Thanks to the H.A.M.B. Cl***ifieds I picked up something I've always wanted; A huge set of old "mags" as in Magnesium wheels so I picked up these killer 16x11 Torque Thrust wheels which arrived in Australia in a little over a week after my PM to "1962Biscayne". Now that's H.A.M.B. service! I'm told there are no street tyres that will fit these rims. Is that true? My cleaning plans are to wash them gently with soap and water and a soft sponge or cloth then soak them in several heavy applications of Gibbs Brand (I have boxes of the stuff) to conserve the killer dark patina. I might polish the non spoked area just to see that polished Magnesium gleam once for myself. What is the best way to treat that corrosion? Are the wheels usable with this type of corrosion? I'll use a scourer, soap and water to see what I can shift but I don't want to sand or use any harsh abrasives and I'm aware that all Magnesium dust is extremely flammable so I'm going to use a gentle touch. I'll be guided by Dave Mann's page http://www.roadsters.com/gibbs/ where he shows how Russell DeSalvo used Gibbs to preserve the dark patina while "going over the machined surfaces with fine Scotch-Brite" to clean and bring them back to their original machined finish. But these wheels are smooth and I'm not keep to use a scotch brite pad and would prefer to polish them without scourer. That grey look is priceless and I'll be preserving the spokes for sure. I'll also tell you first hand that these wheels are LIGHT! I can see why you'd want to use them for racing. I've got my eye on a set of spindle mount 12 spokes as well...again, from the H.A.M.B cl***ifieds. So clearly there's a 60s style dragster in my future...or is this just a sickness? I may need help. In any case I'll post as I clean them with your guidance we'll have these big 'ol girls lookin' their "Sunday Best". Couldn't resist a quick mock up against the "5".
Couldn't resist when I saw these beauties...so I bought them...off the H.A.M.B. of course. Thanks jasonnosaj.
DAYNG................................................... I think you did well, ****** WELL, to well, now send them to me...... Doc.
i cant help to much on cleaning them.i used a scotch-brite pad on mine to just get some of the heavy crust off mine then took some time and went i big straight motions to polish the lips.i also wanted the center un polished.i dont think you will have a problem getting tires for them but you might want to buy tubes for them because mag.rims dont like to hold air very good.i dont have tubes in mine and they dont go flat,its just what i have herd.PS.they look great!!!!
Thanks Doc. When are heading down this way? Drop in and we'll see if we can figure out what to do with them. Americanopel thanks for the tips. I'll be sure to use a tube but what street tyres will fit these wheels? Ben down here at Antique tyres said I'm out of luck but he'll keep looking. Do you (or anyone) know if any treaded street tyres are available in this size? I pretty much thought these were drag only wheels. I hope I'm wrong. Spoggie you're a local! PM me for my number let's 'race. I'm hearin' ya on the vision too.
Hey Opel your wheels look great and we seem to have the same fronts. Cool. Are these magnesiums on the rear? They look great.
mt et street shoul work{mtt3792} or coker{cok623052}these are basicly cheeter slicks.im sure if you go on some tire sites and look up 16"tires you will be able to find one for a 10"rim.which will work.i remember putting some small tires on wide rims and it just doesnt give you much sidewall.the #s came out of my bible{summit mag}hope this helps.
yep i think the fronts are the same.the backs are the cheep chineese nock-offs.i didnt have the money for the real thing so i bought these new for??????i think $250-300.i do remember that i could have bought the complete set for less than $400.
Id love to come south, in fact I was headed that way shortly to pick up my Nailhead. But then life happened......... On the side lines and cant work until I have a operation on my Left shoulder, recieve the last pay check today for the next 8-9 months so I wont be doing ****. There may be a nice machine work done ,build ready. 30tho over 401 and a moredoor A40 on the market soon. Doc.
Firestone do a cheater slick in a 16 inch-get in touch with Antique Tyres over here in Vic.Cool wheels btw.
Thanks elricho. I've got a pair of 15x8 Firestone Dragsters (you can see them in the pic of the wheels mocked up against the coupe) and I know that they make a 16x10 (cok623052) but this is a 16x11 rim and this wheel (if any wheel) deserves a correct sidewall bulge. My buddy here says I won't notice any difference between a 10 and 11 inch tyre and it'll look cool. I'd have to see the tyres on to make that decision though. It'd be great if they looked good. I looked up the mtt3792 and they look very "compe***ion". I'm guessing they won't p*** on the street down here. Sorry to hear about your "time-out" Doc. Bummer. Maybe a nice holiday down south to school this neo-trad wanna-be try-hard will make you feel better? Just been outside washing them down with soap and water and giving the inside corrosion a bit of a scrub with a plastic scourer. I've noticed some stains and bits of corrosion but on the whole there is zero curb rash and (compared to some I've seen) they seem to be in very good condition. Stoked.
you are welcome 32ford5, hope you enjoy the wheels. I love buying & selling on the HAMB, great people, great website!
Thanks 61Bone, not real kean on the BF Goodrich or Coopers and the MTs are slicks. I might have to try the 16x10 dragsters to see how they look.
Flathead is a little out of place with 16x11 inch Mags out back. Might have to upgrade to a 327 or a HEMI!
I'm pretty sure you really don't want to use soap & water on magnesium. Here is a link to the care of magnesium wheels. http://www.roadsters.com/wheels/#Mag
Absolutely gorgeous, beautiful ***Y wheels! I'm getting a 'woody' just looking (and drooling) at the pics....and I don't mean the station wagon kind either!!! Mart3406 ====================================
I agree Mart'. I smile when I look at them. Jeff, don't worry. These won't go on the car if it's flathead powered. Not even sure if they would fit my 1964 theme I was aiming for originally (when were these wheels being made?) but it would be ok with the 425 Nailhead. These are just cool and I've always wanted a set. But now that i have the fronts as well I'll stash them for a future project. Too late for the wash I'm afraid Rat'. I'm sure they'll be ok. Dave doesn't actually say not to wash them but to store them in a dry environment or use Gibbs to protect. I dried it right away and blew off the excess water but they should be ok just to clean I'd think. They are soaked in Gibbs at the moment. Not sure if I should polish the dish though. Might try a little autosol on the back just to see how it comes up. Also, there are no marks or branding on these wheels at all. Could they be something other than American Racing? Who else made these styles of wheels in Magnesium?
"Also, there are no marks or branding on these wheels at all. Could they be something other than American Racing? Who else made these styles of wheels in Magnesium?" The only vintage racing wheels that American Racing Equipment ever made without casting their name into them were made out of magnesium.
There's a front engine dragster cackle car restoration out there that would kill for those I bet. LOL. Nice! Lippy
Do you mean the M&H slicks? They are cool but I was hoping for a set of street tyres or at least to know if any will fit. Thanks for the offer but I can source slicks locally and only import rare and hard to get tyres. Am I going to find a set or do I relegate these to drag wheels and that's it? Any opinions as to what a 15x10 Firestone dragster (pie crust type street "slick") might look like. Will it look lame or is it worth a try?
From M&H's website: Tread Width: 12.2" Section Width: 16.0" Diameter: 33.0" Cir***ference: 104.0" Rim Size: 12.0" Code: MSS-013 Compound Type: 703 It says 12" wheel, but I would think 11-13 would be OK
Tempting. They would certainly have a nice bulge and would be great to look at. I was hoping not to go quite that wide though as I can't see a hot rod I would build as having tyres quite that fat. 12's I'd go with and would look tough on a mid-late 60s style drag-rod but 15s are looking a little too "pro street" for my liking but thanks for the heads up and that's a great deal on those tyres. Someone will get a bargain.
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