Modifiying your drums to take different wheels
Modifiying your drums to take different wheels
Author
Discussion

Mr Green

Original Poster:

936 posts

206 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
I have recently aquired a V/W Beach Buggy , I believe it is a GP super buggy. The wheels are 10x15 inche on the front and 12.5x15 on the back. My question is, is it possible to get a set(4) of drums and have them adapted from the 4x130 to 5x120(BMW size) so that I can fit a set of cheaper and more readily available wheels and tyres on it. I have a set of 235x45x17 5 series wheels and tyres sat in the garage doing nothing, if I needed a set of tyres for the back it would cost a fortune for 325x50x15's, if I could get them(which I doubt)


gtmdriver

333 posts

197 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
It's not the drums you need to worry about so much, although they will obviously need redrilling to suit the new PCD.

The more important modification is to the hubs that the drums mount on. They would need accurately drilling to the correct diameter at the required PCD and then tapping to the correct thread to suit whatever wheel bolt or stud system you were going to use. Depending on where the new holes lined up you may have to weld up one or more of the original holes then have the hub machined flat before re-drilling.

There is a wide choice of wheels available to suit the VW 4 x 130 PCD. I would stick with one of those if I were you.

Mr Green

Original Poster:

936 posts

206 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
gtmdriver said:
It's not the drums you need to worry about so much, although they will obviously need redrilling to suit the new PCD.

The more important modification is to the hubs that the drums mount on. They would need accurately drilling to the correct diameter at the required PCD and then tapping to the correct thread to suit whatever wheel bolt or stud system you were going to use. Depending on where the new holes lined up you may have to weld up one or more of the original holes then have the hub machined flat before re-drilling.

There is a wide choice of wheels available to suit the VW 4 x 130 PCD. I would stick with one of those if I were you.
I am struggling to find any, can you point me in the right direction?

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

279 months

Sunday 22nd November 2009
quotequote all
Big wheels and low profile tyre would look pretty ridiculous on a beach buggy though.

gtmdriver

333 posts

197 months

Tuesday 24th November 2009
quotequote all
Mr Green said:
I am struggling to find any, can you point me in the right direction?
Off the top of my head try

Midland Wheels
VW Heritage
Cool Air
SSP
Machine 7
Retrodubs
JGE Custom Wheels
Airspeed UK

or get a copy of Volksworld magazine.

















massivemoto

352 posts

196 months

Friday 4th December 2009
quotequote all
If you did want to use the BMW wheels, you'd need big spacers to still fill the arches. By the time you've bought spacers and adaptors, you'll have spent the difference in tyre price and lost the retro big offset look. I agree with the previous post which suggested buying alternative rims. Try eBay for a set of 4 8J or 2 8j + 2 10j. That will allow 295/50 15 rear and 235/60 15 front, both readily available (Cooper, Goodrich, Hercules, Mastercraft) and not as dear. On old set of Turbovec always set off a buggy well and were a kit car favourite in the '70s.

King Herald

23,501 posts

240 months

Saturday 5th December 2009
quotequote all
Mr Green said:
I have recently aquired a V/W Beach Buggy , I believe it is a GP super buggy. The wheels are 10x15 inche on the front and 12.5x15 on the back. My question is, is it possible to get a set(4) of drums and have them adapted from the 4x130 to 5x120(BMW size) so that I can fit a set of cheaper and more readily available wheels and tyres on it. I have a set of 235x45x17 5 series wheels and tyres sat in the garage doing nothing, if I needed a set of tyres for the back it would cost a fortune for 325x50x15's, if I could get them(which I doubt)
Ask at http://www.northhantstyres.com/ to see what is available to fit those rims. That is a far better idea than trying to cheap-charlie a set of oddball wheels on. It'll never look right.

Or check with a 4 x 4 tyre dealer, as they are usually cheaper than road tyre type places.

Edited by King Herald on Saturday 5th December 03:47

mkindyblade

136 posts

204 months

Saturday 5th December 2009
quotequote all
Try Volkszone for all your VW needs.


Edited by mkindyblade on Saturday 5th December 20:32