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What would be involved in adapting a set of wire wheels like this:
to my 4-lug Chevette wheels?
Are splined flanges available, or would they have to be custom machined?
-Dave
PMOSSBERG 2014-09-17 21:12:05 I can almost guarantee you that these are not 16″ wheels, but are 48 spoke 15″ which was the popular TD aftermarket and dealer installed size. The easy way to put wires on is with Triumph type adapters, which bolt on depending on your lug pattern. These adapters do come up for auction periodically but you have to be careful that the splines are in good shape. …and the size of the hub and # ‘s splines is correct. Jag wires are bigger hub for example. MG used a different hub, so Triumph is definitely easier. Then, of course there is a good question: why did he take the wires off? Rebuilding gets expensive quickly. You probably know that you would have to run tubes with these wires. 48 spoke wires were designed for old bias ply tires. Many feel that they are not strong enough for newer radials (which are all designed to run tubeless). And, of course you would need to buy some knock-offs. Either the period correct 2-eared design or the later MGB hex headed ones.
By the time you get this done, it will likely be over $1,000, even if you got the wheels for a few hundred. Costs: Tires, tubes, spokes, balancing the wheels, adapters, special nuts for adapters, knock-offs, knock off hammer, sandblasting and painting or powdercoating the wheels, adapting your hubs to the new adapters.I’m just trying to give you an appreciation for what might be involved.
Roy,
I knew there had to be a lot more than meets the eye. Since this is new to me, I really appreciate the detailed information. I think you’ve saved me getting into a lot of trouble.
-Dave
Roy has been there and done that.
To his excellent summary I will add only this: used wire wheels are a crap shoot because the splines inside the wheels can rust and wear out. If/when that happens they are toast.The same is true of the splined hubs (bolt-on, Triumph TR2/3/4-style) you would buy to mount them on.If you put a good wheel with a bad hub, the bad hub will quickly ruin the wheel.If you pair a good hub with a bad wheel, the bad wheel will quickly ruin the good hub.(I have no idea why this does not work the other way-round, with the good part somehow restoring the bad part to goodness. But all reports indicate that this is not what happens because, I guess, God does not love us).Anyway. I considered this swap for a while. Even bought some afore-mentioned used hubs to check fitment, back-spacing and the like. The good news was that standard 15-inch 48 or (better) 60-spoke, 4.5-inch wide wheels will indeed fit under the fenders of our VW-based cars (and almost certainly under Chevette or Ford models too), and they will take the 165r 80-15 tires we run on our VW steel wheels.The bad news is, on ebay anyway, you can’t get a close enough look at the splines to know if the wheels/hubs are actually any good.The good news?The good news is MWS wire wheels, all new, correctly painted five to a set and with the needed new splined hubs (4, anyway, and a slightly dodgy one you grab off ebay for the spare is probably not going to kill the wheel it’s on), can be had for about $1300, U.S. (depending on the day’s exchange rate). Shipping is gonna hurt though, I think.Last I checked, the new MWS wheels were “tubeless.” I will not testify to it under oath though.Any set you get, you will need to re-drill your hubs to the correct 4 x 4.5-inch bolt pattern. Roy did this himself at home with a drill press, because he is a skilled person. I would contract a machine shaft and pay their goddamn $100 blood money.Dave, you might, fairly, ask: why did you do it?
It’s a sickness and I have wrestled with it for years. Wirewheelmania. I had ’em on my Bugeye, my Alpine, my TF, my Jensen Healey, TR6 and now my TDr.
I love them, but they are a pain in the ass.Once again (and though I have an issue with Ed’s theological conclusions) I am grateful for your insights. What you’ve told me goes a long way in explaining why so many of the actual vintage MGs one sees around the internet DON’T have wire wheels. My brother had an old MGB years ago and when I bought my TDr he warned me that it was just about impossible to find somebody who could true them up. At the very least, the idea is on the back burner for now.
-Dave
Hey folks,
Current price for these wheels is $1,561.05 US plus $304.38 US for a total of $1,865.43 — not including the machine shop $$ —I think I’ll stick with my home-made hub caps & beauty rings on repainted VW wheels on Emma-Jack
My 87 Avanti came with wire wheels from the factory. The local Jaguar dealer was the only shop in town that could true and balance wires. The original owner asked the factory to swap them out for solid wheels in 1990 when last wire wheel tech in Atlanta retired.
I disagree with Ed’s theology too. I interpret this as God does love us, and is preventing us from following the wire wheel path to ruin.
I went a similar route as Jack. But I painted my wheels in the original silver, and used reproduction MG TD wheel centers.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)
The more I learn about vintage racing the better I like the look (and strength) of my stock VW Mangles.
The Tru Spokes on mine had a vibration for years I couldn’t get out. Took them off and and ran steels for years. When my son drug them out of my basement and put new tires on them and put them back on the car last Christmas, vibration was gone. Had to have been a bad tire. Like Roy, I love the look of a wire.
Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"
Dave the ones i have are from McLean wheels.I’ve changed the center cap over to the mg two wing style.
http://www.mcleanwheels.com/100spoke.html
McLean
Wheels
2000 South Grove Avenue, Building C, Ontario, CA 91761
909-947-8687
Fax 909-923-8600ray102014-09-19 00:38:09
TDREPLICA Map
http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=7f9174ad614e43b680deba085b0abf48
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