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Old 12-05-2020, 01:24 AM
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Scarebird Scarebird is offline
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Default Interest in custom 8 lug wheels

An idea I have been kicking around. Roush stopped making the 8 lug disc conversion a few years ago - not enough sales. Since 8 lug 15" wheels are now being made, I made a small run of plates to test an idea.

Essentially you would have a steel plate that bears the weight and power of the wheel as shown - the 5 little holes would mount a decorative cap made by 3D printing of high temp plastic that would mimic the look of a true 8 lug center.
A repop hub cap would snap into this cap. The plate would have studs to bolt to the 15" (or 14") rims. This would clear our disc setup and of course drums too.

Any interest?



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  #2  
Old 12-05-2020, 03:30 AM
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T.Weber T.Weber is online now
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Definitely! I would love to get front Discs on my Cat without loosing my 8 lug looks.
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  #3  
Old 12-05-2020, 11:40 AM
62 bv 62 bv is offline
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i would like to see what the cap looks like

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Old 12-05-2020, 12:36 PM
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I probably won't be in the market for them, but encourage the idea. If they look right and come in at a reasonable price I think you'll have a good product. It seems like a better idea than modifying a real 8 lug drum, it will be lighter and probably stronger.

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Old 12-05-2020, 02:46 PM
marxjunk marxjunk is offline
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i am listening.....seems like a solid idea...i have a few big cars..

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  #6  
Old 12-05-2020, 10:21 PM
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Very interested in hearing more and wondering about the cost.

It looks like a winner to me

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  #7  
Old 12-05-2020, 11:22 PM
Poncho60 Poncho60 is offline
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If the plan would be to use repro center caps that Ames sells, I would be a little concerned about that plastic center section taking the stress of the interference fit unless of course you plan to remove the plastic center with the center cap still installed. Just a thought.

  #8  
Old 12-06-2020, 12:04 AM
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I definitely have some interest in this.

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Old 12-06-2020, 11:52 AM
mgarblik mgarblik is offline
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I love ideas like this, and don't want to discourage in anyway. But if I am thinking correctly the car would end up with "2 plastic 8-lugs" and 2 stock ones on the rear? So it would seem the secret to success would be a perfect replica of the front finned centers. Many 3-D printers now can print in a wide variety of materials including many types of metal, metal matrix and carbon fiber. Any thought of printing the centers in aluminum if the plastic doesn't have the exact look you need? I would be interested in the project if the look was very correct. Best of luck with this.

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Old 12-06-2020, 01:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mgarblik View Post
I love ideas like this, and don't want to discourage in anyway. But if I am thinking correctly the car would end up with "2 plastic 8-lugs" and 2 stock ones on the rear?
Scarebird can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe what he's proposing would work on all four corners of the car.

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Old 12-06-2020, 09:15 PM
TransAm400 TransAm400 is offline
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Interested. Would it change the track width any?

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  #12  
Old 12-08-2020, 09:13 PM
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Were the front 8 lug covers for the disc rotors made by cutting the bell off a rear 8 lug drum? The thing that put me off on the conversion was the total cost of 5 15" wheels, center caps, trim rings lug nuts etc. Anything that could get the cost down would be a great help.

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Old 12-08-2020, 09:16 PM
Goatracer1 Goatracer1 is offline
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If you made adapters couldn't you make them to put 8 lugs on "A" bodies also?

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Old 12-08-2020, 10:55 PM
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Stuart is right - it would work on the rears too. The center cap would be a 3D printed cap to look like the 62-68 units. Pontiac nuts would of course note quickly the difference but not the casual fan.

I do not have any real connections to 3D outfits - the only close one to me is some damn "artist" who is never there. I can send an Autocad file to somebody who can run with this end of it.

Yes, if there is sufficient interest A bodys could be serviced.

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Old 12-09-2020, 09:57 PM
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Forgive the detour but I find 3D-printed parts interesting. I'm curious what a part as large as you propose costs if you buy it from a "service". Have you chased any estimates?

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Old 12-09-2020, 10:05 PM
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no, I have not. The "artist" was supposed to get back to me but flaked out.

If anybody here has that capability I can send an AutoCAD file.

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Old 12-09-2020, 10:23 PM
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Sorry I can't help. I've been around small printers in a corporate workplace and the central machine shop could turn decent-sized printed parts fast but I'm sure they had a very expensive machine - well beyond something somebody would put in their home or garage.

Have you thought about contacting somebody like this that advertises printing as a service (I just randomly grabbed this one off the web)?

https://www.3dsystems.com/on-demand-manufacturing

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Old 12-10-2020, 01:52 AM
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Not really - we are working 60+ hours trying to keep up with the brake stuff, so I thought I would throw it out here to see if anyone is an expert on 3D printing.

  #19  
Old 04-19-2021, 07:02 PM
1965gp 1965gp is offline
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This is a really interesting idea. I like it...

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