13" scratch rims

[Luke Beaumont]

Has anyone done the necessary legwork to see if some scrapyard motor would yield a suitable set of 13" rims? Isn't it the case that DeDion runs a Ford pattern? Maybe some Fiesta variant would give the necessary offset? Even steel wheels would do. TIA

[R2D2]

I would imagine that the alloys fitted on a Mk2 RS2000 would be about right. These are 6" and from memory they are ET19. They normally cost about £20 each from a breaker. There are some slightly differnt pattern wheels on the last generation Capri. These have slghtly more offset and are ususally cheaper than the RS alloy.

 

The Fiesta wheel has an offset to suit FWD and wouldn't be very good.

[John Alston]

You want to get the four spoke RS pattern wheel fitted to a number of rear wheel drive fords including the Escort and Capri. The offset is almost identical to the Caterham supplied wheels and they fit staight on. (Ensure you get the correct wheel nuts with the wheels as there are several differing types)

I do not know whether the rim clearance is sufficient for a big braked car but it is certainly OK for a standard braked Seven as I have a set on mine.

 

John A

[R2D2]

The sleeve nuts are compatible with all of the RS alloys in terms of the hole size in the wheel. The Mk1 Mexico and RS1600 had 5.5" wide wheels and used a UNF thread so nuts off this car would be no good for the Caterham. The Mk1 RS2000 had the same 5.5" wide rim but used metric studs which I believe are compatible.

 

The Mk2 RS2000 used 6" rims and metric studs but there are two slightly different wheels depending on age. The difference between the two generations of Mk2 RS2000 wheel is quite difficult to spot. The last year or so of production had a taper machined into the wheel nut hole to provide better location. It used exactly the same sleeve nut but the washer was quite a lot bigger than the earlier production and had a tapered seat instead of a flat location. These washers are quite readily available.

 

The Capri wheel looks like an RS Alloy but the offset is different and they don't mix on the same axle. The sleeve nuts are the same but they never had the tapered washers.

 

I have about 50 of these wheels for an Escort Rally car and sorting out the different combinations has been a real bugger's muddle. We have now colour marked all the matching sets so we know where we are at service halts.

[Luke Beaumont]

Thanks dudes, I'll make some enquiries.

 

I tried one of my mum's Fiesta wheels a while back, and the offset was way off. Utterly logical now you've pointed it out, but it fair foxed me at the time blush.gif

[PACR]

The steel 13" 4.5 from my rwd Escort fit a de Dion fine. I only tried for size and didn't drive on them though as they are 20 odd years old and have skinny tyres for maximum oversteer and authentic 70's Cop chase squeal at 5 mph.

 

I did think about getting a cheap set of wider ones and fitting good normal tyres which would be OK for winter seven use (ie good water / slush clearance) and put them on the Escort in Summer for more grip. But I ran out of money and the bloody Avon ZV1s on the seven still haven't worn out... almost 15000 miles!!!! I'm too tight to chuck out tyres which still have tread so will wait 'till spring for 32Rs.

 

Piers