Running magnesium wheels on the street

Are there any issues running 50 year old mag wheels on the street (see photo Halibrands)? How about 45 year old steel wheels?

 

I've never ran anything but 45 year old steel wheels. Never had a problem with that. I have a set of 45 year old rocket mags in the ba*****t that I'll run someday when I get around to messing with 'em.

 

If they've lasted this long and are still in good shape, they're probably fine. I've seen brand new BBS magnesium racing wheels crack within the first couple thousand miles recently. But I've seen wheels of the same design but built in the '70s that are still driven on daily. I figure that's the thing with real mags, on an individual basis, they're either a good casting, or they aren't...

I say run 'em.

 

I wouldn't run em. Sell them to me and I'll get rid of them.
Oh yea, they aren't worth anything so sell them cheap.

 

I've run them before with no ill effects. Keep an eye on tire pressures though, sometimes Halibrands are a tiny bit porous.

 

A friends Halibrand mag indy wheels broke and needed to be welded up after a trip to Bonneville. They are temperamental. No matter what anyone says, they require special attention

 

Magnesium wheels are intended for racing and dont have the strength for street stress.

 

Horse caca ! I've ran several sets with no probs and a friend has had a set on his 32 for better than 40 years.

 

I love Halibrands...wish I could afford a set.

 

A ZYGLO or X-Ray will confirm if they are road worthy.

Elwood

 

Im with stupid ^^^^

No sense on not getting them checked out properly. Watch out for pot holes in the road too

I would agree with Midnight Oil most of all though. Or you could sell em and make a good chunk.

 

Check the lug holes....paint the inner bead areas with thick enamel. And look for cracks around windows. Did you get them off here...? The lack of lips around windows look familiar

 

I always run them with tubes,radial or bias.Americans or Hals like to weep air. If you have pitting or chips,I would get them checked out also. I`ve run a few of my sets about 30-40 years with no problems;not daily though. I agree don`t hit a pothole!

 

The problem with magnesium is that it REALLY likes to corrode, and it's possible for it to corrode internally with only the slightest surface evidence. For that reason the NHRA doesn't allow old mags. Either make very sure they are still safe, or don't use them.

There have been production cars with magnesium wheels. But, those wheels are relatively fragile compared to aluminum or steel.

 

The rears on my truck are 15x10 magnesium American's, and i've got about 18K miles on it in about 3 years, with NO problems at all..not even leaks.
I'll be running a complete set of magnesium Americans on my 32 as well when that hits the road.
As others said, condition is important. Not overall, but the little areas too.
Although i didn't have mine x-ray'd or anything like that, it's probably not a bad idea i suppose considering the safety aspect and cost of what we do...especially the safety.

Tony

 

I would say that as long as your not running low profile rubber and that you are on the look out for pot holes, the stresses on the street would be the same as the track (given that your on smooth pavement)...

Just my .02c

 

Gee and to think those got raced on dirt tracks at 100+ MPH with BIG pot holes sometimes hit side ways. Any questions about condition get 'em checked for your piece of mind.

 

I have some 14x6 & 15x8.5 Magnesium Americans. For my piece of mind, I will definitely have them X-Rayed.

 

Hahaha.... mine leaked so bad they whistled!

A quick fix is to run a tube.

 

I dont know what your talking about Ran these rims the last 20 years ,On different cars

 

I run mags on all my hot rods with and without tubes, never any issues. I also drag race and NHRA lets me run them! Look for any cracks before you mount them if they look good then they are. Only issue is with skinnys and pot holes, but that will also break aluminum and bend steel.

 

if you dont want to run old magnesium wheel you can buy new. these are magnesium american racing copies 15 x4 5 spokes. rears are original

 

pics

 

Yes:

 

Old ones?

 

Magnesium wheels are not recommended in the SCTA. They want an initial Zyglo certificate

 

Ditto the potholes !

4TTRUK

 

Thanks for all of the advice! Beautiful cars! I was just going to put them on a lowly '63 Impala (see avatar) building a Z11 style street car: http://hanksz11page.com/vintagepics.htm

http://www.superchevy.com/features/impala/sucp_0707_1963_z11_impala/

 

I am running 50 year old steelies on the stret and in the bush (original steel wheels on my Willys pickup), anyone who runs 40 Ford wheels is running 72 year old steelies.

Old original halibrands and American magnesium wheels get run all the time with good sucess. Someone posted a broken wheel and that is just part of running magnesium wheels even when they were new, sometimes they break. If it is any consolation I have seen brand new aluminum allow wheels broken as well.

Never the less Mike, I don't know what s**** price is for magnesium but if you are willing to look it up I am willing to s****e the cash together to buy those wheels from you. At s**** price that is.

Run 'em friend you'll be glad that you did.