Wire wheel conversion

[Trevor Jessie]

It seems it me (unless I am misunderstanding) you do NOT have a WW axle tube/housing. The PO simple put in WW half shafts and rand the car without the axles being totally engaged. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened.

 

[Hairyone]

AH HA!! YES of course, the wheels were a little close to the arches.
I guess that's what you get with a 50 year old car, a little bodge here & there which becomes permanent & forgotten about.
Thank you everyone.
While all this is out I'm probably going to remove the rear springs for inspection of the pockets. Yikes!!!! I've seen some scary posts on these, but at the moment everything back there is all covered in thick white paint & it may be hiding something nasty. I'm not looking forward to it.

New axle I have is getting a 3.7 diff " ebay shopping again".

 

[Dug]

Just checked a solid wheel housing from the backface of where it mates up to the flange of the housing. From side to side it measured 42-5/16” wide (give or take a 1/32”) Then measured a wire wheel housing at 41-5/32” wide. Approx 1-5/32” difference. The solid wheel housings was MKI and the wire wheel housing was from a MKIII.
Dug

 

[Hairyone]

Yes that's confirmed it Dug. My original housing was in fact also the cars original solid wheel. And a previous owner had changed the axle shafts only.
Well it worked, I gave it some stick & it didn't brake & I assume it had been like that for years. With the shafts not engaged into the diff fully buy around 3/4"
Thanks. That's put that one to bed.