That Starrett Oops setup is clever as heck. I could have use one last week! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

The set of steelys that was on the Chevy when I got it were torched out. I think they came off of a Ford. I couldn't tell. It drove smooth down the road. They are on my buddys truck now. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

Ya, we get a lot of play at work with those. One guy will drill a hole for a wire chase, I need a hole for light...
Of course it's never MY mistake! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I've done this twice, to 10 chevy rally wheels.
Go buy a NEW hole saw.
The trick is to start s-l-o-w.
The lip on the stock chevy wheel will almost center the hole saw where you need it.
Again, start out SLOW.
If you take your time, and give it just a bit of lube, after you get a groove started, the hole saw will last.
Spend a little more $$ and buy a lenox brand.
Good luck, and start, well you <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> know!

Thanks all for the help.

I guess the lathe would have to be my first choice. I'll be heading to my grandparent's house for the holidays and my grandfather has a massive lathe that should easily do the trick.

Then again, the hole saw option sounds pretty easy, especially since, as mentioned, the rim around the hole provides a great guide. That was my first thought but I assumed that it would be to heavy a job for the blade.

The hole saw option also doesn't require taking the tires off and then remounting them, which is a bonus and, frankly, I could do it tomorrow. So I'll consider my options and post a photo or two when I'm done.
Stay tuned...

-Matt

i'm about to do this as well, on a neat and unusual pair of nissan wheels (see my avatar to the left here) i got off of c/l and were just about 1/2 mile from me fer cheep - $125. my only problem has been finding a couple of the oddball (but great 9.50x15) used yoko geolandar II's that came with them. i've found some good pairs of 'other' similar treaded off-road tires for $100 per mounted pair, so i'm good, but i am going to have to punch out the centers of two of the aluminum wheels. they're really beefy centers, so i'm not worried at all. plan to just take them to a local machine shop. my aftermarket chrome steelies are just fine, and i'll keep my highway tires mounted on them for that. jack b :-)

I think a hole saw and a drill press would work pretty well.

How much space is left between the center hole and the lugs?

I opened up the center bore of 5 FJ Cruiser steelies. Had to take 2mm off to clear (106mm Toyota vs 108mm Mitsu), 1mm from each small 'tang'. I used an air compressor and cheap die grinder. Went through 3 or 4 grinding attachments, but they were cheap. I used Discount Tire to mount/balance. I stopped by to check if they had a 6x5.5 lugcentric balance adapter, which is necessary since the center bore will no longer be round. That was the only iffy part it, just check that the shop you plan on using has one available. No issues balancing them, the 255/75-17 BFG Muds are rolling smoothly.