Any problems with extended studs/spacers

[Phil Blacklock]

Hi All,
I have placed a deposit on the purchase of a 1977 SC coupe fitted with a widebody (turbo) conversion and "Cup" wheels with extended wheel studs and spacers to fill out the guards.
I am concerned about the distance from the hub to the wheel and whether this arrangement is likely to lead to problems.
Does anyone out there have experience with this setup?
Would I be better off to fit a set of deep dish Fuchs, presumably then not requiring the spacers?

[CBRacerX]

Porsche uses longer studs and spacers. I have used the same approach with no issues. However, the "bolt on" spacers should be viewed with suspicion.

[efhughes3]

It's all relative to how long they are. To answer your question, you will always be better with stock studs and the proper wheels. Some track organizations will frown on or have restrictions on stud length, presumably from a safety standpoint.

[Mothy]

I have almost the same setup (83SC with Turbo guards) using 7.5" Cup2 rims on front and 9" Cup2 on the rear.

I have 1" spacers on the front with extended studs. I did have adaptors with their own studs but knocked out the studs and turned the adaptors into spacers. This was not for any reason other than to allow me to bolt up alternative Simmons rims for track days which had a large flat mounting area which interferred with the nuts holding the adaptor to the hub which sat slightly proud of the adaptor rim mounting face. The Cup style rims have recesses between each of the mounting holes so they were fine with the adaptors.

On the rear I have 2" adaptors - they are OK with both the Simmons and the Cup rims.

Provided the adaptors are good quality you should have no issues with any of the clubs in Australia for track days.

As for the question of using deep dish with no spacer/adaptor v what you have, the impact on the bearings etc will be the same - the lever action of the centre line of the wheel back to the bearing will be the same in both wheel options. In both cases you will have greater wear of the bearings front and back compared to standard SC - but you are not talking about annual replacement or anything that dramatic.

Chances are that on an older SC the rear bearings may well be due to be replaced at some stage anyway - they will let you know when as the noise they make is unable to be ignored!!!!

Tim

[herr_oberst]

1" spacers on the rear only of my 88 Carrera, just to fill out the wheelwells - Like Mothy, these started life as adapters but I KO'd the bolts and used longer wheel studs. No problems whatsoever, I check the lugnuts often, they have never been loose.

[Phil Blacklock]

Thanks all,
Monty-I realize the deep dish Fuchs option wont affect the wheel bearings, it was more the stress on the long wheel studs using the "Cup" rims I was concerned about, and with the Fuchs I can run the shorter studs.
By the way, the use I have envisaged for the car is sedate street driving (I like to drive fast cars slowly).

Regards,
Phillip

PS The car has a 3.6-I'm assuming that's a good thing.