Thread: Series 1 Wheel Dilemma

What you want are 231601, which remained standard on short wheelbase Series Landrovers right up to the end of Series production, although the wider ones which you have were optional on swb from Series 2 onward. Most Series 2, 2a and early 3 came with these , so there should be quite a few about.

Powder coating these old rims isn't as good as getting them done in 2pac or galvanised and painted

Not a mistake I'll make twice..

Originally Posted by RDM

Hi Folks,

I'm diving into a few jobs on my 54' Series 1 (86 inch), and one of the first jobs I need to do is to give a new lease of life to the wheels (sandblast + powder-coat) and fit new tyres so it can at least be driven safely.

As a farm vehicle in it's previous life, somewhere along the line the original wheels have been replaced by the Series II '272309' wheels, shod with 7.5x16 tyres. Funnily enough the spare wheel appears to be the original, which again presents me with a dilemma if I wish to keep everything matching.

Two questions - Does anybody in Perth have a spare 272309 wheel that they might be willing to part with? (or alternatively 4 original Series 1 wheels? - don't like my chances .

Secondly - Although the 272309 wheel was designed with the 7.50's in mind, i was hoping on fitting 7.00 x 16's (if I could source them) to give the old girl slightly longer legs, as well as to reduce any chance of rubbing. Is this safe/advisable?

• 272309--Road wheel well type 5.50 x 16 (1&13/16 offset from rim centre) FITTED ALL AUST MILITARY VEHICLES 2/2a & Trailers.]

Apologies for raising up another thread on wheels / tyres, but I've gone through them all and I'm not satisfied that the answer is clear.

Despite an intrinsic distrust of Forums, I recognize that there are a lot of good Land Rover people out there with far more mechanical experience than myself, so I'll probably be asking many more questions.

Cheers

Hi mate.
There should be a few 272309 wheels floating about in Perth. Are you on Facebook and the West Oz Series group? A request there should turn up a wheel or two. If not, I can give you a couple of likely contacts.
I have run 205R16 tyres (equivalent to 6.5R16) on my 1954 86" previously but am just in the process of going to 7.00R16 tyres. I have a set of the 5.5" rims for them to go on. By all accounts the 86" will move the 7.00r16 tyres fine.

Re cleaning them up, I just hit them hard with a wire wheel on the grinder, then a couple of coats of rattle can hammertone silver. They come up great.

Cheers,
Chris

Hi Folks - Thanks for the input.

Incisor - good point. Powder coating is the lazy option. Thanks for the tip!

Chris - Hi mate no I'm not on Facebook or West Oz Series group I'm afraid. Perhaps I can look into the latter. Great to see you also have a 54' 86 inch! Are you able to PM regarding the contacts?

Ok so I take it fine to run 7.00's on the 5.5's then? I've got a 2 1/4 Series II engine so there's a bit more oomph than the original 2 litre.

Good point reference the grinder.... it would do wonders on mine, but I fear that they really do need a sandblast (water has pooled in those wheels for far too long).

Cheers

RDM

No worries RDM. I'll dig out a couple of contacts for you.
Chris.

Originally Posted by RDM

Hi Folks - Thanks for the input.

Incisor - good point. Powder coating is the lazy option. Thanks for the tip!

Chris - Hi mate no I'm not on Facebook or West Oz Series group I'm afraid. Perhaps I can look into the latter. Great to see you also have a 54' 86 inch! Are you able to PM regarding the contacts?

Ok so I take it fine to run 7.00's on the 5.5's then? I've got a 2 1/4 Series II engine so there's a bit more oomph than the original 2 litre.

Good point reference the grinder.... it would do wonders on mine, but I fear that they really do need a sandblast (water has pooled in those wheels for far too long).

Cheers

RDM

Have them sandblasted and primed and then just paint them. I've done a couple of sets like this and they come up a treat and last very well. After all, they were painted from the factory.

Originally Posted by numpty

Have them sandblasted and primed and then just paint them. I've done a couple of sets like this and they come up a treat and last very well. After all, they were painted from the factory.

Thanks Numpty,

Will take your advice. I'll try and get my hands on a 5th wheel before they go off for sandblasting/prime/paint.

Now i need to find a new main gear lever!

If you decide to go down the Galvanize then powder-coat way , you need to tell the galvanizer's you are powder coating them & not to quench them . When they get quenched the chemical they use in the quench will cause blisters that burst when they go into the oven during the powder coating process so you end up with craters in the paint surface.