Drum-less Storage

[TomoHawk]

My 280Z has the 6-spoke ZX wheels on it. Do you think I can put the wheels back on after removing the drums, so I can get the drums blasted & painted? I think it should be fine, since the studs will only be 10mm longer and the car is not going anywhere until Spring.

I don't have any regular lug nuts; only the ones for the ZX wheels.

thx

[Arne]

I think it'll be OK, as long as the lug nuts don't bottom out on the now-longer studs. I did that with those same wheels for a while while parting out a 240Z. Didn't have the correct lug nuts, but it worked fine for a car that wasn't going anywhere.

[LanceM]

Stick a couple of flat washers on the studs first then for sure the nuts won't bottom out.

[Walter Moore]

When I bought my 71 it didn't have any brake drums....

But then it also had "normal" lug nuts, so they couldn't bottom out.

[racebird1]

This may sound a bit stupid but the flat washers will work but make sure they are all about the same thickness. All washers are not created the same and if you are way off on the thicknes and really tighten them down you will be forcing something to bend. It won't hurt to go a bit thicker than the drum thicknes to make sure you don't pop the top off of your nuts.

[waynekarnes]

i have done that.

however i had stock metal wheels at the time.

with arse end in the air, drums off, i slid the wheels and tire back in place. when it bottomed on the flange i took a flash light, looked up in there and turned the wheel, checking for clearance.

nothing was touching the brake shoes, wheels cleared the backing plates.

ran the lug nuts tight, jacked car up, removed jack stands, lowered the arse end. tightened the lug nuts just a hair.

tied a string around the brake pedal to the steering wheel to remind myself NOT to press the brake pedal. will hyper extend the rear brake cylinders. may cause em to leak.

i have also done this with the konig wheels and the cap style lug nuts. moved wheel from side to side, didn't move. figured was okay.

as was suggested, car ain't going anywhere, doesn't have to be torqued down.

as others have said, grab some fender washers and stack em. with the konig rewinds i didn't need em.