Thread: Rivets & Steel Wheels

Wheels were painted Limestone. Main body colour on 88's was Wildlife Green unless they were ordered in a fleet colour. Tyres on 88's were 6.00 x 16 either All Purpose Lug or Military Bar Tread.

Thanks so much bighorn. I presume the wheel paint was nothing flash like 2 pac, and perhaps just a spray on enamel? Also, what brand tyres specifically would you recommend for that period correct look, do Michelin do a true for these and if so, what might it be called?

Many thanks again

Adam

Originally Posted by acf321

Hi folks,

Just bought a 74 S3 SWB and have a few questions of anyone can assist. The transmission / transfer case Instruction plate is missing, and whilst I have found replacements on eBay, can anybody tell me what factory rivets were used and where to buy?

Also, are all series steel wheels the same, and what is the factory off white / cream colour that was used to paint them? I intend to use a set of 2a wheels, but these need the correct paint.

Lastly, who makes period correct tyres for the original rims? Not looking for massive fat tyres, but something that is quality and right for the period???

Many thanks

Adam

The Instruction plate is held on by small pan head self tapping screws - hence their going missing!

There are a variety of series steel wheels. The 88 should have 5" rims fitted with 6.00 x 16 tyres, but 7.50x16 on 5.5" rims was optional. Also optional (but I have never seen them) were 9.00x15 sand tyres on 6"? rims. Wheels came in several different offsets, and later Series 3 had Australian made wheels that had a rib joining the stud holes, and differed in other details.

Split wheels were also optional, but very rare in this country - I'm not sure whether they were made in anything except 5".

Series 3 "Game" 88s (an Australian special) had 15" wheels with wider tyres, can't remember the size.

Early wheels had the wheel disc riveted to the rim, later ones were welded, but the change does not seem to have happened at a particular time!

So the answer is, not all series steel wheels are the same, and it is very difficult to tell which yours had originally. Note that where 7.50 tyres were factory supplied, the speedo is different.

Wow, thanks so much John, that information is greatly appreciated. Would you know per chance a source for these genuine pan head screws, and can you recommend a quality dual purpose tyre for the said factory steel wheels, say a Michelin or equivalent quality brand? I see so many nice tyres on photos in that real period look, but am yet to properly identify the size and manufacture.

Many thanks,

Adam

I guess the market is quite small here in Australia so not enough demand for period correct tyres but there are suppliers in the UK.
I'm not sure what would have originally been fitted here and whether they were crossply or radial in '74.

The Avon Traction Mileage is being re-manufactured but not sure if this was ever standard here Traction Mileage
I noticed that an Australian supplier lists them but will probably drop ship from the UK rather than holding stock.

I managed to get a set of Dunlop Road Trak Majors some years back but they are out of production again.

Firestone make a nice bar tread, only available from Vintage Tyres locally but I suggest you speak to your bank manager first !

If you're fitting 7.50 tyres you could go for Toyota take-offs. The Troopy used to be fitted with Dunlop Road Grippers and they often come up secondhand as the Toyota driver fits wider wheels & tyres.

Perhaps post a picture of the tyres you've seen and maybe someone will know a local supplier of similar tyres.
Colin

The pan head screws should be available from any fastener provider - if you want I'll see if I can dig one out and post a picture and dimensions for you. Could take a couple of days, I'm picking up the grandkids tomorrow, and its cold and dark here now.

Tyres would have been crossply, almost certainly in 74, although radials were starting to move into more general use by then, I don't remember them being generally available in 1974, and they were certainly a lot more expensive, and hence not usual on utility type vehicles. (having said that, I had radials on my 2a in 1966, but that was specifically for desert work, and they were hard to find and very expensive - like twice the price.

John

Adam,
The wheels will have a part number on them, on the outer face. It will tell you what you have. Check all five (presuming you have a spare) are the same as my SWB came with a mix... As noted above, there are different widths and offsets. Why are you looking to use S2 wheels? Note that these rims will be tubed type, not tubeless. What wheels were on the S3 when you bought it? Whilst Limestone was the standard colour for wheels, I am reasonably convinced that mine (which is a late S3 in Spanish Olive) left the factory with the optional wider rims in silver. I am going through the same exercise as you in trying to find a period looking tyre in the correct size. Tubed 7.50 x 16s are available but they are typically Light Truck tyres. As I'm not intending to use the SWB for off-road, I'd prefer to keep my teeth in my jaws and not use 12 ply tyres...
Regards
Alan

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The pan head screws should be available from any fastener provider - if you want I'll see if I can dig one out and post a picture and dimensions for you.

You might find that most suppliers only have them with a Phillips head whereas they should be slotted.

Another option is to find someone parting out a series Land Rover and see if they will let you have the screws.

Originally Posted by aussearcher

Adam,
The wheels will have a part number on them, on the outer face. It will tell you what you have. Check all five (presuming you have a spare) are the same as my SWB came with a mix... As noted above, there are different widths and offsets. Why are you looking to use S2 wheels? Note that these rims will be tubed type, not tubeless. What wheels were on the S3 when you bought it? Whilst Limestone was the standard colour for wheels, I am reasonably convinced that mine (which is a late S3 in Spanish Olive) left the factory with the optional wider rims in silver. I am going through the same exercise as you in trying to find a period looking tyre in the correct size. Tubed 7.50 x 16s are available but they are typically Light Truck tyres. As I'm not intending to use the SWB for off-road, I'd prefer to keep my teeth in my jaws and not use 12 ply tyres...
Regards
Alan

I think with the Series III the roof and wheels were white but can't confirm when Limestone stopped being used.
My shorty is in Spanish Olive with a white roof & wheels but.....it was built from several vehicles by the previous owner.
I have seen silver painted wheels but I'm not sure what model/year they are from.

I'd agree with the comments about light truck tyres, my shorty came with Chinese 12-ply tyres but they were badly worn. The spare was new but a mate now has this to use on the front of his Fergie tractor.
The Toyota take-offs don't look too bad, I have them fitted to 4 Land Rovers.



Search Gumtree and they often come up in 7.50 X 16 otherwise plenty of tyre shops have them. The troopy doesn't come with these as standard now so the supply of good s/h tyres will dry up at some point




Colin