Jump to content


HZ Hotwires to LX


  • Please log in to reply
8 replies to this topic

#1 _Muganic_

_Muganic_
  • Guests

Posted 30 March 2018 - 09:47 AM

Hi all,
I have a set of 14x7 Hotwires that were on a HZ. By my calculations the offset is + 3/16”. Wondering what’s involved in getting them onto an LX, (currently with 13” wheels) with or without flares. What front hubs and rear axles to use etc
Thanks for any help or pointing me at a previous post
Billi

#2 Bigfella237

Bigfella237

    Socially Distant

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,362 posts
  • Name:Andrew
  • Location:Far South Coast of NSW
  • Car:(s) not as many as I'd like but more than I've got space for!
  • Joined: 31-October 14

Posted 30 March 2018 - 06:58 PM

If your LX has 13" wheels then it's likely still Torana stud pattern, which is different to the HQ (and onward) Holden stud pattern.

 

Torana stud pattern is 5 x 4.25" (or 5 x 107.95mm, often displayed as 108mm)

 

HQ onward Holden stud pattern is 5 x 4.75" (or 5 x 120.65mm)

 

Commodore stud pattern is metric so 5 x 120mm, and no it's NOT 'close enough' to HQ, the tapered wheel nuts won't seat properly in the rims.

 

Many a Torana has been converted to HQ pattern though there are a few different ways to go about it. The front is relatively easy, you can either swap the spindles along with the discs & calipers, or you can retain the Torana spindles and have the HQ disc radius machined slightly so the calipers will bolt on. The biggest problem with using HQ-style spindles is the steering arms, the HQ-style arms don't suit the Torana steering rack setup so there's some extra cost involved in buying reproduction A9X steering arms (can't remember exactly but I think it was something like $350 for the pair).

 

The rear is a different story, you may be able to get some HQ banjo axles shortened and run HQ-style drum brakes reasonably cheap, but if you want rear disc brakes it won't be a bolt-up mod so probably looking at a diff conversion.

 

The wheels themselves, having come from a big Holden, will probably be offset inward compared to a Torana rim too, which means they might look dicky on a Torana with flares (if yours has them).

 

If you only want to change wheels my advice would be to buy a set to suit a Torana, but if you plan on doing a diff conversion anyway then make it HQ pattern, even if you don't use these exact wheels there's a much wider choice of rims out there for HQ and cheaper.



#3 _Muganic_

_Muganic_
  • Guests

Posted 01 April 2018 - 06:43 AM

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your reply, it is extremely helpful as I am starting from scratch with no knowledge in this area. I will have to do some research on track and offset etc, but with regard to the rear is it possible to redrill the torana axle flange and brake hub to accept HQ pattern? This might sound agricultural to many, but I am a farmer
Cheers
Bill

#4 Bigfella237

Bigfella237

    Socially Distant

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,362 posts
  • Name:Andrew
  • Location:Far South Coast of NSW
  • Car:(s) not as many as I'd like but more than I've got space for!
  • Joined: 31-October 14

Posted 01 April 2018 - 09:50 AM

I've never done that myself but I suspect the diameter of the Torana axle flange would be too small and the wheel studs would end up too close to the edge? Plus I can't recall whether multi-drilled axles are even legal?

 

Somebody who's actually tried will hopefully chime in...

 

I know the centre bore diameters are different as well but most after market wheels have oversized centre bores anyway to make them more of a universal fit. You can get adapter rings for most decent brands of wheels.



#5 Ice

Ice

    Cool

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 15,102 posts
  • Name:Gene
  • Location:Galaxy's away from Ipswich
  • Car:77 HZ Sandman Van
  • Joined: 03-January 07

Posted 01 April 2018 - 12:36 PM

Unless you are goin to do a brake upgrade would be cheaper to sell those Hotwires and get Torana pattern ones
just sayin

#6 ReplicarSLR

ReplicarSLR

    Forum Fixture

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 516 posts
  • Location:QLD
  • Car:Not anymore unfortunately
  • Joined: 31-May 07

Posted 01 April 2018 - 12:48 PM

Easiest way to do the rear is get a pair of 1 tonner axels and have them shortened and replined. 1 tonner axles have to be used as they are thicker than the standard ones and have enough ‘meat’ on them to respline them. Do that and fit HQ drums on the rear no diff change required. I have done this before and fitted HQ stub axels to the front with UC alloy calliper and larger HZ slide and HQ-HZ disc, the cheapest eay to do conversion but not the best brake and diff wise though. Plenty of threads on the forum about it.

Does lower the front though and better handling and steering wise if you also fit the Harrop A9X steering arms, which reduce the bump steer

#7 CI 0308

CI 0308

    Forum Fixture

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 736 posts
  • Name:Brett
  • Location:Perth W.A
  • Car:77 LX SS, VX SS
  • Joined: 19-January 06
Garage View Garage

Posted 20 April 2018 - 08:43 AM

Like others have said if your not going to do major mechanical upgrades which will cost then go for the torana pattern wheels. Just keep your eye on ebay and gumtree as they come up often for not a lot of money. I picked up 2 last year new old stock 14 x 8 hotwires that had never had a tire fitted for $350 for the pair buy now off ebay. 10 inch ones are harder to come by but 8's and 7's are out there regularly.



#8 Statler

Statler

    Heckler Extraordinaire

  • Administrators
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 6,281 posts
  • Name:Col
  • Location:Mackay Qld. Whitsundays for all you back packers!
  • Joined: 20-May 06

Posted 21 April 2018 - 09:21 AM

The Torana axle flange is too small to accept the 'H' - series (here we go again) stud pattern .

 

New axles, modified axles, L34 axles or replace the diff.

 

As for changing stud patterns, NCOP insist on the 'old' holes being filled. I.e, you can't have 2 sets of stud holes.



#9 Bigfella237

Bigfella237

    Socially Distant

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,362 posts
  • Name:Andrew
  • Location:Far South Coast of NSW
  • Car:(s) not as many as I'd like but more than I've got space for!
  • Joined: 31-October 14

Posted 21 April 2018 - 10:07 AM

Thanks for checking that in the NCOP Col, I meant to look it up myself but never got a round tuit.

 

I've seen most Wilwood hubs seem to be multi-drilled (unsure about other brands) so definitely need to keep in mind...

 

Hybrid-Modified-Rotor-med.jpg






0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users