Hi there, on my 1969 bird I have stock rally rims....I also have the stock lug nuts with the black centers. I went to local tire shop to get a tire repaired and it was pointed out that the lug nuts were starting to come thur the rally rims. The lugs are not large enough to grip the rim well? Has anyone dealt with this before???? I bought the Lugs from classic Industries... I am thinking I should replace all of them ..quickly.....any advice????
The shape of the rally lugs where they make contact with the wheel are the same as standard lug nuts. If you have anything close to where the lug openings are enlarged that big, you have a real problem.
I'd say it's a wheel problem, not a lug nut problem. Jack up a wheel, take all the lug nuts off, then see how much play you have in any direction. With correct wheel openings, there shouldn't be much play at all.
Post some pictures of the wheel openings if you are not sure. See if they are ovaled out or worn.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Very common problem with Rally II wheels. Over the decades, many wheels were removed and reinstalled, and before people began using torque wrenches, they used 4-way or factory jack crowbars to tighten the wheel nuts. I've seen wheel nuts that took 150 lbs of force to loosen, and they weren't even rusted.
There were a lot of guys, from backyard mechanics to garage mechanics, that used to feel "tough" or "strong" by tightening the living crap out of lug nuts. Unfortunately, that enlarges the hole(s) over the years. Think about it, as the lug nut is tightened and contacts the base, you're twisting metal-to-metal, at 75+ ft pounds, and putting direct pressure on the rim of the hole. It's only natural that over the years, that hole will begin to enlarge.
This was the main reason that Wheel Vintiques began reproducing classic wheels. Pontiac made over a million Rally II wheels from 1967 forward, you'd think they would be plentiful, but many have had the stud holes enlarged over the decades, and are useless.
Two options : Use non-factory lug nuts with a broader shoulder, or buy new wheels. If the lug nut is close to pulling through the wheel, don't take a chance.
