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I finally decided to bite the bullet and install real wire wheels on my BCW 52 TD, and would appreciate any advice, etc. My current rims are 14″, four-bolt lugs (10 cm spacing between opposite lugs), with 175X70X14 tires. I’d like to keep the current tires and need five rims, preferably chrome or stainless steel with knock off hubs.
If I were you, I’d buy the wire wheel kit from Rimmer Bros and make it fit. The MGB/MGA, Triumph TR3/4 (etc.) knock offs are made to fit on a 4 x 4.5 hub. That’s like 113mm or so. Looking at the hubs, it’s clear that one could re-drill them for a 4 x 100 pattern. Plenty of room for it and won’t hurt the strength any.
The correct wheels for a TD are 15-inches by 4.5. But the MGB wheels were 14 inches and all these makes and wheels will fit with no problem on the hubs. So in your case, wanting to save the tires, the way forward is MGB spokes. Currently 150 pounds sterling each, plus shipping.
(And these tires you wish to save are new, right? As in ‘less than three years old?’ Because if they’re just “new” as in ‘I only drove the car 40 miles in the past 10 years,’ then throw them away. They’re dangerous.)
Legit knock-off wires, man!! So cool it hurts!!
The problem with used wires is that the splines in the hubs are often rounded off. Not always, but usually. That’s why people take them off. Then the wheels sit around in a shed for 10 years, or 20, or more, and get a little crusty and rusty. Then someone finds them and they’re like, “Hey! Wire wheels! These are worth money! I’ll sell ’em on ebay!”
And up they go. And everyone who has old wires they’re looking to replace laughs at the ad, and all us newbies are like, “yeah, that’s maybe a deal. Those’ll clean up with some steel wool.”
There are exceptions. But rare. My advice is look closely in person at anything you’re considering, cause pics made at the resolution usually available on the ‘bay are not good enough to tell.
Dick, I looked into these http://www.ebay.com/itm/370475176640?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 about a year ago. I emailed the seller for a price for 5, His reply best I remember 750 including shipping. Best deal I found.
Montie those wheels look pretty nice. The price would be hard to beat for those that have an interest in going with wire wheels. Thanks for the information.
Montie,
I think those may be the wheels I have on mine – I think I paid about 350.00 to my door at the time.
They told me it would fit the 4x 130mm, but it was not so – I had to have a local machinist re-drill my rotors/hubs for 50.00 total. They work real nice on my ride and I like them – the off set is wrong if they are to fit under the fenders. My car is a bit hot rod looking, but I like the look and with the wider wheel span it stays on the road like on rails.
Have funschu,
They come in regular off set and reverse off set. The reverse will sitck out of the fenders, thats the look I have now with my orig basket wires. When I order mine I want to get regular ones hopefully putting the tires inside the wheel wells. I’m still trying to fine out if they will fit, my mechanic friend something about make sure there was enough clearance for the brakes and steering. Guess there it no way of checking untill I order a wheel???? Off coarse the wife has to be convinced we need $750 new rims and not just $300–400 for new tires. She has been pretty easy about me detailling the engine compartment, so far..If you pull a wheel off your car you can measure the back spacing & get a pretty good idea how well the new ones would fit. Get the back spacing for the new wires, and the width of those, and compare to the width and back spacing you have now.
Went to the VW car show in Chattanooga today. Scored some parts that I needed and there was a guy selling 72(?) spoke wire wheels with knock off tool for $200. I’ll post the pictures after a bit along with the contact info. I would have gotten them but I think to rechrome them will cost more than new. The set is 5, 14-inch wheels with tires and the tubes hold air very well, and 4 of the center attachment fittings for a 4-lug VW pattern.
Also found about a place in Chattanooga that not only sells but has in stock, non-logo VW hub caps. Both original and remanufactured. They will fit stock VW rims.newkitman2012-04-21 21:54:04
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackOkay…here are the wire wheels photo, a 52TD that was in the show, and a Ghia with some nice looking cooling air hoses from the fan housing to the heater boxes.
Wire Wheels…set of five, 72 spoke wire wheels with Dunlop tube tires with everything shown here. Center pieces fit 4-lug VW drums. Price qouted was $200 for everything. For Contact info PM me. I do not know the seller but have his info.
52 MGTD…talked with them at length and gave them the TDReplica.com web site. Had my white TD shirt on.
Cooling Air Hoses…and it’s NOT my Ghia (which is for sale)
newkitman2012-04-21 21:55:01
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackWell guys, I took the gamble on 5 used wire wheels & adapters & spinners that Allen found at the show (see the above post). I realize that they are 14’s instead of the “correct” 15’s and 72 spoke instead of 48 spoke. Turns out that the 185×14’s are very close in size to the 165×15 so I don’t expect any problem there. Having once had 48 spoke wheels on my TF, I prefer 72 spokes. The 48 spokers were for bias ply tires and I feel that the extra grip of the radials justifies more spokes. So, when I get the wheels, I will see if I still have any talent for tuning them.
To take off the flaking chrome and rust, I have already lined up a sandblast job: all 5 for $100 when I get the wheels in 2 weeks. Then I plan to paint them. And of course I have to either redrill my brake drums or adapt the adapters. Maybe this will all turn sour when I get into it, but oh well. Stay tuned and wish me luck and no, there is no chance that I will have them on in time for Carlisle. If anyone has any “be sure to check this” advice, please bring it on. I have had wires before but it was 30 years ago and I was fortunate to never have any problems.Roy , If I am reading Allen’s description correctly, the adapters fit 4 lug VW. If they don’t fit, it would be better to adapt the adapters than to redrill the VW drums. They are reinforced in the area where the lugs attach and may be too thin to support the lug bolts if redrilled elsewhere. I love the wire wheel look . Hope you can make them work.
Turns out that the seller mis-stated or Allen mis-heard about the bolt pattern. The seller pulled these wheels off a 1970 Triumph Stag and I don’t know the Stag’s bolt pattern on the wheels, but can’t believe that it’s 4×130.
Regarding adapt the adapters or redrilling the hubs: I agree with Larry, I think, that it may weaken the drums by weakening them if I redrilled them. But that is what I hope to do, – I am not skilled enough to weld a flange on the adapters and drill that to 4×130 and balance it. I’m going to spend a few hours head scratching like Ed did when he investigated this whole thing a while ago. Which is the best way that is affordable? ???I really prefer the proper 2 eared knock-offs but these wrench type knock-offs are a bit more secure. A friend of mine once had 3 wire wheels stolen off his car: they were the 2 ear type. There was only one wheel on the car in the morning, it was the wrench type and apparently they couldn’t get it off……. A crime worse than horse “theivin’.” ?Now, I really am committed to the project of putting MiGi on wires. I am hoping for 4 usable wheels in this bunch that I bought. If not, well maybe at Carlisle someone will have 4 good 15″ 48/60/72 spokers that I can afford. I really prefer paint to chrome. I can touch up paint when it chips or starts to rust, but with chrome, you have to live with it.I think your adaptors are the same ones I test fit. The diameter is a tad too small to redrill at 4×130, so adjusting them would require some welding. My concern was in locating the lug bolts outside the original 4 x 4.5-inch circle, however slightly. The wheels’ inside flange might then seat on the bolt heads, which would be bad.
They might not though, which would be good. You could check it by getting two new lug bolts with short heads, or by grinding off about half of the top of an existing lug bolt. (I’d maybe try to find a cheap low-grade bolt that fits the threads, just for the test). Then you grind out two “D” shaped reliefs in the space between the holes on one of your spline adaptors. Mount that to your drums (front, then back) using the low-headed lug bolts, slide a wire wheel on and torque it home. If it wobbles on your two bolts, you know that’s not working. If it seats flat, then you could consider getting a shop to weld “ears” on the adaptors and drill them to 4x130mm. That would be sweet.
This pic gives an idea of how much of a notch you’d be cutting:
But if that doesn’t work, the way to go is to take your drums to a good machine shop with the adaptors. The shop will either fill the existing bolt holes with metal and re-tap them just inside that diameter to fit, or they will pile up some welding rod on the backsides of the drums between the existing holes and then tap into that. Either method should work.
What’s going to happen either way, though, is the outsides of your new wheels will sit a little outside where the old ones were. Your track, front and back, is going to get wider by an inch or two, maybe just a little more than that.
Luck! And post pictures.
edsnova2012-05-01 08:16:52
Thanks Ed, The pictures help a lot. I hope to get to the junk yard today and pick up a used brake drum to test fit and play with.
Just a thought…
I searched all over the VW-web…and cannot find undrilled brake drums.But…Undrilled brake rotors are readily available for both front and rear.I’m not trying to spend your money, but you could consider converting to disc brakes front and rear, and drill the new hubs/rotors for your wire wheel adaptor.PMOSSBERG2012-05-01 10:43:09
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
John, you are correct.
TDs came with steel wheels and hubcaps.Wire wheels were available from dealers and as an after-market accessory.From http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_production.htm (a great resource for MG history!)Note: Wire wheels were never offered by the factory during the production the the MGTD. They were available later as a service kit, part number ACG 5163. These were essentially the parts used by the TF’s that would also fit the TD’s. There is also a slight difference in the ’53 wire wheels from the ’54 wire wheels. The ’53 wire wheels inner hub was more pointed in shape, similar to the shape of the original dash washers, while the later wire wheels found on the ’55 model TF had a more rounded hub common on MGA’s and later cars.PMOSSBERG2012-05-01 10:53:58
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Thanks Paul, I am thinking about discd. But first want to see how good the wires are and after I make them pretty, will probably try to adapt to the drums. Maybe discs next winter since I (hopefully) won’t have an engine to rebuild.
socalautoparts.com lists bland drums for about $41 each plus shipping,Glad you found the blank drums. For $41 each, I would go with that, rather than welding and redrilling old drums.
PMOSSBERG2012-05-01 10:54:15
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
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