What does Oppo think about...

"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile) 01/19/2016 at 20:33 • Filed to: None

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...the American Racing AR61 wheel? Ponder first, and then review the case below.

The reason I ask is actually kind of stupid, and that is that I want to go with a steelie-like mag wheel on the Ranchero, and while JEGS makes a creditable DragLite knockoff, there is a problem. Because of reasons, I want to be able to have on the original Falcon dog dishes. They are just the wrong size (9 1/2") to make work with a DragLite or copy: the edge of the dish falls right on the outside of the holes, which makes installing a set of clips (say, like the VW Beetle used) much more risky and weird. If the wheel web is thinner with no holes, no problem. Oh, and the AR-61 looks damn good regardless. So what I’m thinking, is to have something like this (to scale, but lolPaint):

Thoughts?

bob and john > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:37

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errh. i’m going to go with a strong no....

d15b > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:37

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As it isn’t prone to cracking, go for it! Or setting on fire, like magnesium wheels of yore.

Übel > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:37

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REAL WHEELS HAVE SPOKES

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > bob and john 01/19/2016 at 20:38

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Not even if I paint the web? Stock hubcap/appearance is like this:

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Übel 01/19/2016 at 20:41

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like... how many spokes?

bob and john > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:41

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i’m not a fan of the old style wheels frankly. slotted mags look better, and American racing torqs look awesome on all old iron

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:42

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cragar SS’s or no wheel

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > bob and john 01/19/2016 at 20:44

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Fair enough, and TorqThrust style wheels are certainly a good choice on pretty much anything 60s. I tend to see them more on the ‘64/’65s, though, where they’re a little more of an obvious match than the roundbodys. Compare (roundbody):

vs.:

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe 01/19/2016 at 20:46

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Tough crowd, this place.

Übel > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:46

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At least 4, although three is acceptable if they’re split-spokes because that’s just an oddly spaced 6 spoke.

tromoly > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:47

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Only seen them on Sportsman drag cars, and on the Hot Rod Crusher Camaro. They have a distinct look, not good or bad, just different.

I’m curious why you want to buy them just to throw a cap over 90% of the wheel? Couldn’t you find a set of steel wheels that are the right size and have the provisions to mount the caps, then paint the wheels and be done with it?

bob and john > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:49

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i think it looks fantastic on both. maybe VN500s

or the ‘flat torq’ the VN 402

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Übel 01/19/2016 at 20:51

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brb converting lug pattern

Übel > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:55

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I recommend 4 lug. It’s just better.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > tromoly 01/19/2016 at 20:57

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With the steel wheels of the type that would fit, I’d be in the position of trying to find a steelie of the right offset, the right width, the right lug pattern, and that *just happened* to have a 9 5/16"set of nubs or had to have clips added. Then clean them up, then paint, and end up with wheels that weigh about ten pounds more per corner. And corrode. I decided I’d rather not, and would shoot for a mag if one was practical. The AR ones are only like $100 a wheel, so pricewise... pfft. The steelies-to-spec company to be sure of getting the *right* wheel is WheelVintiques, and their steelies are way more than that.

nermal > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:57

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No. Go for the wagon wheels instead.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 20:59

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I’m going to go with yeah. Those center caps don’t cover the whOle wheel right? Maybe you could look at getting the rim powder coated or even anodized (can they anodize wheels?), to make the hub cap pop.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > nermal 01/19/2016 at 20:59

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_

AKA, “make it look like I bought trailer tires and wheels at tractor supply”. It’s not a *bad* look, but not one I particularly want.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 01/19/2016 at 21:02

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I’m thinking body-color or black on the web, leaving the rivets bright, with a bright or anodized outer rim. That way it looks close to original, but the rivets complement the toothey edge on the cap and the cap stands out.

The inside of the wheel is 13-ish inches, and the cap is 9 1/2" across, so the web area is about a 1.75" band around the cap.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > nermal 01/19/2016 at 21:03

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I have those wheels....on my trailer.....

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Übel 01/19/2016 at 21:03

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I had four lug on the front, but since I had five on the back and wanted a disc conversion kit, I went all five.

DasWauto > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 21:08

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I like the idea if you paint the web, though I’d maybe paint a bit more of the wheel to come closer to the look above, leaving only the outer lip bare. Otherwise it’d be on the shiny/blingy side for my liking. Depending on how big a wheel or much sidewall you’re planning on running maybe even paint the entire wheel.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > DasWauto 01/19/2016 at 21:10

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That’s kind of what I was thinking. End up with something kind of like a chrome lip smoothie, but that’s an alloy wheel, and looks better on any occasion I’m not running with the hubcaps on. I’d wonder about brakes, but I’ve got huge clearance on the front with aluminum hubs and an open core rotor, and I’ve got the Jag axle in back, which is inboard. IOW, brakes should be a non-issue.

crowmolly > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 21:29

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The fake studs kill it for me.

Not an awful look, but no reason to have them.

What size tire are you trying to run?

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > crowmolly 01/19/2016 at 21:47

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Not huge. Wheels will most likely be 15x7s. If you can think of another mag wheel that would work with the dog dish I’m all ears - nothing but the centerline style seem to be on target so far. I suspect the fake studs might look better painted.

Agrajag > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 21:58

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I can’t find a good picture with them, but I had those on a Camaro I once owned. They looked awesome on it.

I miss that car.

So, even if you can’t find a good solution to make the center caps work I’d say get them.

dietryng > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 22:04

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if you like the centerlines, look at the cragar sst. same thing but polished, not brushed.

tromoly > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/19/2016 at 22:55

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Fair enough.

It may be a stupid question, but why not use the stock wheels that the hubcaps original came on?

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > tromoly 01/20/2016 at 08:10

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The stock wheels are narrow 13"s, on a four lug pattern. With the rear axle upgrade, I had to have a five lug wheel in rear, and I swapped to five lug in front with a disc brake conversion. Re: the original wheels, there is no there there.

tromoly > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 01/20/2016 at 10:20

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Understood.

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/20/2016 at 10:39

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I’m completely confused by what is going on here.

I think the American Racing AR61 would look fine with your cap glued on to it as long as you paint the wheel to make it look like a steelie with a dog dish.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem 01/20/2016 at 10:44

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Yep, that’s pretty much what is going on here. Two questions asked are basically “does the AR61 look good as is?” and “does the AR61 look good with a dog dish on it, and if so, is paint required for that and where?”. I can always do a wax on/wax off with Plastidip so I can go full shiny if/when pretending the wheel is on a sports car and not a classic. They even have plastidip in red so if desired operation Red Steelie But Not Really is a go:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pld-1120…

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/20/2016 at 11:03

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My answers are as follows:

The AR61 does not look good as is.

The AR61 would look good with a dog dish on it if painted to look like a steelie.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem 01/20/2016 at 11:06

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It seems to be just about the only steelie-replacement capable aluminum wheel out there. It doesn’t come with hubcap retaining nubs, obviously, but I have a theory that VW hubcap clips and screws will solve that.

https://www.doghouserepair.com/store/item/115…

I might need to test that before ordering wheels.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem 01/20/2016 at 11:09

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A set of these would look more or less like this without the dogdishes or anything.

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/20/2016 at 11:28

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I don’t have a problem with these but they look more matte than the one up above.

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/20/2016 at 11:31

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Interesting. It’d be nice to get your hands on a shitty AR61 for testing porpoises.