Are there any kits out there for converting a DMC to 5 lug? The wheel options out there seem far greater for 5 lug wheels.
Just curious if this is even a possibility without some kind of major custom work.
Thanks!
Printable View
Are there any kits out there for converting a DMC to 5 lug? The wheel options out there seem far greater for 5 lug wheels.
Just curious if this is even a possibility without some kind of major custom work.
Thanks!
I have pondered this idea before. it would be a fairly intensive project but do-able. I think some Chrysler products use the same spline count as our rear stub shafts. The front spindles are 30mm od, it would me a matter of finding a hub with a similar or larger bearing. You could also simply re drill the hubs, but i do not trust the casting that much.
All in all, quite a bit of effort that would outweigh the gains. But i am of the belief that deloreans look silly with anything other than the stock rims.
Your face looks silly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh
OH SNAP
I agree but I have seen a few that look damn sexy. A member here (think his real name is Faisel?), has excellent taste in aftermarket wheels and matching the offset and ride height to look perfect. They are 4 lug and 16" if memory serves but I can't remember the name or model. I believe another member here (Patrick I think) also has them and they do look good. Do a search, I bet you cpuld easily find a set of 4 lug rims that you would be happy with....after all, out of 20 million Honda's out there with aftermarket rims, something has to float your boat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh
I do! 17” on the front and 18” on the rear.Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael
I dig those so much. I'll be going with the same wheels, but in black, for my LS project.Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick C
I've looked at aftermarket wheels a lot lately and whilst the 4x100 pattern is still common, it's hard to find all that many in 18" and particularly with an offset anywhere close to the Delorean rear. With 25mm/1" hubcentric spacers it makes things easier, but I was looking to not do that if I could help it.
Fronts are less of a problem to find.
Center bore is also an issue, as you just think you've found a great option and then find the center bore is <72.1mm and you're screwed again. Some are 73.1 and finding spacer rings for that small 1mm difference is hard. I know 1mm may not be a lot, but I've been trying to do a nice job and not cut any corners.
The perfect option would be custom size and offset 3pc wheels from someone like Rotiform, but they are big $$$
Patrick's wheels look really good, but I think they're long since discontinued ??. I think 17" can look too big on the front (like on the 17/18" replicas of the original wheels) but not on his wheels for some reason.
I'm looking for 16/18" to accentuate the staggered look a little and run a slightly higher profile tire up front.
In that case best of luck to ya.
I don't disagree with this statement, but there are a few reasons that I chose to do this mod...Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh
1. I already have a very heavily modified car (Acura Engine, power steering, door closers, etc.) and I thought that the low-profile tires would improve handling...they do.
2. I could get modern, matching tires (Firehawk Indy-500 summer)
3. I like a challenge (this was certainly a challenge).
I did an exhaustive study, first trying to duplicate what Patrick has with the XXR's, but they were impossible for me to find in the proper offsets/matching configuration (believe me, I tried).
The "only" option that I found that had available offset sizes in 4x100 lug spacing that, IMHO, looked decent were the Maxxim Maze with the machined face (available from Summit Racing among other places). I used 17x7 (205/40-R17) in the front and 18x7.5 (235/45-R18) in the rear. They make them in black, but I am not totally sure how it would look on the car.
To try to address the topic of the thread :) ...I looked at any and all possibilities, including 5-lugs. The issue I found with 5 lugs is the front hub, the rear can be converted using the spacer (a 1"+ spacer is required for any conversion). But the front hub is cast and has flats on the back for the existing lug nuts, this would be difficult to modify for 5-lug. I suppose a new hub could be fabricated, but it would not be straightforward.
Attachment 55006
I found an app called Wheels-ON that you can mock up different wheels with. I have no clue on using photoshop, so I just copied a side view of the car and then copied pics of the wheels I was playing with from another car on google and it takes 10 seconds to upload the wheels to the app and scale them to size. It was either free or only a couple of bucks, I can't remember. It sure isn't photoshop being just a side view, but was ok for what I was trying to do.
Here's one I was playing with using black wheels, just as an example. They look too big, and need scaling down a little, but it was the only example I could find quickly.
