Where to buy Centerlock hubs?

[HTXtremes]

I am new here so forgive me if there are a hundred threads on this I did a search and found nothing.

I am building a F40 replica and will be using centerlock style wheels to get a more realistic car when done. I've been working on this car for over a year now and just recently got a big boost in the build.

I've done searches after searches trying to find some one who makes or sells centerlock wheel hubs and the only person I've found so far is Vintage Wheels. They make an adapter to fit most cars to convert to centerlock but I would much rather have a solid one piece unit. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

You can see my build here http://www.madmechanics.com/build-diaries/my-%2788-coupe-build-f40-style/

James,

[Randy67]

Maybe see if it is possible to find the maker(s) of the hubs used in LeMans racing (you may have tried this already). Of course none of them will be street legal. :machine:DOT

[Twentyover]

PS Engineering in Torrance CA. Phil Schmidt (owner- wonder how he came up w/ the name PS Engineering?) builds replica of several racing wheels. IIRC he also builds a pin drive centerlock drive and wheels to fit it.

Don't know what Randy's talking about regarding legality- Pin drive and Rudge Spline drive centerlocks were a staple of streetable English and Italian sportscars in the 60's and 70's- fellout of favor since wire wheels are less stiff than disc wheels, and centerlock spline drives (by far more widely used than pin drive) in disc wheels were way heavier than bolt-ons. Nothing illegal in the US about running centerlocks on the street. There is a question of legality w/ winged knockoffs on a late models FROM THE MANUFACTURER, but nothng prevents winged knockoffs being fitted by the owner.

[Shiro666]

Can we see pic's of the F40 project?

Pleezee?

[TitoJones]

www.hrpworld.com has some.

Tyler

[Rhino]

...Don't know what Randy's talking about regarding legality...

I believe what he's refering to is the fact that they have to be certified by the DOT before they're considered "legal" Most full out race wheels haven't undergone this certification.

With that said, most bargan basement street wheels haven't either.

[Twentyover]

Hmm-I went to NHTSA's website http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.aa485ace1296ebd119736c1046108a0c/ , cruised around some, did a search, and didn't see regulations on wheels.

Can you point me to a reference?

[novaderrik]

parts manufacturers put that "not legal for use on highways" disclaimer on everything they make so they won't have lawyers knocking on their door when someone gets hurt becasue one of their parts failed on the highway.
it's the same reason that most speed parts also come with that same disclaimer- that way, if someone fails an emissions test becasue their King Demon carb isn't on the approved replacement parts list for their 85 Caprice with a 305 they can't sue the manufacturer..

[HTXtremes]

follow the link in the bottom of my original post and you can see the build progress there!

here are two links to my build threads on Pennock's and on Kitcarsforum

http://www.madmechanics.com/build-diaries/my-%2788-coupe-build-f40-style/

http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000065.html

[Rhino]

Hmm-I went to NHTSA's website http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.aa485ace1296ebd119736c1046108a0c/ , cruised around some, did a search, and didn't see regulations on wheels.

Can you point me to a reference?

Unfortunately I can't point you to a direct reference, although I have been given a "fix it" ticket for non-approved wheels on my Jeep. The cop sure believed it, and I never challenged it.
A few days later I threw my stock wheels on, showed them it was "fixed" and had my aftermarkets back on later that afternoon.

The more I think about it, it's not that a design has to be certified per se, although it does have to be built to a specified design criteria and carry a DOT logo. Which is a similar process for headlamps. It's more of an on your honor system. If it's carrying the DOT logo, and fails before the DOT mandates, it's on the manufacturer. If it's not carrying the logo, it's (apparently) not intended for street use.

Most people aren't likely to care. Even if they did, you'll rarely see a cop pulled over at the side of the road looking for the logo. I may have just caught a cop on a bad day.

I've never really put much thought into it, I'm just providing my experience into why he may be saying that. :)

[Randy67]

There are a couple reasons for the original post.
1. Race parts are not listed for street use, usually for legal reasons already stated. Also, some race wheels don't fare very well against potholes, curbs, roadkill and other road hazards.

