wheel studs with left hand thread

[GoMangoBoys]

Took the wheels off our 70 Challenger project tonight.  The wheel studs on the LH side of the car were LH thread?  Is this a factory feature or has someone done something screwy here?

[1 Wild R/T]

Factory

[DeathProofCuda]

Took the wheels off our 70 Challenger project tonight.  The wheel studs on the LH side of the car were LH thread?  Is this a factory feature or has someone done something screwy here?

  I'm not laughing at you, but the thought of a self-confessed Chevy guy trying to take the left wheels off of a 70 Mopar is pretty amusing.  Wouldn't have been an issue if it was a 71 or later car.

[Cuda Cody]

   @GoMangoBoys   Yes, in 1970 they used both RH and LH threads on the wheels studs.  That changed in 1971.  It's pretty rare that cars stills have both the LH still on the car.  Most were changed out long time ago.  Finding LH threads can be hard as I also try to put them back to stock. 

[Dakota]

The other place you'll run into LH threads is on the differential ring gear.   I had to snap one off by going the wrong way to find this out.   Don't do what I did.

[7E-Bodies]

I was 18, working at the body shop in 1980, driving my first E, a 70 /6 beauty. Got up for work one morning, flat tire. No problem...I'm A car guy! Lugs wouldn't budge. I called work, told them I had a flat with stuck lugs and that I'd be in ASAP. Snickers. (They played every prank on me in the books) Nothing would work. I finally called my mom to take me to work. Arrived to a body man, two painters and the boss, leaning up against the side of the building laughing. One said "looks like mommy couldn't break'em loose either". Then I was told, "quit driving them foreign cars, kid...backwards threads on backwards cars". (By an AMC guy).

[Jay Bee]

The wheel studs on the LH side of the car were LH thread?

Being new to Mopars that's pretty impressive that you figured it out. Mine was originally like that and someone had to tell me. I've since switched them out.

[72 Challenger]

My 70 Duster was returned to stock and I have LH studs on the car. it came with some extras too. I have yet to take them off.

So this means that the LH (Drivers side) are left hand to tighten and right hand to loosen? Just want to make sure before I start ruining stuff lol.

[RUNCHARGER]

It was a safety feature that kept the lug nuts from loosening. Always pull to the back of the car to loosen them. Pull to the front of the car to tighten them. If you've powershifted a 71 Challenger relentlessly and spun the back, left side lugnuts off you know the system worked.

[GoMangoBoys]

Thanks,
I foresee us changing these out to all RH threads.  I know some find my ignorance amusing and that is OK with me.  I find it humbling, because, I thought I knew a lot about cars.  I have changed a lot of tires in my life, and have never encountered LH threads on wheel studs.  I would say that this was an unnecessary feature since it has been eliminated without consequence.  Did LH wheels start falling off once they went to RH threads in 71?
Are there any purists who want the 10 LH studs that I will be removing?

[JS29]

  I would salvage them, I am sure some one including my self would take them.   

[DeathProofCuda]

Thanks,
I foresee us changing these out to all RH threads.  I know some find my ignorance amusing and that is OK with me.  I find it humbling, because, I thought I knew a lot about cars.  I have changed a lot of tires in my life, and have never encountered LH threads on wheel studs.  I would say that this was an unnecessary feature since it has been eliminated without consequence.  Did LH wheels start falling off once they went to RH threads in 71?
Are there any purists who want the 10 LH studs that I will be removing?

Your car so obviously you can do as you please, but IMHO part of the appeal in driving a Mopar is separating yourself from the Brand X boys.  You've made the step up, so why not just embrace Ma Mopars quirks and appreciate your LH threads as just another one of the many ways that she distinguished herself from GM and Ford. 

[7E-Bodies]

  wholeheartedly

[70/6chall]

My 1970 Slant6 Challenger has drum brakes on all 4 corners. I find when adjusted correctly they perform quite well. The car still has the LH, RH lugs, they have always been on the car. An interesting little story here.
A while back I had stopped into one of those National Tire stores for new shoes for the ole Dodge. Well as luck would have it I had failed to mention the LH, RH lug situation. One of the young technicians got a little carried away with the air ratchet and spun one of the lugs off. I was told this was not supposed to be this way I informed and educated all there about Chrysler's little quirk and they had to make a repair to go along with the new tires. Of course the stud repair was their problem. Thanks,   Al

[Chryco Psycho]

FYI Freightliner & Western Star trucks , both under Chrysler Corp for decades , still use left lugs at least up until about a decade ago , it may have changes since
Try torquing one of those studs until it breaks LOL