WESCH

Hi
My dream was a chrome bumper Vette with side exhaust and chrome wire spoke wheels.
I made it true a few years ago except for the spoke wire wheels, but got a nice big block instead. :D
I got an offer on 15 " true spoke wire wheels with 235 tires mounted and I wonder, if they are ok for the brute power and torque of my 454 big block ?
They have 20 spokes on front and 30 on the back.
What do you think ?
Gunther



[Modified by WESCH, 12:14 PM 1/6/2002]

Alwyn678

I am not a big fan of wire wheels on a vette.....They look way cool on a Jag though

Jughead

I had them on my Vette when I purchased it last year. I never liked them, but to each his own. I remember reading in magazine's when they were popular in the '70's & 80's. They said that the spokes weren't the choice wheel for hi-performance. The spokes tend to flex under high torque. For daily driving I'd say they're ok.

You can buy my old one's if you like....shipping would kill you though.

WESCH

Hi 1970 Stingray

Your rims are the CRAGAR welded wire type.
I think they where made for Vettes and can be installed without any spacers.
Is the size 8x15 ?
The CRAGARS are out of production.
Make me an offer.
Are the rubbers still on them ?
What would shipping be to Seattle area , 98008 area code ?
I'm very lost as I also like 17 " rims due to the better tire choise available.
Gunther :seeya

Bills17n72

wesch
I had a set of true spokes on my 79,and there seemed like there was more play in the steering,so about after 5 years I put my ralleys back on ,and the play went away!!!

Im glad I went back to my ralleys Bill

Jughead

Gunther, since I posted that pic yesterday, two other members have expressed an interest in them. Here's a couple pics. A while back I had a coolant leak and didn't realize that the coolant had sprayed onto 3 of the wheels and dried. It wasn't until I took the pics that I saw what happened. They should clean up though with some SOS pads and some never-dul.


Another pic of a little rust that I cleaned up. The wheels were on the Vette when I bought it and the vehicle was poorly maintained. They're not perfect but clean up nicely.





The tires still have a lot of good tread on them. They're 225-70-15 on the front and 275-60-15 on the rear.

WESCH

Hi 1970 Stingray

I'm still very interested.
This little rust ( corrosion ) , I'm not worried about.
I have seen those rims much worse, I think that the chrome job is not the best.
Make me an offer, please.
Thanks Günther :seeya

Jughead

Gunther, You have mail. :seeya

UKPaul

I build wire wheels for m/cycles (but only when I have to!) & know a wheel builder who recently did a study on wire wheel safety issues, when using stainless spokes, for our Government (it's amazing what Governments find to do). His study mainly concerned car wheels so, having an MG, we picked his brains. Wire wheels are fine on cars IF they are rated for the weight & power of the vehicle. Problems occur when people change butted spokes to non-butted for such reasons as looks/cost/availability,etc, get galvanised spokes chromed or swap them out for stainless of the wrong grade/gauge.
Wire wheels have a bit of "give" in them which is nice for comfort, but bad for handling - hard cornering will cause flexing (in the same way that tyre walls flex). They also (usually) weight substantially more than cast wheels so will increase unsprung weight.
Wire wheels look really :cool: on certain vehicles, but they take a lot of time to keep clean (especially if the roads are salted in the winter) - it takes my GF longer to clean 1 wheel than the rest of the car!
:cheers: