Centre lock wheel conversion using hub adapers?

[JR73]

Hi Mark,

Just as Brian has said, Banks do a kit for centre lock wheels - The 47 replica wheels where the ones i saw most commonly fitted to that set up and they are available in pretty much any offset/width you could possibly want, diameters may be limited (13" and 15" where deffo available) but its been a while so things could have changed?!

There used to be a White Europa across the header of the Yahoo Europa group (appears to have gone when i just checked on my phone - but that could be just down to my lack of signal atm) - that car was fitted with centre locks (just so you could look at them) but if the picture has gone then there will be pics on the Banks site under 'Racing' and Mark Primmet - he actually ran two different cars over time that where both white and 47 reps but they both had the centre lock wheels.

They do look good but they tend to need a pretty big bar to remove (bigger than you would want to carry in the car tbh!) and a similarly sized torque wrench to put them on if you are doing it properly?!

Jon

[lotusfanatic]

Thanks Brian and Jon,

I'll take a look and see what is available and what the prices are (if the parts are still available?)

You're right Jon, you'd need a big bar or a lumpy old copper and hide mallet to beat them on/off (as per an Elan)   

Mark

[jbcollier]

I love the 47 look and investigated doing this to an otherwise stock Europa.  The hubs are too far out and the spinner would be significantly proud of the wheel, not at all like a 47.  I did all the measurements and the wheel company sent me photos of what the wheel s would look like.  Very ugly.

[lotusfanatic]

Hi JB,
well that's the end of that idea then! Spinners on an Elan or as fitted to the 47 look great, I assumed that the Europa would convert if parts were available but obviously not!

Mark 

[surfguitar58]

Chuck's picture of the Peter Gaydon's 47 is true wheel porn, but unless you are all in for the whole type 47 look it strikes me as unnecessary dressing up. Again, just my opinion.
t

[JR73]

Just get the 47 style wheels but without the centre locks - slight compromise but will give you something towards what you are after at least....? Can get the offsets/outsets to look more '47' too that way.

Also worth looking into what suitable tyres are available for the wheel sizes as you can limit your options if you aren't careful - 13" and 15" generally have a range of tyres available to suit the Europa (Caterham thankfully use 13" and 15" wheels on most of their cars which keeps a selection of sticky tyres available over here!) but widths and profiles can be problematic if you don't consider it when deciding on the wheel specs...

Jon

[lotusfanatic]

Chuck's picture of the Peter Gaydon's 47 is true wheel porn, but unless you are all in for the whole type 47 look it strikes me as unnecessary dressing up. Again, just my opinion.
t

Thankfully, I also like clean, freshly painted steel wheels and hubcaps, so it's not an issue.
I have an Elan and the knock-on wheels are part of the car's beauty (to me at least)