Tech: Fitting the Ace Aero Speed Discs.

These aren't hubcaps, but Ace Aero Speed Discs!

Following on from my previous opinions thread ( http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76423 ) on the Rolls Royce wheel discs. Here is how I mounted them to the my 'A' wheels.

The original fixing of the disc was three equaly spaced counter-sunk holes. How these were originaly mounted to the wheel I don't know. I've been told that it was bolted right through the wheel to a disc on the back.

After many ideas I finally came up with this prototype.
After much searching I finally came up with the counter-sunk nut you see in the picture.
As I wanted the nuts to stay on with some hard use I simply cross drilled the bolt to allow for an R clip to be used.
This is certainly a case of function over form, but I never intended for these to be Kustom wheel discs.



This is what I started with,

A few lengths of 6mm rod.
A bag of counter-sunk nuts.
A bag of R clips.
An M6 die nut for threading the rod.
A 1.5mm drill bit in a chuck reducer for the pin hole.



I first cut 12 5'' long lengths of rod.



I then threaded each rod 3/4'' from one end.
This picture shows how I started the thread on the rod. The drill press is used to keep the die nut square to the rod.
Once the thread was started I finished it in a vice as this was easier.



Here is the 12 threaded rods.



I started the hole for the pin with the rod in the vice and with the use of a cordless drill....



....the hole was then finished in the drill press, so as to keep it square.



This is the finished and ***embled rods.



Just to prove that it doesn't always go right the first time!
The rods on the left had very poor threads due to I think insufficent lubrication. Can anybody confirm this?
The rod on the right had the drill bit break in it. I tried to be clever and drill it from the other side to push the broken bit out.
I broke the drill bit again...
I then tried to remove the second broken bit with a pin punch and bent it.
Oh well....



Now is time to mount the rods to the wheel.
I didn't want to, but I had to drill the wheel.
I placed the disc and ***embled rods on the wheel and then marked on the wheel where I had to drill.



The drilled wheel.
The hole was counter-sunk on the back to allow for better penetration on the weld.
Only one hole clashed with the lug holes. Again I had no choice, it didn't matter where the disc was placed it clashed with a lug hole.



The back view of the wheel.
The excess rod was cut back so that they sat flush with the wheel.



The Welded wheel.
The welds were ground back on the face as this is the seat face for the wheel.



Finally the finished wheel.





This is what the wheel now looks like with the disc removed.
Has a kinda Mad Max/Roman Chariot feel to it now!



Honest comments? Good, bad, ugly?

I don't care what you put as the job is done now!

 

I like 'em. It's great to see someone using Model A wheels for a change on their rod.

 

I'm just waiting on the hub caps now.

I've decided to use '32 three ring V8 caps but without the V8 logo obviously!

 

I'm dying to see the finished pictures of the wheel disks complete with center caps. Your original thread is what made me decide that I want wheel disks on my banger-powered '26 T roadster. I guess I'll just have to wait....

 

bag of countersunk nuts...now thats funny

 

I like the exposed mountings with the clips..gives it a purposeful racy feel.
so are those 19" rims or 21's?

 

Nice to know I made a difference in someones life!

 

Different.

Slick.

Looks good.

One of two things.
Your die is worn . . . the usual case if some of the threads are ripped from the base metal.
The other, the die went on crooked.

Threading rods in a lathe is the way to do it - if you have access to one.
If not, you can buy die handles that have an adjustable guide device.
The device is a little crude, but works well if you're careful.

I have seen guys buy a die handle, get a round piece of metal stock approx the same OD as the die handle's mounting cup.
Make sure the ends of the metal stock are square.
Length can be somewhat arbitrary, long enough to support and guide.
Your instinct will tell you how much.

Drill the round stock 1/64" oversize for the rod you'll be threading.
Use a stud that matches the die, thread it into the die that's mounted in the die handle cup and tack weld the round stock guide to the die handle in three places.

Now you have a dedicated, self guiding tap handle for one specific size.

 

I think your right there. It was a second hand buy off the 'bay.

You get what you pay for!

 

Thanks, thats exactly what I was aiming for.

The wheels are 19''. The disc is 20''.

 

very nice. im glad you did it, i bet you are too. now we wait for the final results!

trey

 

I had posted eleven 19" 'A' wheels on the cl***ifieds a bit back, maybe now everyone will want them...

 

I've never understood why more people don't use 'A' wheels?

 

Another sighting of a disc mounting technique: I have a set of 0ld 16" discs meant to cover '35 Ford wires. They mount with small springs, like short throttle return springs. There are loops welded to the back of the steel discs which take the springs, and the other end of eac spring just hooks to a backside spoke. They are also retained at the edge by the chrome trim ring, but surely many users lacked that.

 

That sounds cool never thought of mounting them that way.

 

Another cool period detail to steal from Rolls Royce: Around the rim, they had four little threaded posts pointed inward, about like the valve stem. Each held a stack of washers, some fiber or plastic, some steel. You spun each wheel on a front spindle, and moved heavy and light washers around until you went mad or achieved balance or enlightenment or something...anyway, it's all in the owner's manual. I thought it was a really neat touch. Kept the Chauffeur occupied and out of trouble.

 

This is the tool I made. This made it so easy to remove them, without having to keep stabbing it with a screwdriver.



Here are some poor pictures of them currently on the car and still without hubcaps.







Is it just me or is it looking like a giant Dinky toy? You know the ones with the pressed steel wheels.