Decided I didn't like the black wheels, so I ordered these in 26"....
Can you get these with the chrome "spinners"?Quote:
Originally Posted by Robmac123
This is what a 5 lug conversion should look like.
Attachment 65113
That is REALLY nice. I could do without the pinstripes(or at least the upper stripe), but the wheel choice, color, and stance are perfect!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ham
Nice touch on the Lotus caps.
Sorry this is off-topic but I was curious what spoiler you have on your car? I don't believe I have seen this before.Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick C
It’s a Firebird/TransAm spoiler. The DMC clubs sold them back in the day as a DeLorean custom spoiler.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZLoftsgard
That would be an 82-85 spoiler.Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick C
Is this real? Or a photoshop. Looks great either way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ham
Im am in the process of a 5 lug conversion, switching to 5x114.3 and subsequently installing larger brakes. I can update on this thread as I go.
I will not be using fancy brakes, rather calipers and rotors sourced from other OEM applications.
So far the plan is:
Front:
2005-2006 CRV Front Rotors and Calipers (18% larger rotor, 6% larger caliper piston). Alternatively could use rotors and calipers from a Honda S2000.
1997-2001 Honda Prelude REAR wheel hub (slides right on to existing spindle)
Custom wheel bearing spacer and caliper bracket (just bolts on)
Rear:
2002-2007 Jeep Liberty Front Rotors (7% larger Rotor, vented, same bore as stock)
Stock rear caliper with spacers to fit over vented rotor
Rear hub - undetermined.
This setup will require a minimum of 16" wheels in the front and 15" wheels in the rear, I am likely to go to 16F/17R
Once again I am using off the shelf parts to keep costs down If you start using wilwood calipers and rotors etc the cost gets very high. The performance is better of course, but I can upgrade calipers later.
I increased the front caliper bore from 54mm to 57mm, we will see how this goes. I analyzed various years of Porsche 911 and found our car could use more brake up front. the rotor size ratio front to back is right on for 996/997 era 911s.
https://i.imgur.com/vccHtGnl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/w4Dk7Efl.jpg
Any reason for going with 5x114.3 over 5x120? I didn't put much thought into it, but I was going to look at how I could use what's on my z3 for my DeLorean. Assuming I'd have to make a custom adapter so I can use as many of the components from that plarform, but I ha rny seriously looked into it yet.
Only a BMW guy would think 5x120 is a good bolt pattern to choose :neener:Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_maxime
I chose 5x114.3 (5x4.5) because it is one of the most commonly used 5 lug bolt patterns.
Mind you I just found a pair of hubs that fit the spines for the rear axles. They are off of a 2005+ Jeep Grand Cherokee. 5x127 so I will need to redrill. I cannot redrill the stock hubs (even if i plug welded the old holes to give a blank slate) because the outside diameter is too small.
Lol it's not so much that I think it's "good" it just happens to be what I have lying around. Also reduces spare parts between my cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh
Wow. Very cool!Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick C
to this point I have considered changing the threads on my oil filter receptacle so I can use the same filter on my truck and delorean. The filters are otherwise identical, I have to look at the part numbers to differentiate.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_maxime
Since I'm already using a leaf transmission, might just make sense to go with the 5x114.3 leaf hubs. Might make sorting out the axles easier.
Id talk to Jacob Graham since he has done the Leaf swap already.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_maxime
Im mostly copying his design. I got the motor mount drawings from him. Unless he's changed it, I don't plan on doing what he did for his axles though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh
I have book-marked this thread to follow your progress, Josh. I have, like so many others here, spent countless hours looking for the perfect set of 4x100 wheels but I have yet to find anything that fit my criterion (and is not discontinued etc). I stumbled across two interesting prospects at one point but both of those companies were overseas and never responded. Converting to 5x4.5 would open up a ton more possibilities.Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh
Keep this thread updated please, Josh!
What about these wheels? I'm selling them. PM me if interested.
Attachment 65120
I would think you could machine the stock hubs with a step and make an adapter with the new bolt pattern that would not create an offset (move wheel to far out).
