009, 04:47 AM

Many have been deceived by this one, the bolt pattern is the same, and if you machine the wheel (best plan) then the backspacing is all wrong. Newer axles are longer and the wheels will set in to far and I do not like spacers for safety concerns.

cdowns · 09-17-2009, 07:29 AM

the few trucks i've seen fitted with the newer style wheels disn't look very good IMO because of the backspacing issue

Longhorn Man · 09-17-2009, 09:45 AM

looks like a real fat guy on a little tiny bicycle

epashhans · 09-17-2009, 09:48 AM

I agree, but these are aftermarket ones and have the correct offset for my truck (dropped 3/5) if I could just get them on? So now I have heard to machine the wheel or the hub? Which one is best?

Longhorn Man · 09-17-2009, 10:35 AM

i'd do the wheel.
The hub of the truck is designed to carry the load of the truck. You start messing with that, and now the metal is thinner and not up to the task.

smn69 · 09-17-2009, 01:51 PM

Aluminum is easy to machine the problem will be finding a lathe big enough to turn a 20" wheel. A good machine shop should have one, but it may cost you. Like what was said before, I wouldn't machine the hub.

jeffspower · 09-17-2009, 04:40 PM

If you don't have to take much off the hub, and it is mainly at the "outer edge", I don't see a problem doing it. The outer bearing race is quite a ways down in from the hub dust cap edge, so it won't effect much. Besides, the outer wheel bearing doesn't carry as much load as the inner (that's how it gets by with a smaller bearing), providing the wheel offset is acceptable. If too much load/ shock is applied to the "outer" end, the bearing &/ or spindle will be the most likely to fail IMO.

If you do the wheel instead, it might be easier to find someone with a Bridgeport mill & rotary table than a big lathe.

mclairmo · 09-17-2009, 04:46 PM

I would machine the front wheels not the hubs.

09-17-2009, 12:33 AM	#1
epashhans Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: MT Posts: 319	Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... I picked up some 20" rims off a newer chevy pickup (mid 90's) but got home and the hub is bigger than the wheel hub opening (about a half inch I figure...so 1/4 inch on each side). Is there any way to correct this? Can I mill the hub? Mill the wheel (don't think thats a good idea)? I have a 67 with power drum brakes and 6 lug bolt pattern...I will have to space the rear, so should be a non issue with that. The front though, if I spaced it, then it woudn't space it out to far I think. Anyone with some advice other than taking back the wheels... __________________ '67 C-10 Shorty - 454, 5spd, and speed holes!

09-17-2009, 12:42 AM	#2
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... I haven't done this myself, but seen plenty of talk around here about it. Some have just ground the hub down with a grinder while spinning the hub by hand. It would be quick work on a lathe though, so I'd probably spend a few bucks and go that route. __________________ '68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car

09-17-2009, 01:26 AM	#3
epashhans Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: MT Posts: 319	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... I tried searching...do you recall any threads that discuss this? __________________ '67 C-10 Shorty - 454, 5spd, and speed holes!

09-17-2009, 01:44 AM	#4
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... I found this one that I remember following... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=300737 __________________ '68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car

09-17-2009, 02:18 AM	#5
Paul M Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Oakridge, Oregon Posts: 138	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... i had put some i think 03-04 factory avalanche alum rims on my 71 blazer. they didnt fit like you are asking about, so had a shop turn the inside of all 4 wheels down to fit over hubs. worked out well, but looked like crap on it.the offset made em stick inboard to far and just didnt look right. __________________ 67-72 Truckless for the moment Member# 1126 The one that got away http://customclassictrucks.com/featu...001/index.html

09-17-2009, 04:47 AM	#6
Green Machine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Estherville, Iowa Posts: 3,371	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... Many have been deceived by this one, the bolt pattern is the same, and if you machine the wheel (best plan) then the backspacing is all wrong. Newer axles are longer and the wheels will set in to far and I do not like spacers for safety concerns. __________________ 1968 C10 307 3spd Long Fleet ------ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=201103 1970 C10 305 Super T10 Long Fleet --- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=202285 1971 C20 383 TH350 Dana Posi ----- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=206894 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0

09-17-2009, 07:29 AM	#7
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... the few trucks i've seen fitted with the newer style wheels disn't look very good IMO because of the backspacing issue __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

09-17-2009, 09:45 AM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... looks like a real fat guy on a little tiny bicycle

09-17-2009, 09:48 AM	#9
epashhans Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: MT Posts: 319	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... I agree, but these are aftermarket ones and have the correct offset for my truck (dropped 3/5) if I could just get them on? So now I have heard to machine the wheel or the hub? Which one is best? __________________ '67 C-10 Shorty - 454, 5spd, and speed holes!

09-17-2009, 10:35 AM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... i'd do the wheel. The hub of the truck is designed to carry the load of the truck. You start messing with that, and now the metal is thinner and not up to the task.

09-17-2009, 01:51 PM	#11
smn69 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orem, Ut Posts: 132	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... Aluminum is easy to machine the problem will be finding a lathe big enough to turn a 20" wheel. A good machine shop should have one, but it may cost you. Like what was said before, I wouldn't machine the hub.

09-17-2009, 04:40 PM	#12
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... If you don't have to take much off the hub, and it is mainly at the "outer edge", I don't see a problem doing it. The outer bearing race is quite a ways down in from the hub dust cap edge, so it won't effect much. Besides, the outer wheel bearing doesn't carry as much load as the inner (that's how it gets by with a smaller bearing), providing the wheel offset is acceptable. If too much load/ shock is applied to the "outer" end, the bearing &/ or spindle will be the most likely to fail IMO. If you do the wheel instead, it might be easier to find someone with a Bridgeport mill & rotary table than a big lathe. __________________ '68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car

09-17-2009, 04:46 PM	#13
mclairmo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Take Off Posts: 1,908	Re: Hub and wheel wrong size? How to correct... I would machine the front wheels not the hubs.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.