Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

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Tudge
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Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by Tudge »

Sorry to post such an annoying question, as I know this has been discussed alot here, but would ford capri wheels be suitable for a minor?

Having finally earned enough cash to start properly working on the Moggy, I've decided I'd like some wider wheels. My understanding is they should improve the handling of her, and the grip on wet roundabouts hehe

I've found some Capri wheels on eBay, 13" with 205/60 tyres, and they're either 7" or 7 1/2" wide.

After some googling the offset should be about 15 - 20 for them, which seems to coincide with the listing saying they have about 114mm backspace.

As I would be fitting these with a PCD adapter (101.6 to 108), and then later fitting ford discs on the front, which will space the wheels out about an inch, I'm thinking they'll be fine for fit, possibly needing wider arches, but is that the case? Am I going to be ruining my wheel bearings? And is this a sensible thing to do, or should I upgrade other parts of the car first?

Many, many thanks,

Tudge
1965 2Dr - She's called Lola

bmcecosse
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by bmcecosse »

PCD adapters are the work of the Devil....yes -you WILL ruin your bearings - the wheels will be too far out, and the steering will be all over the place since the contact point of tyre on road will be well outside the rotation centre of the suspension! Absolutely not something I would even think of doing.
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TFM150K
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by TFM150K »

Please, either take Roy's advice, or as a minimum talk to someone who has used the same set-up - you may find someone on the MMO site if not here. My van had banded rims when I bought it - and 185x13 tyres. The steering would not self-centre and tyre wear was poor and I soon swapped them! This despite the rims being perfectly round and true. Whatever you decide on it is VITAL that you check, from lock to lock, that the tyres do not foul on the trunnions or anything else in the steering/suspension or you may need the services of that Traveller hearse that is advertised in the MMOC mag! I remember one correspondent saying that it was only when he went to see the MoT man that he realised that he had gouged a ring of rubber away almost through the inner tyrewall..........
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Tudge
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by Tudge »

Thanks very much for your replies guys, I have been told!

What sortof width do you think of as max. then? I've certainly heard of 6's on front and 7s on the back...

Also, am I going to have to look for wheels with absolutely 0 offset then? And are PCD adapters worse for wheel bearings than spacers? I was really hoping to be able to be able to buy ford PCD wheels, as the 4 inch PCD one's seem to be slim pickings...

Any ideas or wheels anyone knows of for sale?

Cheers chaps,
Tudge
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by bmcecosse »

If you must have Ford wheels - then fit a Ford axle - and the Ford front hubs/discs. Then there won't be any need for spacers or 'adapters' . Wide wheels/tyres are fine - but you must ensure the tyre contact patch is at least close to the rotation axis of the kingpin when projected down to meet the ground!
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Tudge
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by Tudge »

cheers BMC, I'll just try and find some 4" PCD wheels, if anyone sees or knows of any suitable slot mags or similar please let me know!
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charlie_morris_minor
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by charlie_morris_minor »

spacers are fine if used correctly, i fitted them to one car when i changed the wheels, the offset of which was incorrect and by using the spacers i put the offset back to the correct place.
Tudge
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by Tudge »

so if you fit wheels that have a negative offset and fit spacers that would be ok?
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bmcecosse
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by bmcecosse »

The point is to keep the tyre contact patch with the road ON, or just outside, the point where the rotation axis of the kingpin meets the road..... Otherwise, you are swinging the contact patch in an arc on the road as you turn the steering..... How you achieve that - with negative off set plus spacer - or with correctly designed wheel for the job -doesn't really matter - as long as the tyre doesn't foul the suspension or any other part of the vehicle. Seems to me correct wheels will be simpler!
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Tudge
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by Tudge »

Right on. I think i'm going to just bite the bullet and go for some wellers, the morris minor ones... I'm hoping they'll make me some slightly wider than 5.5" for the backs... I'll ring 'em when I don't have work

Thanks for the advise!
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bmcecosse
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by bmcecosse »

More likely to find suitable wheels in 13" size. Which are fine as long as you don't use silly ultra low profile tyres!
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chesney
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by chesney »

I have the Minor Weller's, but I'm confused as to why you want any more than 5.5J on the back? There isn't massive clearance between the back of the tyre (185/70's) and the inner arch, any more is asking for trouble, plus you'll probably need to consider arches for anything 6J and over I would have thought.
13's are a good way to go, they can fill the arches nicely (tyre size dependant) and can (both visually and physically I suppose) lower the car.
Tudge
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by Tudge »

chesney - because more is always better! I would have thought wider wheels would give yet more grip, no? I'm quite keen on the look of the jlh widened wings, so if i need to use them i'm not complaining... But maybe i'll go 5.5s all round if you guys think that's the way to go? Just with wider tyres on the back, say 195s? And 175s on front?
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chesney
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by chesney »

I think mine has plenty of grip on 185's personally.
It depends on what you need from your tyres, but if you need those levels of grip I'd consider the strain on the half shafts and diff, or the Minor axle in general. Half shafts can be snapped with standard power on standard tyres don't forget!
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by bmcecosse »

So - basically we have gone full circle ! Fit a FORD axle !! You must have a LOT of power if you need wide tyres...what's the engine spec?
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Tudge
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by Tudge »

Ha, at the moment, everything is standard bmc, so 1098cc. I'm going to start proper work on the car in august when I take a month off work, and the plan is to go with a 1275, with a reasonably ported head, slightly exciting cam etc... Nothing too wild, just going to be pushing for 90 bhp...

Is everyone's view that wider than 5.5 is just overkill then? I'd rather not have to fit an escort axle as money is pretty tight.

Thanks again for the help
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bmcecosse
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by bmcecosse »

I suggest 5.5J wheels are plenty wide -with 185 X 70 tyres it will handle nicely. 90 bhp will need rather more than a reasonably ported head and a slightly exciting cam :-?
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Tudge
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by Tudge »

Cheers bmc, and i know that, I just couldn't be writing full specs yet, 'cos I don't know yet.hehee.. But the engine will be the last thing to get changed, after suspension, wheels brakes, and interior.

I know it's side tracking:
What sortof power is the standard moggy axle capable of handling comfortably? As well as the gearbox? A type 9 would be ideal, but again, money issues :(

Thanks!
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bmcecosse
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by bmcecosse »

Gearbox won't be a problem (if treated reasonably) - and the axle would be 'ok' with a mild 1275 - again - no 'racing starts' or snatched gear changes.....but your hoped-for 90 bhp would be better served with a Ford axle when the time comes......
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Tudge
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Re: Ford Capri wheels on a minor?!

Post by Tudge »

Cracking, cheers. It'll be the case of upgrading (in this order); wheels, front suspension, rear suspension, brakes, interior, engine, THEN axle! (then box, unless a cheap type 9 turns up hehe). Pictures and a thread on Lola #'s upgrades will appear once I start to work on her.
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