Vintage mag question

[Silver Square]

I've got a set of 1970s Western Cyclone II wheels for my truck. These use the shank lug nuts with a washer. They are 6x5.5, not unilug. I thought I had a matching set, but one of them is slightly different. It's got an "RI" cast into the inside of the wheel next to the "15x10" casting. This one oddball wheel also has much more shallow lug nut washer "cups" for lack of better term. The other 3 wheels, I can set the washer down in the cups, or whatever that little recession that they sit in is called, and they won't move around when I push on them with my finger. The oddball wheel, the washers will slide all around freely. The "cups" are there, just very shallow. Is this wheel safe to use?

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[HotWheelsBurban]

I personally wouldn't use it except for the spare... I'd be looking for another wheel like the other three. I know finding vintage aluminum mag wheels is not the easiest thing anymore....

 

[Silver Square]

I personally wouldn't use it except for the spare... I'd be looking for another wheel like the other three. I know finding vintage aluminum mag wheels is not the easiest thing anymore....

Plenty of them out there, but the problem is they're all either 5 lug or 6 lug but only 8.5 wide. Or not a Western, so I'd need to buy a whole new set lol.

 

[Ricko1966]

Plenty of them out there, but the problem is they're all either 5 lug or 6 lug but only 8.5 wide. Or not a Western, so I'd need to buy a whole new set lol.

Is the lug bore the same on all 4 wheels,and also just for fun see if the odd wheel hub bore will locate on the rear drum or front hub. Locate meaning does it fit snug in the center bore on any hub on your truck?

 

[Silver Square]

Is the lug bore the same on all 4 wheels,and also just for fun see if the odd wheel hub bore will locate on the rear drum or front hub. Locate meaning does it fit snug in the center bore on any hub on your truck?

Yeah, it's .68" on all of them. I can slip the shank of the nut down into all 24 lug holes on all 4 wheels, and it fits nice and snug. I dunno about how the hub bore fits the truck, I don't have the truck here now, it's been in the shop since June. I'm hoping to get it back next month, but I'm not holding my breath lol. But all 4 hub bores are the same. My 4.25" center caps fit the same in all 4 wheels. I also have a set of 1980s Western Bullet wheels, and they don't have any recessions for the lug nuts at all. All 4 of those wheels are completely smooth in the lug nut area, like they never had them at all, so that's why I'm not certain if it's OK to run this wheel.

 

[Ricko1966]

Sounds like the wheels locate on the lug shank,the washers are there for clamping pressure,not location. Make sure the depth the lugs seat is reasonable,meaning they won't bottom before clamping the wheel tight but are still reasonably close to the end of the bore. If all that checks out,I'd run them,I'd put odd wheel in the rear I torque them with a torque wrench and check them in 25 miles then 50 miles then 100 miles then 250 miles. If they stay torqued I'd run them.

 

[Silver Square]

Sounds like the wheels locate on the lug shank,the washers are there for clamping pressure,not location. Make sure the depth the lugs seat is reasonable,meaning they won't bottom before clamping the wheel tight but are still reasonably close to the end of the bore. If all that checks out,I'd run them,I'd put odd wheel in the rear I torque them with a torque wrench and check them in 25 miles then 50 miles then 100 miles then 250 miles. If they stay torqued I'd run them.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure these trucks are lug centric. I think that the washers are only crucial on the unilug wheels, but these aren't unilug. I have the 1" long shank nuts, and the wheels are 1" thick at the lug area. I got the ones that Lug Nut Guys said I needed, and they seem to fit great. That was my thought as well, just to keep an eye on them. But I figured I'd see if anyone around back when these things were common had any conflicting advice lol.

 

[bucket]

Yeah, the lug nut's shank is what centers those wheels. The washers just spread the load and nothing more.

As can be seen here, shank style lugs are used with more than just unilug wheels.

 

[Silver Square]

Yeah, the lug nut's shank is what centers those wheels. The washers just spread the load and nothing more.

As can be seen here, shank style lugs are used with more than just unilug wheels.

Good to hear, that is kinda what I figured, just wasn't positive, and didn't want to make a catastrophic mistake based on ill conceived judgement. Only downside is that the one oddball wheel is also slightly shorter in the area where the spokes sprout out of the middle. It is barely noticable, but now that I have noticed it, it is highly noticable lol. I'm guessing the "RI" casting was a later version of the design. But, once they are on the truck, unless somebody has an eagle eye, it'll never be noticed. I only noticed it because I was looking closely at the lug nut recessions. I'm just going to run these until I can find a better, fully matched set.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Just make sure the oddball is on the opposite side of the vehicle so you won't see it

 

[77Dmax]

I have a matching set of 4 I've been meaning to list. 15x10, 6 bolt pattern. I've owned them for 20 plus years, haven't been on a truck in about 15..

 

[83Stepper]

I'll be going through this myself at some point. Bought a vintage set of turbines as well here just recently and they didn't come with the lug nuts either. Didn't give this much thought until now, thanks! And yeah the lug nuts are there for centering the rim and the washers spread the load of the clamping force through the wheel and hub. As long as it's tight when it's torqued down properly it shouldn't be an issue. Now if it were on a unilug set of rims, that would cause a concern because it needs the washer to be positioned properly for the correct rim spacing pattern.

Btw, are these the lugs you've gotten for yours? Lug Nut Guys Mag Nut

Image for reference of my rims

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[Silver Square]

I'll be going through this myself at some point. Bought a vintage set of turbines as well here just recently and they didn't come with the lug nuts either. Didn't give this much thought until now, thanks! And yeah the lug nuts are there for centering the rim and the washers spread the load of the clamping force through the wheel and hub. As long as it's tight when it's torqued down properly it shouldn't be an issue. Now if it were on a unilug set of rims, that would cause a concern because it needs the washer to be positioned properly for the correct rim spacing pattern.

Btw, are these the lugs you've gotten for yours? Lug Nut Guys Mag Nut

Good choice in wheels! I love this design. These are the ones they recommended, you need the 7/16x20 1" long. https://lugnutguys.com/products/mag...-1-0-shank-zinc-washer?variant=31082238214219

 

[Silver Square]

I have a matching set of 4 I've been meaning to list. 15x10, 6 bolt pattern. I've owned them for 20 plus years, haven't been on a truck in about 15..

Are they Westerns? The 15 spoke Cyclone IIs? If you'd be willing to ship them to 30214, I am interested, depending on the condition.

 

[77Dmax]

They are 15 spoke but not exactly same. These have years of shelf dust and grime on them. No pits/corrosion or gouging. Definitely need a power wash which I can do.