Wheel Adapter/Spacer nuts. . .hex nuts or 12-pt. nuts???

[atomicjoe23]

I'm going to be machining a set of front/rear adapters for my new wheels (17" x 9" ZR-1 5-spokes on a 1967 Pontiac Firebird. . .I haven't measured on my car to verify yet, but I believe they will be an ~ 1.7" thick front spacer and an ~ 2" thick rear spacer based on what information I have gathered from others running these wheels on first-gen F-bodies) and I was wondering if it made a difference what style of nuts I ran on the spacer.

The spacers will be hub centric, I'm using ARP 1/2-20 studs and nuts; I've got a couple of trains of thought here. . .



First train of thought is that the 12-pt. nuts have a smaller flange and therefore would require a smaller counterbore so the adapters would retain more material.

Second train of thought is that the the hex nuts larger flange means there is a larger bearing surface for the nut and it may be a more secure joint. Also, since the counterbore will be larger more material is being removed and the adapters would be lighter (even if only marginally).

Third train of thought. . .I'm putting WAY too much thought into this. . .

Thanks for the input.