[ROVERNET - UK] Wheels

Vern Klukas vern at inkspotco.com
Tue Aug 1 01:01:05 BST 2006


>In my experience, and it may be due to the dealer in Pittsburgh, PA, 
>where I did most of my work,  but is consistent on cars from other 
>places that I've met:
>All SC & auto cars have steel wheels with 7/16 studs and ball-faced nuts.
>All TC have Rostyles with 1/2 studs and taper seat nuts.
>Both use same bolt circle.

This does not make sense. None of my parts books show a different 
number for the wheel stud used with Rostyles and the wheel stud for 
steel wheels. The only different stud is the one spec'd for the 
Magnum wheels. Rostyles do use a different nut.

Front hubs for early cars (TC Suffix A, SC and Auto suffix D and 
lower) apparently do not fit Rostyles, which I suspect is down to 
centre hub clearance and nothing to do with stud size or bolt circle, 
as the steel wheel remains the same for all series 1 P6s regardless 
of year, and the rear hubs are common to both styles of wheel.

The Magnum wheels, OTOH, do have unique hubs front and rear and a 
different stud part number, but have disappeared from the scene by 
sometime in 1967.

I suspect that Rostyles are being confused with Magnum wheels.

Rostyle wheels were not available on North American cars until 
sometime in 1967 or 68 ( I have a Sept 66 parts book that shows only 
steel wheels or Magnums, and a April 69 book that shows only the 
steel and Rostyle wheels. I had a 67 parts book at one time that I 
believe showed steel, magnum and Rostyles, but it has long ago 
perished)

My question is where the Kelsey-Hayes Magstar wheels fit into the 
mix. I have never seen them listed in a parts book, so suspect they 
were fitted by Rover North America to cars they imported until the 
Rostyles became available, from late 1966 to 1967, which would 
explain why Magstars use the 5x5 and the 7/16 studs, albeit with yet 
another unique lug nut.

Finally, in my experience only perhaps 30% of TCs in Canada came with 
Rostyles, most had steel wheels.

This is a confusing subject, made worse by the close similarity 
between the Rostyles and the Magnum wheels.

Yours
Vern


>This applies generally to both SC I have - a 63 and 66, and both TC 
>66 and 68, and probably 50+ other cars I've worked on, although I 
>have a fuzzy memory of the very first TC I ever saw as maybe having 
>steel wheels.



>Never saw a wire wheel car, been looking ever since I saw the 
>drawing in the owner's booklet. Saw one Mag*** wheel in an old 
>dealership, got excited because it looked so good, tried to pick it 
>up from behind some stuff and damn near dislocated my shoulder, 
>since it was apparrently made of lead. Decided it didn't matter how 
>good it looked.
>I have now learned from this list that wirewheel cars really do 
>exist, and 2 sorts of Mag***, The manuals/parts lists I have fail to 
>mention anything other than steel wheels, and there is no reference 
>to the different studs & nuts.
>While it may not be ultimate truth, I have to believe that my 
>experience is typical of US cars, at least.
>I have heard but not verified that some US domestic car used 5 bolt 
>Rostyles, possibly in a different bolt circle - this may be the 
>source of James D's odd wheels.
>FRM
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>rovernet mailing list
>rovernet at lyris.ccdata.com
>To unsubscribe, go to this web page, look near the bottom and follow 
>instructions:
>http://mailman.nipltd.com/mailman/listinfo/rovernet
>Back-up list and photos at:
>http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Rover_net/


-- 
Vern Klukas                             I'm a little . . .
Inkspot Type & Design
vern at inkspotco.com



More information about the rovernet mailing list