Weird Lug Nut Question

[John Moore]

I'm pulling the mag wheels off my Bugeye and replacing them with original steel wheels. This is weird, but the wheel stud size on the back is different from the front!

The fronts are 7/16 20, I'm not sure what the rear is but it's smaller? I bought all new lugs nuts based on what I saw on the front. Did the stud size ever change? I wonder if the DPO changed out the studs when he put on the mags. Strange.

 

[John Moore]

Ok... I just checked out my front hubs I bought from a fellow member and the studs are of the smaller variety too. Weird. I guess the DPO changed out the studs on the front.

 

[jlaird]

Should be the same all around.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

originally 3/8 front and back.

 

[aeronca65t]

It is fairly popular among racers to change the front lugs to a bigger size (7/16 or 12mm). There is enough "meat" in the front hub to do that.

For the rear hubs, there is much less material and it is not a good idea to overdrill and add bigger lugs since it would weaken the hub. The racing-style hubs that many of us use (with double bearing) are thicker and the bigger lugs will fit.

 

[John Moore]

Thanks guys. I guess the DPO swapped out the front studs!?

 

[JerryB]

yes.

"""""wheels off my Bugeye and replacing them with original steel wheels"""""

Now comes a problem with the 'original wheels" and using 7/16" lug nuts. The original wheels use nuts with a "bowl
radius" and they are only made in 3/8". ....also the originals wont go on the 7/16" studs as the holes in the wheel center are too small.


""""""I just checked out my front hubs I bought from a fellow member and the studs are of the smaller variety too"""

So use those hubs on the front and get 16 correct nuts with the bowl radius.

 

[ChrisS]

John,
I've got a pile of BE 3/8 lug nuts if you need them. PM me your address and I'll send them out.

 

[John Moore]

Thanks Chris! Will do! I tried to find some at several local autoparts stores with no luck, Even tried a trailer
place.

I ended up swaping out my hubs and now the BE Rat Rod wheels are on the car. I just used some regular 3/8 nuts for now... just so I can roll it about.)

 

[tony barnhill]

Try finding TD lug nuts (& I need 1)!