Some years ago when contemplating a new set of chrome wires for my MGA, I
learned that the wheels being sold by Moss and others were made in India. Indeed
I found it true when mine arrived. I'm not happy about that but what can you do.
They are not perfectly true or super balanced so I keep the speed down under 125
MPH on the "A". There was a company in Dayton, Ohio called Dayton Wheel and Tire
that had a good reputation for lacing and truing a wheel. I don't know if they
are still doing it though.
Jim
"Dodd, Kelvin" wrote:
> Hmmm..
>
> Sit at a bench and true rusty wheels for $3.00 per hour for penny
> pinching, declining market sports car owners, or take early retirement and
> see the grandkids.
>
> To true a wheel properly requires stripping the wheel of paint and
> grease. Careful inspection of the splines. Cutting out any seized spokes.
> Replacing all damaged spokes. Setting the wheel on a jig and artistically
> adjusting the spokes till the tensions are correct and the wheel runs true.
> Then the wheel is undercoated and painted with a highly durable paint.
>
> At this time there is no way that the job can be done correctly on
> demand, and be competitive with the price of newly fabricated wheels. This
> is an indication of how highly competitive the British Car Market in America
> is.
>
> The Australian market still seems to have the available labor and
> demand to make rebuilding feasible. I sent 50 of my used wheels over there,
> rather than having to junk them. I got $4.00 apiece which was what I
> figured the value of a used wheel discounted by how many times I had moved
> them.
>
> Kelvin.
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Max Heim [mailto:mvheim@studiolimage.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 10:41 AM
> > To: MG List
> > Subject: Re: sills and wheels
> >
> >
> > Hmmm, Rick and Tim may be calling attention to a widespread problem...
> >
> > My former source, British Wire Wheel of Santa Cruz, CA, has
> > apparently
> > ceased servicing wire wheels, as its costs had increased to the point
> > that they compared unfavorably with purchasing a new wheel. I
> > found this
> > out earlier this year when I attempted to have a pair of wheels trued
> > through my local shop, O'Connor Classics. But seeing as I had chrome
> > wires (which would have been more expensive to replace), Mike
> > convinced
> > them to replace the broken spokes and true them while mounting 2 new
> > tires.
> >
> > I must say that the economics of this situation seem very wasteful. I
> > mean, how many hubs and rims will pile up if no one will rebuild wire
> > wheels, and everyone has to buy new every 5-10 years?
> >
> > I would think that the continued demand for servicing would create an
> > opportunity for local specialists -- but where are they?....
> >
> > Tim Economu had this to say:
> >
> > >Speaking of truing wheels, is there a place around Seattle
> > that can do this
> > >for my chrome wires?
> > >
> > >Tim Economu
> > >'69 BGT mona
> > >
> > >>>>
> > >------------------------------
> > >
> > >Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 19:27:22 EDT
> > >From: Rhbuxton@aol.com
> > >Subject: sills and wheels
> > >
> > >Hi All
> > >I live on the east coast of the US near Washington D.C.
> > Does anyone know of
> > >a good place to have wire wheels trued near me? Also,
> > where is the best
> > >place to buy sills and floor pans?
> > >TIA
> > >Rick
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > ===============================
> > Max Heim
> > mvheim@studiolimage.com
> > Studio L'Image/San Francisco
> > 415 643 9309 : 415 643 9307 fax
> > Studio L'Image/New York
> > 212 242 3366 : 212 242 3399 fax
> >
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