I know it's 2nd gen related, but I figured I'd get more responses here because there is a more broad knowledge available here than in the 1st/2nd gen forums. Anyway, here it goes. I have become the owner of some rims, TSW Trophies, 18x7.5 (I believe), 5x114.3 bolt pattern. Anyway, I wish to use them on my car, however they are 4x114.3 bolt pattern. Is anyone familar with doing a conversion from the 4 lug configuration to a 5 lug configuration? I know it's very popular with 240's. What all is needed to do this (I already guessed, hubs, rotors, maybe halfshafts etc). Also to throw in a few things that may help, I know that the suspension platforms are very similar, if not identical between 2nd and 3rd gens. Either way any ideas would be nice. I'm just gauging how big of a job this would be. So if it's too big of a job, I will just save the rims for when I get a 5th gen....just only a matter of time.

Thanks!

S

 

try getting some front spindles off a 3rd gen VG.
that will be your only hope on making axles fit on the front- unless you have custom axles made..

for the rears, can you pull off your rear hub and take some pics and measurements for me, and I'll see what I can do on getting you some on my end. I used to have some GXE rear strut assemblies, but I don't think I saved the hubs or anything. (stupid me)

 

Do you have the rear strut assemblies with the spindles for the hubs? As for the front setup, I think they should work. I do have a 89SE 5-speed in the car, and that didn't require custom axles, so I might be able to get through without different axles. So that leaves hubs, bearings, brake rotors, etc.

S

 

BTW, aer the rear spindle work for drums or discs? My car is 4 wheel disc.

S

 

the front hubs from any 3rd gen VG should work then. the wheel bearing is the same for all 3rd gens, but the VE uses slightly larger diameter axles, so they won't work.

I'm going to assume the rotors will fit too, but can't guarantee anything. if they don't bolt up under your current calipers, 3rd or 4th gen calipers with 3rd or 4th gen rotors will bolt right up (they're all the same)

for the rears, I don't have any of the stuff laying around anymore. I did a couple of rear disc conversions, but tossed most of the leftovers when I moved to houston. I'm kicking myself for not saving at least the wheel bearings & hubs.

the hubs are the same between disc and drum, but the spindles themselves are different. If you're lucky, you might be able to just swap hubs for a 3rd gen and be done, but again I can't make any guarantees.
(hmmmm, PM Jeff92SE about his parts car. he may have some of the stuff you need still laying around, and he's in WA..)

 

Oh yeah, Jeff, might have more stuff...I just realized that! Cool, thanks for the help Matt.



S

 

Who is Jess? I don't have jack from my parts car. Whole rear suspension went to Donald. I have one front spindle here but it's a Ve. Might work for a general comparision. I might be easier just to get your existing hubs redrilled for 5 lug. I see you scammed Ian's old rims. hehe
Front end stuff, try Piggo. He had a parts car. But you are sol for the rears, his was a gxe

 

Yeah, I will talk to John about it. You think a shop can redrill the hubs? Yeah, I got Ian's old rims. I figure it works, but I may save em for a newer max too. Dunno yet.

S

 

We would have to take a look and see if you have the room etc.. If you can use a 3-gen rotor, it would help things. Maybe put the rotor on the hub scribe for holes then drill etc.. I have extra stock rotors of course.

 

You got a drill press don't you Jeff? You know, I should probably see how much a 3rd gen VG hub goes for....it'd probably be easier considering I have to also get new rotors, etc.

S

 

Sorry bout that Jeffy.. that's what I get for talking on the phone and posting at the same time.

Anyway, you don't want to buy wheel hubs new.. $135 each, plus a $40 wheel bearing. ouch!
the rears are about $120 a side.. so you're looking at $600 in just hubs and wheel bearings.
Hellooooo junkyard!

on the rear hubs, GXE/SE shouldn't matter on the 3rd gen. the hubs themselves are the same, but the strut/spindle is different for the disc/drum models.

 

Well what I might do is littlepiggie has a parts car....or is getting one from what I hear. I will probably pull the front spindles/hubs from that and try to use that. There shouldn't be that much of a difference between them. Then I just need to find a rear strut housing with the hubs meant for disc brakes. It might now be too bad. I do however need to invest in new brake rotors, and maybe now is good time to get a set of crossdrilled/slotted rotors maybe? Maybe even see if I can do Jeff's BBK....though I probably won't because the car stops pretty well now....dunno if I want to be thrusted in to the steering wheel every time I tap the brake. Speaking of which...Jeff you every figure out the proportioning thing of yours?

S

 

I'd try to see how hard it would be to redill the hubs and run the 3-gen rotors. Alot less hassle if it's easy. I do have a drill press.

For more bias and after thinking how hard it would be to mofidy the MC, I think Matt's Z31 solution is the easiest and most effective. Plus it's easier to go back to stock that way too.

 

Yeah, we can try that, i'm just worried about getting everything center properly, etc.

S

 

He got it. Saw it at his house the other day.4

 

How does it look Keelan?

S

 

umm. rough.

Very Rough.

A lot of good parts though.

 

Buy my car in about a year.

Conversion done!



<Seriously - you get first dibs man>

 

hehe thanks bro...that really helps. But I will probably take you up on that offer on dibs.

S