redrilling either hubs or wheels

[htchbck]

Found a deal at the JY today that I couldn't pass up. Got four good alloy wheels and tires (14x5.5, 185/70/R14) off of a '93 Mercury Topaz for $40. The bolt pattern is 4x108, so obviously they won't fit my aspire swap or the stock brakes, but I decided to buy them anyway, if for nothing else just to have 4 good tires when I do find some 14" escort alloys someday. I got them home tonight though and I was looking at them, and more I look, the more I like. I jacked up the blue car and test fitted them on it just to see what they look like... with the 70 series tire they make ride height kinda high, but with a 50 or 60 they'd be perfect... so my question is, would it be possible (read "safe") to have a machine shop redrill either the hubs or the wheels to match a different bolt pattern. I know a guy that used to build cylinder heads for Bill Elliots stock cars, and he's got a shop with every metalworking tool imaginable, and I trust his work. Would it be possible to make those wheels fit the festy by drilling the hubs to the 108 pattern or the wheels to the aspire 100 pattern?

[oxbrain]

For race wheels, go for it. For street use, I'd be too afraid of the lugs backing out. Drilling the wheels won't give you a good seat for the lug, so it isn't going to stay torqued as well.

[htchbck]

what about drilling the hubs? I think the rears wouldn't be too hard to drill and tap and maybe even put in some studs... haven't really looked into the fronts though... oh yeah, and this guy would be able to taper the lug seat to whatever angle I need to give it a good enough seat

[25Horseplay]

I am looking into drilling the hubs/and rotors, and drums right now so I don't need new wheels for my Aspire swap. It looks like there is enough room to do it.

[htchbck]

thats what I'd rather do if possible (versus drilling the wheels) cause that would actually open up my future wheel options to any of the slilghtly large fords (tempos, topaz, mystique, newer escorts, etc)... I guess the next step is finding the proper tap to match the threads on the lug bolts once I drill it.

[monkeyracing]

My friend just had a set of hubs and rotors fill welded and redrilled for a project. If it's done right, it will work great. See if there's a wheel repair shop in your area. They should be able to handle it. The real key is the fill welding. It has to be VERY good.

[htchbck]

actually I was originally thinking just dual-drilling the hubs (a kind of offset pattern like a lot of aftermarket wheels use) then I'd be set for any wheels with either 4x100 or 4x108 patterns. However, on monday I found a set of Escort alloys that I'm going to use instead, and since they are already 4x100 I'm not really going to have to mess with anything like that this time around.

[monkeyracing]

Yeah, dual drilling the hubs might not have been the best idea. They're pretty crucial to the alignment and non-warpedness (sic) of your rotors.