Has anyone here drilled and dumpled a rim and laced it. I have an early midget race car that needs new rims, hubs are fine, just need new spokes and dimpled holes in the rim. Is there aspecial tool I need to buy, books or magazine features. This is an unknown subject for me. Thanks in advance!
Are you using the existing rims or making new ones? Dimpling the holes at the right angle would be a *****..you could do it on a Hydraulic stud press, but fitting the rim in might be difficult. I would take it to a motorbike rim guy..you could probably find a bike rim that would work..maybe a british bike restorer?
The car was built between 1925-28 as far as I can tell and has clincher style rims. I need to use a drop center rim for modern tires. I plan to use new 4.80x12 trailer rims. This will allow me to run the new Frirstone racing tires Coker makes.
ok I guess not many 12" bike wheels around I still reckon a vintage bike restorer would be able to help you locate a rim builder with a press set up for dimpling. the only worry might be the thickness of the material of a trailer rim..no doubt thicker than the bike stuff. Good luck!
I think I might bring the whole car, it has the coolest steering setup I've ever seen on a race car. I found Buchanan's website, hope they can do a 12" rim and supply the new spokes. Once this problem is solved I can make the bucks and fab the new body, suff I really enjoy doing.
The dimples are mostly not at an angle. They are most of the time half spheres. You just drill the hole for the ****** in the dimple so it aims the spoke in the right direction. First you make the dies so you can make the dimples in a hydraulic press. After making the dimples you need to make a fixture that holds the hub and rim in relation to each other. Then you make a drill guide, imagine a spoke with a hook on the inner end that hooks into the spoke hole. At the other end it bends around to the outside of the rim. There you attach a piece of tube. This tube should aim directly at the hook at the other end. This tube can now be used either to center punch or drill the dimple in the right direction. Last you contact Central Wheel Service in Birmingham. The can and will make spokes in any number, gauge, bend, length, material etc that your heart desire. Good Luck Mikael
This is what is so great about the HAMB, ask a question and get help from around the world! Thanks to everyone that posted a reply!
Hi 37... We could do the rims for you. It ain't cheap. We have a relationship with Gary McLean who designed many wire wheels. He has done some really wonderful wire wheel restorations for us on some very special vehicles. I have personally used some original Houck hubs to build new wires on our new stanweld rims for my 1910 Nyberg race car and they are wonderful. I suggest that you call our toll free number and speak to Allen Sturm. 1 800 251 6336 extension 204. He is responsible for this wire wheel repair service at our company. His office is at our Fresno Store. We could actually receive your originals, provide the 12 inch drop center hoops, dimple drill em, lace em, powder coat them, mount the tires and tubes and send them to you completely done. Will not be cheap I am sure, but certainly a solution. All the best, Corky Coker
Corkey, Thank you for the offer but I've got rim blanks ordered and on their way to a shop that will dimple, punch and lace them with new spokes. Worked out real well three shops were involved and they were all very helpful. Only ONE place to buy tires! I'll call your guy to be sure 4 4:00x12 Firestones and 2 10:00x15 Firestone slicks are on your truck at Hershey. The slicks are for the Lyndwood rail.
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