[Spridgets] wire wheel rear end conversion

[Dean Hedin]

There are differing opinions regarding the axle length issue.

It is difficult to switch to the later wire wheel axle housing because is does not have the quarter elliptic mounts.

The gentleman from Georgia at Jubilee had a white Bugeye with wires and he had to make up a special
jig to reweld all the mounts onto the later axle.  It's allot of work.

I've read in the list archives about people in the UK pressing the axles out of the wire hubs and then 
welding them to gain the extra length, with the added side effect that you will never be able to replace 
the hubs as a serviceable item.

It would be nice if someone would offer aftermarket 1/2" longer axle shafts in 4340 steel.
The raw material is about $90.  It would need to be machined the whole length and splined at each end.  
If you know a good machinist then I think this might be the best way to go, but I've never met anyone 
who did it this way.

Then there are those who say that you might be OK with the 1/2" deficit, so long as you "take it easy".
The later shafts are much harder than the original bugeye axles...yadda..there is still a good amount of spline
in the hub...yadda..and everything will be OK...

I fall into the later category.  Or at least I will when I swap over to the wires.  

I will let you know how it goes as I intend to do this swap in the early spring.   
I have already blasted and primered the wheels and all I need to do is rebuild the front hubs and paint the wheels.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Leo S" <60bugeye at cebridge.net>