Technical Torque Thrust A Spoke Wheels, New vs. Old?

Are there any differences between the new American Racing straight spoke (not D) wheels vs the old. I can get either one.

My ideal set would ne 15" x 8" with 5" back space on a 5x4.75 bolt circle but I don't think they have that much back space..

Should I look for vintage or try the new ones?

Thanks..

 

I bought these slightly OT new ET wheels about 10 years ago for my OT Camaro. The rim is aluminum, the spkes painted a nice argent, flat caps, acorn lugs, pick you back space and bolt pattern. Even the back of the rim is fully polished.

I'd go new unless you are building a real time machine.

 

No, to unilugs.

 

ETs are my favorite wheel. I say yes to that style of uni lug. They have the nicest lips in my opinion. Americans have too many steps from spoke outward...you could have a 10" wide wheel and it would look like an 8.5". New wheels dont look the same in my opinion. They are a good alternative in the 15x4 skinnys and weird sizes...but in the main I like old stuff.

 

Only thing I don't like on my new set is the cheap center caps.

 

Back space for rear wheels usually is more suited to muscle cars than hot rods on the new wheels.
Big back space to fit under fenders vs/ deep front space for deep dish hot rod looks.

 

This is a new pair that went on the front of my '39. You can tell they are new because of the big pattern on the center cap, compared to the small pattern on the old ones.



-Abone.

 

I had a bullet center cap on mine, which kind of hides the newness of the cap pattern.



-Abone

 

The new Torque Thrust Vintage wheel has a few changes in it when set next to the First run Torque Thrust wheels. They are not Apples to Apples. I would not mix them Front with Rears of new and Old. All of us that appreciate the first run wheels will always spot the wanna-B's. That said the new run wheels are a very nice wheel for sure.
The Wizzard

 

Are those spokes pointed? Man are they nice!!

 

Yes, they really did good with the new one piece Americans, at least the D's that I've seen, surprised me when I went to look at a set my friend got years back, I looked at the box and it said made in China and I thought oh boy but you know they are/were nicely finished, or I should say machined.
The pebbly finish on the D's spokes was a little disappointing, which makes me curious how they look polished (by customer), don't recall whether the cast D's are offered polished.
Also, too bad the center cap bolt pattern changed as those old cast aluminum caps are unmatched in looks, old patina or freshly polished, expensive now, one of those old caps go for what one wheel cost back in the day.

 

"Argent"... French for Silver. Every time I see this I laugh. I think Ford started calling silver argent for a cl***ier perception.

 

I think GM called the paint on the first gen. rally wheels "argent", had a very slight green tinge to it.

 

There used to be a Guy up in Seattle that restored Americans. Over the years I had him do several sets for me. When the new Vintage wheel came out he did a little magic for me on a pair. I should go take a look at them and stick up a photo. They are for the Front of my 57 with a set of Jennies on the back. This was a few years ago and as I remember them he did his standard over the top work. Hope I still feel the same today.
The Wizzard

 

Torq Thrust Terry???

 

Yep, Terry Vaughn. To bad he dropped off the Grid. Last I talked with him his Wife was having some health issues.
The Wizzard

 

Elco.......My favorites are your 2nd photo down...good ol' American 15X8.5 with 1.5" positive offset. I need a pair for my 34.

 

Here's a side by side comparison: Old original Torque Thrust 15X7's vs new Torque Thrust 15X7's. Yeah there are differences, but to me the new ones are a better bang for the buck. 15X7's are $104 apiece from Summit. You'd be hard pressed to find original 15 X7's in decent shape for much less than $200 apiece around here. Yeah, they're made in China, but that little script comes right off with about 2 minutes per wheel with a 50 grit disc on an air angle grinder. For what it's worth, I tried the center caps from the new Americans on the original Americans and they fit.

 

Good comparo...

 

Thank you!....

 

What year did they add the thick “gutter rash” edge to the outside vs the earlier flat side? (The flat side one posted by the OP with the M&H slick)

 

They also look great with redlines.....

 

Craig
I may have been wrong, I'm thinking it is the Torque Thrust II's that have the different bolt pattern on the center caps.

 

Noting like a new set of wheels and tires. I'd rather do that than spend extra stupid $$ on a vintage set and then not be totally happy with them after they were "restored". Some stuff just might not rub out. Gary

 

Here are my Appliance 15x8.5 TorqThrust clones raw and polished. I had them shined up when I got my Halibrand g***er front wheels. Also had my Buick finned brake drums polished too at the same time. I like them both ways.

 

I have the new ones on my 56. They now use direct contact lugs with no washers. (I personally don't like it). Stock wheel studs from the 50's were for steel wheels only and not very long. The shank lugs worked fine with these. The new Torque Thrusts to me do not.

Gorilla makes a lug that goes partially into the new wheel and doubles the amount of holding threads. (You can look them up on line) If you buy the new wheels please look at how many threads are actually holding on your wheel. You need a minimum of 1/2" and I prefer more...

 

Amazingly it takes 3 threads of engagement on a bolt for full strength. I didn't believe this when I read it in my Shigley's Mechanical Design text so I ran an experiment in the testing lab at Fresno state when studying for my BSME degree. Sure enough I found that less than exactly 3 threads resulted in stripping the threads in the nut or on the bolt, 3 or more threads resulted in a parted bold. Of course you want more engagement than that for a safety factor, one bolt diameter minimum engagement is a good goal.

 

Torana68 : The first series tube type magnesium’s have the smooth edge and the fill facing horizontal. Transition torqs still have the round spoke with the outer edge bead and the tubeless fill between the spokes. Third type have pointy spokes like the 1965 aluminum “sport” wheel. I am not referencing the “D” wheel.

 

I just took some photos of my New and Old Americans after Terry did a little work on the 15" X 5" to get me a close look alike set. My rears are Gennis 15" X 8.5" front are 15" X 5". Terry also cleaned and did a little repair on the rears.
First off the safety bead is obvious on the new wheel and was not used yet on the Old style wheels. Terry cut the step into the new wheel right where the cast spoke center comes to the polished rim. He also turned the scrub line edge down to size match the one on the first gen wheel.
The lug bolt holes were drilled out and spot faced to use matching shank style lug bolts. He also worked over the Cap surface so all 4 wheels can ware the same caps without the wheel surface hanging out past the early cap edge.
So first Gen on the right and new on the left. Notice the location of the valve stem holes. Terry offered to weld it up and re drill to match but it seemed silly to me.
The Wizzard

 

Maybe the tires but the new one took a hell of a lot of weight to balance didn't it?