MGB: Wire wheel rear end question

I am wondering if I wanted to change the splined rear hub assembly to the standard bolt on style, if it's a simply process of fitting the bolt on hubs to the existing wire wheel diff or does one have to exchange the entire diff assembly. Also will the fact that the wire wheel setup is narrower overall cause a problem? Wire wheels look great but too much trouble I think. I'm into this 67gt rebuild & there certainlly isn't much oriiginal body left these days. The snow is putting up another 6 month delay.......

The easiest (and correct) way is to change the entire axle. There is a 1.5" difference in the width of the axle tube, which means the bolt-on axle shafts will be too long.

Thanx Steve

[quote=JohnnyK]
Thanx Steve[/quote]

You can put the disc wheel hubs right on. Certainly easier than swaping out the entire diff. Actually I have done it to fit wheels with the incorrect offset (14" Panasports) With standard wheels they will be moved in about 3/4" on each side which will look goofy. Really depends on what wheel tire package you intend to run.

The bolt-on hub is completely different and will not mount to a wire wheel axle shaft.

[quote="Steve S"]
The bolt-on hub is completely different and will not mount to a wire wheel axle shaft.[/quote]

Steve.........you are thinking banjo.....he has tube type rear end (GT)

You're right, he did say GT. The photo beside his name shows a roadster so I assumed that was what he was talking about. I stand corrected!

Even with a tube axle however there is a 1.5" difference in track, so keep that in mind.

I know..its still early out there in the land of fruits and nuts

Mostly nuts around here. :drinking:

[quote="Steve S"]
Mostly nuts around here. :drinking:[/quote]

That's true. Most of the fruits are gearing up for the West Hollywood Holloween bash tonight.

http://blogs.laweekly.com/ladaily/West%20Hollywood%20Halloween%20051.jpg


Try a search of the subject. I believe you can use spacers and longer studs on the bolt on hubs in the rear to compensate for the shorter rear end.

JohnnyK,

I'm in the process of doing the conversion now.

You can use your existing rear end.
You'll need 4 bolt on hubs, 16 new 2.5" metric wheel studs if you're gonna use an alloy wheel,
two 1/4" - 1/2" spacers for the rear depending on the tire size you use, 16 metric lug nuts.

If you use rostyles, you can leave the original studs on the front hubs but you'll have metric on the rear......SAE on the front.

Alloy wheel will not leave much original stud sticking out in the front so a longer stud is better.

The metric studs are 12mm x1.5 and are 2.5" long.
The ARP brand is part number 100-7708.
I used Moser Engineering MSR-8255. The moser costs less than the ARP brand.

More later......