Aluminum wheel/center cap thread cleanup
 

I got a set of old school meshies I love, but the ~30 year old aluminum threads are all screwed up in the wheels and the center caps from decades of uncaring inspection mechanics...How the heck do I get them cleaned up without buying a huge tap and die to use once? Machine shops say they can put the centercaps on a lathe, but obviously not my wheels. I need a solution...Any ideas?

Come on guys...Any input from machinist's or otherwise? I'm looking to get my girl out for the summer, but can't be drivin around without the center plate/caps lookin dumb as hell...

I'm pretty sure there's a machine shop that can put that wheel on a gantry mill. It ain't gonna be a cheap job but it can be done! Doesn't hurt to request a quote!

One example:
http://www.hiwtc.com/photo/products/25/04/19/41987.jpg

Thanks for the first original suggestion...I've been EVERYWHERE around my area, all machine shops, Big rig repair places, even went to the CATERPILLLAR place...No luck, no help, no suggestions from anyone. Can't find anyplace with a gantry mill...What type of place would have such a thing? Any other ideas? Thanks again.

I'm not sure how far you are from York, but there's a shop there that specializes in super-sized stuff.

Machining & Support

Man, this sux...Was really hoping someone could chime in with a down 'N dirty old school/poor mechanic solution or something...

Well, there's another option - you could repair whatever's left of the threads using thread repair tools, found here:

Thread repair files, internal thread restorers, and other thread repair tools.

The first item is an invaluable tool, great for those smashed threads we sometimes get from hammering out ball joints.

Oh man, there's some stuff there I'm gonna check out...Thanks a million.

I may be missing something here, but why don't you just grind the threads down and glue the sucker in there with some good 3m two part adhesive? A lot cheaper than a machinist bill.

Just my 2cents.

Then when he goes to the tire shop to have the wheel/tire balanced, they would have to destroy it just to get it mounted onto the balancing machine's spindle.