Australia-Where to find nostalgic rims (Wheel fitment fail)

Long · **Posted:** Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:07 am

Basically as the topic suggests, where is the best place to source some nice looking nostalgic (Pref. dished) wheels in Australia, Melbourne.

I'm kind of a lostie and I have NO idea where they all are. Tried ebay and failed, looked at the wreckers but they don't stock anything out of the ordinary.

4X114.3

14's or 15's

Just something cool so I don't have to roll like this:

and be more like this:

So please dump your hints and tips

danrex7 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:39 am

Try Canterbury Wheels and Tyres - http://www.canterburytyres.com.au/

They do a lot of reconditioned old school style wheels, might have something to suit. I've bought a few odd centre caps off them over the years, probably best to actually go in and have a look, their website only scratches the surface of their range.

Long · **Posted:** Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:27 am

This is 10 mins from my place!! Thanks alot Dan. Going to have a looksie tomorrow :tu:

ill-minded · **Posted:** Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:29 am

For local shops, try Otomoto. They usually have some pairs and sets of wheels bought over from Japan in stock, and get new stock in a few times a year.

Alternatively, Yahoo Auctions is basically your other option, unless you stumble across a set on any of the various Australian based forums.

Here's some Yahoo auction links...

14" wheels
15" wheels

These list all 4 stud wheels in varying PCDs, so just check before you get too keen. If you like something you see, send an email off to Jesse Streeter, or any of the other brokers in Japan and they can give you quotes on how much items will cost to have them on your doorstep.

ewokracing · **Posted:** Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:55 pm

Toymods? Datsun forums? 4x114.3 is a piss easy size to get japanese wheels in!

parrot · **Posted:** Sun Apr 10, 2011 5:46 am

Ill minded is on the money.

You need to bear in mind, rims were never available in particularly wide sizes back in the 70's.

Long · **Posted:** Mon Apr 11, 2011 4:20 am

Thanks for all the responses guys! you've been fantastic.

I was going to check out cantebury tyres, but could not find the actual place there.

Otomoto seems to be located in NSW, does anyone in Melbourne know the delivery cost?

Going to trawl those forums aswell, just concerned that they will be ridiculously overpriced.

ewokracing · **Posted:** Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:01 pm

Long wrote:

Going to trawl those forums aswell, just concerned that they will be ridiculously overpriced.

lowball people and see how you go. or google something like "melbourne 114.3" or "datsun 4x114.3" etc.

te278u · **Posted:** Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:54 am

where in melb are you? I've got some wheels you may be interested in trying on.

14 x 6 enkei mesh, small dish

14 x7 ma61 supra wheels big dish.

try before you buy this weekend i'm available

-Dave 0422 328 332

Long · **Posted:** Tue May 24, 2011 3:09 am

You've been PM'd

Long · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:05 am

Got some wheels:

Unknown Brand Mesh (BBK apparently)
14x6.5 +0
185/50

Problem:
Studs are too short for my current nuts

Stock

New

What options do I have?
-Get longer studs?
-Any available nuts that go inside the bore?
-Sell wheels? :cry:

Stevester · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:43 am

It appears those wheels use shank-style lugs not acorn/stock lugs.

derek · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:55 am

just get short shank lug nuts. should be readily available at any decent auto parts store

pretty sure mazda thread pitch is 12x1.5 but you should verify that

Long · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 1:12 pm

Is it safe to use shank style lugs if the stud thread only protudes a few mm?

jwebb2876 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:49 am

Yes, because they go through the wheel, not sit on it like the stock nuts. If you look at your stud holes in the wheels in the above photo's you'll notice that the hole itself is several mm bigger than the stud.

Stevester · **Posted:** Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:54 pm

derek wrote:

just get short shank lug nuts.

He should actually get regular length shank lugs. And don't forget the washers, too. Short shank lugs are meant for certain steel wheels. Long Shank lugs are for aluminum wheels usually designed for trucks.

Long · **Posted:** Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:03 am

Thanks for the replies, im going to be trying some of those shank lug nuts, still no definitive answer if its safe though. Realised ill be needing some hub centric rings too

mrflibbles · **Posted:** Thu Jul 07, 2011 1:20 am

as long as the shank nuts are the correct length it will be fine. If the shank is to long the wheel wont bolt up to the hub properly and will come off, not to sure about shorter shank nuts though.
Only time i have had a problem with shank styl enuts was when i forgot to tighten them after a wheel change ruined a perfectly good 15x10 hotwire wheel!

derek · **Posted:** Thu Jul 07, 2011 10:08 am

thats why i suggested the short shank lugs. the long ones that i have seen and tried to use are always always waaaay too long. the 'short shank' shank length is generally about .55" or roughly 1/2" which is more than adequate/safe.

Stevester · **Posted:** Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:02 pm

"Short shank" lugs have shanks that are about 3/16" long and are meant for steel wheels. What I was calling the "regular length" and is about 0.75". Although, apparently, Gorilla has a 0.5" length shank as shown in Derek's post as well. Long shanks are about 1" long.

See this page from Gorilla lug nuts' website:

http://www.gorilla-auto.com/lug.nuts.page_07

And yeah, forget about hub centering rings. The shanks will center the wheels.

When tightening shank style lugs, ALWAYS hand tighten ALL of the lugs until they bottom first. If you use an impact gun from the beginnig, I can almost GUARANTEE that the last lug will not be torqued correctly. What will happen is the lug will not be centered in the lug hole and the lug nut will just jam up. It will show the correct amount of ft-lbs but it will not be seated completely.

p.s.: I am not suggesting you buy Gorilla lugs; they just have a good website showing the different options. I personally prefer McGard.

Australia-Where to find nostalgic rims (Wheel fitment fail)

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