72 dart with 8.75

[Johnny71dusty]

Someone before me used the old mopar leaf spring narrowing kit to ( offset shackles ) and had a 8.75 rear cut end welded and perches moved. It’s all old but looks good . Issue I’m having is my rear bolt pattern is not large mopar patter or small pattern. My rear pattern is 3.75” exact center to center. They have what I’d say is race axles and studs lot thicker and longer than stock ones had. They are center line wheels. My front wheels are still stock 4” center to center pattern . Anyone have any suggestions on how to get matching steelies all the way around this car ? Without buying custom axles ?

 

[Professor Fate]

Umm, you don't measure center to center on a five lug. You measure center to far edge, skipping a lug.

Looks like you've got regular 4" BC axles.

 

[Johnny71dusty]

Umm, you don't measure center to center on a five lug. You measure center to far edge, skipping a lug.
View attachment 1715936483
Looks like you've got regular 4" BC axles.

i have 4 mopars - all small pattern and are 4” center to center just like you pic shows as far as skipping a bolt . The front of this dart is 4” center to center exactly but back is not

 

[Professor Fate]

If they measure 4" center to center of the studs, you've got a 4.5 bolt circle.
You have to remember, you're not measuring the bolt spacing; you're measuring the bolt CIRCLE, which on a 5 lug pattern is an imaginary circle drawn through the centers of all 5 lugs.
On even numbered bolt circles, you just measure center to center of opposite lugs. Easy.
With an odd number of lugs, it's more involved; since there is no "opposite" lug to measure to. The bolt circle actually extends beyond the farthest lug. Measuring to the outer edge of the farthest lug just gives you a close approximation of your actual bolt circle.
This is direct from American Racing Wheels' website:
How To Measure Wheel Bolt Pattern (americanracingwheelsinfo.com)
So if you don't believe me, go argue with them. And every other wheel and automotive manufacturer.

 

[Dana67Dart]

. The front of this dart is 4” center to center exactly but back is not

Then front is 5x4.5

The photo you show with tape measure is for sure 5x4
I made this template to quickly check for 5x4

This is what a 5x4.5 would look like.

If I measure center to center I get 3.75 on a 4" bolt circle

 

[Johnny71dusty]

So weird - I guess your right . Front is still drum brake and non power brake at that . Why would it be large other than someone swapped becusse they used to drag race this car in 80s

 

[Dana67Dart]

So weird - I guess your right . Front is still drum brake and non power brake at that . Why would it be large other than someone swapped becusse they used to drag race this car in 80s

You don't have to guess, you can prove it for yourself.

Perhaps someone swapped B or E front brakes and spindles in?

Or perhaps you have an adapter on the fronts to go from 5x4 to 5x4.5

Only way to know for sure is remove the wheels.

 

[Professor Fate]

You don't have to guess, you can prove it for yourself.

Perhaps someone swapped B or E front brakes and spindles in?

Or perhaps you have an adapter on the fronts to go from 5x4 to 5x4.5

Only way to know for sure is remove the wheels.

Yup. A lot may have happened to some of these old girls in the last 50 years...

 

[Dana67Dart]

Yup. A lot may have happened to some of these old girls in the last 50 years

Maybe they needed more braking, went from 9" to 11" or whatever they had laying around

 

[crackedback]

is it wrong that I can tell from the center cap that those wheels are 5x4" LOL