MGB-GT Decided - converting to bolt-on wheels

[drooartz]

So I did some figuring this morning and I'm going to convert to the 4-bolt setup. A friend in town has a disc-wheel rear axle from his '70 roadster (converted to V6 and a different rear end) that I can use, and I just grabbed a pair of front hubs off eBay. I'll start tearing out the old bits this weekend, to make sure I know all that's needed before placing the order, and I may shop around a bit for wheels -- though Moss' price isn't too bad (going through a reseller for the discount).

The rear axle is complete as it sits, so I'm not intending to dig into it at all -- though as it's from a roadster I'll have to think about switching the brakes over. GT rear slave cylinders are different if I remember properly.

Here's my tentative order list so far. I'm assuming I'll want to replace the existing bearings while I'm in there, and figured a couple shim kits for the fronts would be good to have on hand for setting the end float on the front bearings.

125-840 - front bearing kit @ 2
263-508 - shim kit, front hubs @ 2
264-515 - cap, front grease retainer @ 2
264-490 - disc wheel stud, front @ 8
331-250 - handbrake cable, disc wheel @ 1
325-442 - cotter pin, front bearing retainer nut @ 2
455-386 - Minilite Style Wheel-Bolt-On-Silver-14"x5.5" @ 5
264-980 - Lugnut - Chrome - Each @ 16

This isn't really where I wanted to spend my non-existent cash right now, but this route is about 1/2 the cost of new splined hubs and splined alloy wheels (my hubs are pretty worn). I should be able to reuse my new 14" tires as well. This is a touring car, so I don't see a need to go up to 15" wheels, the 14" are just fine for what I do.

Anything I'm missing?

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Check your PM, Drew.

And go with 15" rims!

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Bolt-on Dayton wires.....

 

[drooartz]

Got the PM, Mickey.

As for the bolt-on Daytons, not to my taste. I really won't miss the wire wheels -- the look is nice enough, but to my eye no better than other options. I like Minilite-style wheels, and they're very easy and cheap to find in the proper size for an MGB.

I need to keep the spending on the GT to a minimum where possible, so I'm fixing things correctly but I'm not upgrading unless there's no cost involved or a real need. My last MGB had 14" wheels and they were perfectly adequate. The tires on the wire wheels are 2 weeks old and the right size for 14" wheels, so the plan is to swap them over and be done with it.

When I'm ready for a new set of tires in 7-10 years I'll consider the size upgrade.