Okay, just spent 50 bucks on a set of 5 steel GM wheels. I know i need to open up the center hole (from 3.5 to 4 inches as i understand it) Someone posted that a holesaw would work, but it seems like i'd need to fab up a really good jig to ensure it was centered right. otherwise, i could use a die grinder although it wouldnt be as nice and round. Any suggestions or opinions (i know, you all have opinions) on this?

I have pictures, but am not smart enough to figure out how to put em on here... if its important enough to anyone, feel free to explain in to me.

Thanks all.

 

Recently picked up some GM rally wheels on a whim. Haven't got around to enlarging the hole yet, but I was planning on outlining the diameter of the hole that would be enlarged and just grinding it out to the line.
I've heard of people torching the material out. Was thinking of possibly finding someone with a plasma cutter to make it super easy.
Not too worried about the roundness of the hole as long as it is structurally sound. The centercaps would cover it up...unless you don't have the centercaps.

 

A coarse cylinder hone and a big drill!

Or find someone with a lathe.

 

If you were closer I could hook you up with some nice 4" holes. It just so happens that i did the same thing with some alum. chevy wheels. But I program and run cnc mills so all i did was take em to work clamp them down on the table of the mill, indicate the center hole and write me a little program to come down with an end mill and bam the holes were enlarged.

 

It doesnt have to be absolutly perfect. The wheels on toyotas are lug centric, not hub centric.

 

Looks like i'll be using the grinder. i appreciate the advice. i got center caps with the wheels but wasn't sure if theyd fit. guess i'll find out.

 

you can use a hole saw the same size as the original hole as a pilot to help you drill it out. just put both hole saws on one chuck if you can. thats what my dad did a few years ago.
oh yeah and hold on tight!

 

that actually sounds like a damn good plan....

 

put a backing plate behind rim and bolt it up thru the lug holes the you can use that to get a center for the hole saw with a piolt hoe for the hole saw that way it wont walk

 

that oughta work too, using a holesaw that big can give you a ride if you're a lightwieght guy (like me) and i think after the 4th rim the drill blew when we did it.
those GM wheels are goodlooking rims, and 50 bucks sounds like a great deal

 

yeah, God Bless Craigslist. for five of em too... and it turns out the guy worked at teh desk next to my little brother, so i didnt even have to drive to go pick em up. They need a little TLC and a repaint, but they're straight n true. I'm gonna give the holesaw idea a shot.

 

good luck, the trim rings and caps for those rims are readily available through jcwhitney, if you are into that look and don't have them...

 

I'm into the fewer parts you have, the less stuff you have to break. Reliability is king.

 

how'd it turn out? i used to run the trim rings back when my truck was clean and nice, but now i also have no use for them.

i just (today) bought the front 4.88 carrier out of a 4runna' and i'm getting a matching rear soon.. ... i'm stoked!

 

Congrats on the 4.88s. I haven't had time or money to buy holesaws of that size yet, so the project is on hold for now. biggest i got is a 2 inch.

 

well i got a complete front off of a automatic 4runner, 150 bucks.
i don't own the rear yet, hopefully i won't have to spend the time to do my own gears. there aren't that many toyota gurus in west montana, so good parts like that are hard to find.
hope your wheels turn out,