You bet!Quote:
Originally Posted by Henrik
When building the BTTF III car, I had to put the 67 VW rims on the car with white wall tires. This was difficult to do, because VW rims do not fit the Delorean. (Obviously!)
So how to do this without changing the stock parts? Well, first you need a 4 x 100 to a 5 x130 adaptor. They make these. The only draw back is that it widens the stance of the car. Reallly, that makes is a "wide track Pontiac!" The adaptor plate is about 1/2" thick.
What this means is that you need to get rims that have more "negative" offset so the tires do not rub against the fenders. Years ago information on, "negative" or "positive" offset on aftermarket rims was readily available and alway something you needed to consider when putting new rims on older cars.
If you go to a tire or rim store today and ask about "offset" they think you are speaking a different language. People working at these stores have no training, no technical knowlegde. So disappointing. They know how to "push bottons" and if there is "no button for that"you are out of luck.
These adaptor plates are about $150 and they just bolt on. Simply, easy and quick. Just make sure you get the right rims.
BTW you can go to other bolt patterns, not just the 5 x130.
Bob
Already planning Delorean Weekend for next year. We have some great surprises and more Delorean Documentary movies.
When i brought my bmw to change the tires after i bought it, they took me to the floor area to warn me the tires I had purchased were all the same size, but my car had staggered tires. It took way too long to convince them that those cheap no-name brand tires were the incorrect size for the car and that mine were correct, despite showing them the manual.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob635
Got a bit more work done with the 5 lug swap / big brakes.
300mm rotor, from a 255mm. Honda S2000 rotors and calipers (CR-V pictured). S2000 calipers have the same bore as stock so the master cylinder would be fine. the CR-V calipers are slightly larger than 54mm @ 57mm. I will experiment.
I had to turn the hub down a bit so the rotors fit. Working on making a caliper bracket, just prototyped with a 3d print.
All in all not invasive at all and looking forward to having a car that brakes well.
I still think the miata brake upgrade is a good setup for the more sensible people that want to keep their stock wheels.
https://i.imgur.com/rqdwikRl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qGIRnhFl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/QihPIGrl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ACkKFMgl.jpg
Finished the rear, and that wraps up this project.
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Front hubs - Redrilled, and several hours of work on the lathe. They have the same spines as the delorean stub axles, everything else had to be modified.
2005 Mustang Rear rotors - 300mm vented rotors vs 265mm solid stock rotors
2013 Ford Taurus Interceptor Rear Calipers - Larger pad area than stock, integrated parking brake. Piston bore is slightly smaller (45mm vs 48mm) may need to get a proportioning valve.
I made a caliper bracket that ties into the trailing arm so the larger brakes do not rely on the small cast mounting ears the original caliper bolts to.
https://i.imgur.com/tbrcrhdl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vMibNQjl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4gArOijl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ub972AFl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/jWDTeQQl.jpg
I have to say, very impressive Josh. Not sure if I like the red calipers, but your opinion is the only one that counts. (On your car)
Nice work. I especially like your caliper bracket implementation. I've been running Miata brakes up front on mine for almost a decade but still haven't come up with a convenient solution for the rear.
Your setup originally inspired me to run the Miata brakes, which I provide kits for now. Mind you I do not use the Mazda spindles and what not like you did that was alot of work you did modifying the control arms. Impressive either way!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dickey
Just checking in here.
I have put 10,000kms on this 5-Lug big-brake setup without issues. Very happy I did it. If anyone wants to pursue this route I can give guidance and/or provide parts.
https://i.imgur.com/CMUUoJah.jpegl
Many more miles without issues. Working on the exterior of the car now, most notably now the proper colored front bumper.
I was experimenting with front wheel spacers to get the wheel "fitment" proper. In hindsight I would have bought wheels with different backspacing.
https://i.imgur.com/sBvS4fGh.jpg
This fool is running Honda 2000 rotors.
I'll win. Then me and my dad can roll together when he gets out of prison.
:evilgrin:
But seriously, fitment is looking really good on those wheels with the 5 lug conversion. Must be nice to be able to dial in that front ride height with the KW's. What kind of total offset are you running with spacers?