Joe,
I have rebuilt numerous motorcycle wheels. Though I
don't need to, I wouldn't hesitate to rebuild a spridget
wire wheel. I've rebuilt MG TC wires years ago.
If you decide to try building them yourself, here are some tips:
SPOKES: Toss the old ones and buy new stainless steel
spokes. Bring a fat checkbook.
RIM & HUB: Bead blast (NO SAND!!) both and paint
with the hardest paint you can find. Powder coating can
cause problems in the spoke holes when you start to
lace it.
When you lace, leave everything rather loose until you
get the wheel in the truing stand. You will need an old
axle assembly to mount the wheel on as a truing stand.
You must true the wheel on two axis. Use a dial gauge.
Don't worry about the jump you will get at the rim weld
seam. There are several good online tutorials on truing
wheels. This is a great one... It is for motorcycles, but
the principles are exactly the same for cars.
http://agwalker.com/wheelbuilding.html
The first wheel will take a long time and you will re-do
it a couple of times before the light comes on. After
that you'll get to where you can do a 72 spoke wheel
in about 2 hours or less.
Cheers!!
Jim - Slumbering 64 Midget, Dodge City
On 12/29/05, Kid Vid <kidjoevid@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I've got a pretty good lead on a donor car that has
> some nice things I want - but it also has 5 wire
> wheels. I'm toying with a a switchover to wire wheels
> for looks and because I want the necessary parts for a
> disc brake conversion for my 62.
>
> There is some minor rust on the chrome. Can I
> sandblast myself and have a chrome shop or powder
> coating facility do the finish? I'm worried that the
> areas around the spoke nipples would never get clean
> enough for a good application of chrome or paint.
>
> Joe Lansing
> 62 Sprite MKII
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