[Troy Dieter (Tkdieter)]

Hi everyone, I am new to this site, and very new to working and fixing up cars. Matter of fact, really don't know to much about cars. I have purchased not one, but two 73 Challengers (love em) in the last 2 months. Both need some work and going through all the different questions here has helped with a lot of the problems I have come across. Thank you to all.
Now, here is my question, I bought some American Racing mags (AR39)and didn't do my homework very well. I don't have long enough studs to properly bolt rims on. Can I replace the wheel studs with longer ones, and are the readily available? Are they safe? My car has a 440 motor and likes to go fast. Seems like the rearend is Posi, (if I jack up the car and put it in neutral, both tires turn in the same direction) and I have traction bars also.
I am leaving to go to the NASCAR race in Chicago, so if I don't respond until I get back on Monday, please understand.

Thanks again

[Dave-R (Roppa440)]

As long as these are not uni-lug wheels (large oval holes for the studs instead of round holes) then you are ok just fitting longer studs. Mopar Performance outlets like Mancini Racing sell them.

[John P (Blue)]

Troy, just a thought here, do you have the correct wheelnuts for your mags, or are you trying to use the original nuts for the steel wheels? I have never had to fit longer studs just to get wheels to fit, my hunch is that you don't have the right wheelnuts.

[Dave-R (Roppa440)]

John. Do these cast wheels use a nut that goes into the hole like the uni-lug style? I can imagine that they do so that the cast center has enough strength.

[John P (Blue)]

Yes Dave, thats what I'm assuming, I havn't fitted that particular model of wheel Before, but most cast alloy wheels use a lugnut with a shank that is as long as the wheel centre is thick, if you get my meaning. Some wheels are thicker than others, so you do need to get the correct ones.

[Dave-R (Roppa440)]

I am trying to think how come I have never noticed this before. Just never thought about it.

Now I am thinking about it I realise that I must have removed a few alloy wheels over the years and had the bloody nuts in my hand! I just fitted a set of mud flaps on my Dads car a few months ago and had to remove his alloys!

If my brain is this bad now what will it be like when I am your age John!

[John P (Blue)]

Totally frazzled Mate! Sometimes I think I've forgotten more than I ever knew....

[Dave-R (Roppa440)]

Bugger. I am only two years behind you!

[Troy Dieter (Tkdieter)]

Thank you very much for the answers, Dave and John. First for Dave, no they are not Uni-lug wheels with the oval shaped holes, but if I have to, could I still use longer studs with these rims? For John, it seems to me that your on the right track, they should be the shank style lug nuts fom what I can tell going online to mcgard.com. When I had the tires mounted on the rims they also said I should have a different (special) lug nut. So I went back to the place I ordered the mags from (who originally told me I didn't need special ones) and I special ordered the lug nuts. They had received them in 2X and mysteriously they have disappeared both times, someone signed for them, but they couldn't find em. They ended up giving me the cone-seat style ones after 2 weeks of going in there daily to see if they found them. Talk about being frustrated, new mags and it is now over 5 weeks and there still not on my car. I am headed to a more reliable place in town, today to order the ones I need. My only concern now, is the diameter of the stud holes on the rims don't look to be large enough to accommodate a shank style lug nut. Hopefully they are. It looks like I have about a 1/16 of an inch on each side not including the threads. If this isn't enough can I drill or ream the holes out bigger?

[Troy Dieter (Tkdieter)]

I checked another thing out. With the standard rim on, it takes 13 1/2 turns for the lug nut to tighten down, with the new mags, just under 10 turns. Is this sufficient? or will I still have to go with the shank styke lug nuts.

[Dave-R (Roppa440)]

I don't know where my brain was with my first answer Troy but Blue put me right. These wheels can't be used with normal wheel nuts. I think they may fail. Get the correct nuts for these wheels.