new wheels

[lotusdelta]

I'm considering purchasing a new set of panasports from r.d.enterprises in quakertown, pa.

Has anyone bought from him before and should I be specifically aware of any issues regarding fit. I have 72 elan sprint with knockoffs.

One other question is , I asume I'll have to continue to use the nader nuts as I have heard they are unavailable but I' not too sure how they will look with the new wheels.
Any feedback would be appreciated,

David

[jkolb]

Can't vouch for the wheels, but I can vouch for Richard. I have dealt with him for 2 years and he has always been prompt, courteous, and fair.

Jerry

[mac5777]

David, I also have used r.d.Enterprises for numerous parts including panasport wheels. I have had no problems with the fit on my 1967 elan S3 coupe. My lotus came with the three eared spinners and I like the look of them more than the earless spinners. The Panasport type wheels are made for the elans-- a great look!!!!!

Sarto

[1964 S1]

rdent is one of best, fifteen years on and I haven't bought from anyone else.

[ElliottN]

David,

I have a set of Panasports and the original steel wheels for my S4 (and both spinners and earless nuts). The Panasports look great with either but I agree with Sarto - better with 3 eared knock-offs.

Note that the steel wheels are 4 1/2" while the Panasport are 5" (although they have a little more allowance in the offset). On the Panasports, 165 tyres are straightforward but 175's may foul rear the wheel arches when travelling up - it can depend on the specific tyre you are going with and how well centred your body is on the frame. The answer is to try one on the rear wheel that has least outboard clearance to the arch - before you get them all fitted.

rgds,

[ElliottN]

David,

I have a set of Panasports and the original steel wheels for my S4 (and both spinners and earless nuts). The Panasports look great with either but I agree with Sarto - better with 3 eared knock-offs.

Note that the steel wheels are 4 1/2" while the Panasport are 5" (although they have a little more allowance in the offset). On the Panasports, 165 tyres are straightforward but 175's may foul rear the wheel arches when travelling up - it can depend on the specific tyre you are going with and how well centred your body is on the frame. The answer is to try one on the rear wheel that has least outboard clearance to the arch - before you get them all fitted.

rgds,

[ElliottN]

That'll teach me to hit the refresh button!

[CBUEB1771]

I'll chime in with the praises of Ray (yes, it is Ray, not Richard) at RD Enterprises. I've dealt with him for probably 20 years and every interaction has been positive. I have not looked at Panasports for several years but I was concerned about the peg-drive version. The casting and the hole pattern for the five drive pegs didn't match very well. Generally only three drive pegs got complete holes for engagement. The other holes broke out into voids in the casting and didn't completely engage the peg. By voids I don't mean porosity in the casting, I mean design features like the concave backside of the spokes. This is not a problem with the bolt on wheels. Panasport might have resolved this, I would confer with Ray. To be fair I have never heard of a peg-drive Panasport failing.

[ElliottN]

The point about the peg holes in the Panasports is real but is not known (ready to be shouted down here) to have any practical impact.

Because of the wheel casting, only three of the 5 peg holes are "completely" in the wheel casting itself - the other two have part of one side of the hole open - but opposite sides (one compared to the other). The effect is that at any time 4 of the 5 peg holes are always fully "engaged" - the three complete holes always and one of the other 2 depending in whether you're accelerating or braking.

Again, to date I've never heard of anyone having an issue with the peg-drive Panasports and they've been on vehicles for quite some years now.

[lotusdelta]

Hello everyone,
This is such a great board, my thanks for the feedback on the panasport wheels and in particular r.d. enterprises. Also thanks for the photo provided...
Heres wishing all a great new years and my resolution to drive the elan more miles this year...it really is a very special automobile...unlike anything else !!
David