2. Weren't centerlock wheels, while not made necessarily illegal, highly discouraged by the DOT, probably because of some idiots inability to grasp the concept correctly and lose one or more wheels. Better chance that 4 or 5 lugs won't all come off at one time. Maybe I am remembering wrong. I used to have a 69 Midget and always double checked the wheels every couple weeks or so on the advise of MG owners. If the nut was even slightly loose, the splines would take a beating behind the massive 50 hp engine.

[Twentyover]

Reason I'm pushing this is while I see DOT on jars of brake fluid, on tires, on brake hoses, on a range of safety related products; and I see FMVSS regulations addressing these products, I've never seen a DOT label cast or stamped into a wheel, supplied by the vehicle manufacturer or the aftermarket. Seems kind of inconsistent.

The Tire and Rim Association defines the shape of the bead seat (IIRC).

The fact that the cop said the wheels weren't approved - did he say DOT approved or could there have been some state mandated non-conformance? Sticking out too far (hella beyond flush?) Or could the cop have been yanking your chain? Certain that's never happened before.

I'm thinking that race parts are generally lighter weight, based on the premise that a wheel used on a race car, for instance, will be inspected more frequently than the rusty stocker off a 73 Pinto. Panasport, for instance, has street and race versions of wheels, the race versions shed about 3 lbs. I'd suggest 'race' parts are so denoted to minimize product liability exposure.

It's my belief that only winged knockoffs were eliminated from new production circa 1967 to reduce potential injuries to pedestrians in the event they were sideswiped but a car. New production MG's continued w/ a hex centerlock until production ceased in 1980.

[The Stickman]

Unfortunately I can't point you to a direct reference, although I have been given a "fix it" ticket for non-approved wheels on my Jeep. The cop sure believed it, and I never challenged it.
A few days later I threw my stock wheels on, showed them it was "fixed" and had my aftermarkets back on later that afternoon.

The more I think about it, it's not that a design has to be certified per se, although it does have to be built to a specified design criteria and carry a DOT logo. Which is a similar process for headlamps. It's more of an on your honor system. If it's carrying the DOT logo, and fails before the DOT mandates, it's on the manufacturer. If it's not carrying the logo, it's (apparently) not intended for street use.

Most people aren't likely to care. Even if they did, you'll rarely see a cop pulled over at the side of the road looking for the logo. I may have just caught a cop on a bad day.

I've never really put much thought into it, I'm just providing my experience into why he may be saying that. :)


Were those wheels by chance beadlockers? Because those are illegal.

[Rhino]

Were those wheels by chance beadlockers? Because those are illegal.

We're getting a little far off the original subject but yes, they are beadlocks. There is nothing about a beadlock that makes it inherently illegal (At least in KS). If there were, GM wouldn't have been able to put them on the H1.

[Randy67]

Here is some good info on the beadlocks:
http://www.aev-conversions.com/products/wheels/beadlock_info.php

[HTXtremes]

Well I just got off the phone with a sales rep for HRPWorld.com and I was told that they no longer carry the centerlock hub kits or adapters.

[Lowend]

I would think you could start with a 63-67 Corvette "bolt-on knock-off" hub and machine a nut to fit it
It's not a true centerlock, but with some doing it would look similar and probably be safer on the street
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/06/ybdllpartashowpicZ5Z5Z50000050bZ5Z5Z5AAP-1.dll?parta~showpic~z5z5z50000050b~z5z5z5aapan~z5z 5z51~z5z5z5~z5z5z5

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=25175&dept_id=258

[Randy67]

Surprisingly, that hub is very similar to the C6R one, except theirs doesn't bolt on (at least not visible in the following pict).
http://image.vetteweb.com/f/9003510/vemp_0709_07_z+chevrolet_corvette_C6R+brakes.jpg

[CKreations]

http://www.onelugwheels.com/

Like the name says... I don't know if they fit your style though.

[gt1guy]

Try LG Motorsports or Pratt & Miller. I don't know if you've got your spindles yet, but most of the real center locks use a specific spindle pin. I think a set up from P&M (spindles and hubs) is around 10G.

Kevin