Wire wheels
2006-01-10 by twanaldenzee
Who has any experience with wire wheels for a 3 Litre? My main problem is the hubs, where can I find these for a Ford axle. Any help is welcome. Thanks!!! Regards, Twan
Thread
Wire wheels
Re: [MarcosManiacs] Wire wheels
2006-01-11 by Donny Lang
Twan,
I don't have wire wheel experience specifically
with the Marcos, but I am familiar with them on the more common British
sports cars. What does your bolt circle measure? My '69 Marcos has a Ford
Cortina rear axle that the factory (Marcos) redrilled to the 3.75" to match the
Triumph front hubs that were used at that time. My rear axle also has the
original Ford pattern which may be 4", but I have never checked.
Either way, Triumph used bolt-on wire wheel splined
adapters on its various cars, sometimes on the rear only, other times both front
and rear. The GT6 that optioned wire wheels has 3.75" bolt-on adapters that
will bolt onto the Marcos. I have a set of these for my car. The TR6 and
Stag used bolt-on adapters for I believe a 4" pattern, and BN1 Austin
Healeys also used a four-lug bolt-on adapter. Sorry, but I can't confirm the
bolt circle because both my Healey and Triumph are up in North Carolina and
I am in Florida. The bolt circle should be easy to confirm as its the same
as an MGB (the latest LE B's used the Stag 5-spoke
alloys).
Wire wheels ranging in diameter from 13" to 15"
will fit the above mentioned adapters depending on the aspect ratio of the tire
selected. I assume the 13" size is what Marcos used, probably from the GT6, MG
Midget, Sunbeam Alpine,or Spitfire. I think the GT6 wheels are 5"
wide and the MG/Spit wheels are 4" wide wheels. I don't know
the width of the Sunbeam wheels. I am using a set of 14" by 5 1/2" Stag
wires on a Bugeye with a 60 series tire. This setup should mount right onto my
Marcos, which I will probably try in the near future. You will still have to
what your offsets (backspacing) to be sure not to foul
the fenderwells, but considering the large offset of my Marcos alloys,
I doubt this would be a problem.
Just about all common marques use the smaller
diameter splines (as opposed to Jaguar and a few others which use the large
diameter spline), so wheels should be readily available both new or used.
If buying new, I have found that Dayton brand wheels are superior to the Dunlops
made either in England or India, but that's just my opinion. The splined
adapters can have fine (12tpi) or coarse (8tpi) so you must be sure to use
the correct knockoff, and the adapters are handed for use on the left and right
sides respectively.
If you want to talk to me further, send me an
E-mail at indigo@....
Hope this helps! -Donny
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----- Original Message -----From: twanaldenzeeSent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 6:43 PMSubject: [MarcosManiacs] Wire wheelsWho has any experience with wire wheels for a 3 Litre?
My main problem is the hubs, where can I find these for a Ford axle.
Any help is welcome. Thanks!!!
Regards, Twan
Re: [MarcosManiacs] Wire wheels
2006-01-11 by Stephen Spalding
Twan
I had Dayton build my wire wheels, we used the
3.75" bolt-on adapters to fit the wire wheels. The 3.75" was not
used on many cars (some Lotus and the Spitfire). Several owners
who have up graded their wheels have moved to 4" all the way around, which gives
you more rim and therefore tire options. I had my wheels build 14" so I
could have more tire options, several owners have now moved to 15" rims, given
tire options now on the market. I would recommend you focus on the wire
wheel size and tires you want on the car (how wide of rim and offset are
also important, given the limited space for clearance) then make the
changes to the hubs (if any) as required.
Owners who have made the hub changes would be most
helpful (know Don L. made this move), if you wish more info on my wheels
let me know!
Regards
Stephen
#5916T
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----- Original Message -----From: twanaldenzeeSent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 3:43 PMSubject: [MarcosManiacs] Wire wheelsWho has any experience with wire wheels for a 3 Litre?
My main problem is the hubs, where can I find these for a Ford axle.
Any help is welcome. Thanks!!!
Regards, Twan
Re: Wire wheels
2006-01-11 by Don Lattimer
Twan, The rear bolt PCD was 4 on 4 1/4" originally. Mike Denman used to have wires on his 1800. 13" up front and 14" rear I believe. He might jump in here and give some help. I went to 16" wheels but had to buy new alloy hubs for the front. Those hubs replaced the 3 3/4" PCD with 4 1/4" PCD to match the original Ford rear end. Why wires?? Don #3M5759 --- In MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com, "twanaldenzee" <t.aldenzee1@c...> wrote: > > Who has any experience with wire wheels for a 3 Litre? > My main problem is the hubs, where can I find these for a Ford axle.
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> > Any help is welcome. Thanks!!! > > Regards, Twan >
Re: [MarcosManiacs] Re: Wire wheels
2006-01-11 by Mike Denman
Hi,
Don is right.... I had 14" on the back and 13" on
the front (which compromises the handling). I had two different sets of wire
wheel knock-off adapters... one set of adapters were the 3.75 (Spitfire) and one
was the 4 1/4 (Cortina). With this type of wire wheel once the knock-off adapter
is installed any of the wheels will fit in any position. There is another kind
of wire wheel available that bolts directly to the drum/disc with lug
nuts and these would not be interchangeable unless you changed the front
hubs (which isn't a bad idea regardless). I have heard that the wire wheel
people don't like making the 3 3/4 " adapters anymore so you might not have any
choice. The wire wheels are heavy (59.8 pounds total difference in weight
between Minilite mags and the wire wheels), they require more maintenance, are
harder to get flats fixed, and are harder to keep balanced. The only positive is
that they really look great! I traded my wheels and adapters to Wayne Bier at
Triumphs Only in Stockton California (209 939-1030) and he might still have them
if you are interested (NFI).
Good luck,
Mike Denman
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----- Original Message -----From: Don LattimerSent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 8:27 AMSubject: [MarcosManiacs] Re: Wire wheelsTwan,
The rear bolt PCD was 4 on 4 1/4" originally. Mike Denman used to
have wires on his 1800. 13" up front and 14" rear I believe. He
might jump in here and give some help.
I went to 16" wheels but had to buy new alloy hubs for the front.
Those hubs replaced the 3 3/4" PCD with 4 1/4" PCD to match the
original Ford rear end.
Why wires??
Don
#3M5759
--- In MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com, "twanaldenzee"
wrote:
>
> Who has any experience with wire wheels for a 3 Litre?
> My main problem is the hubs, where can I find these for a Ford
axle.
>
> Any help is welcome. Thanks!!!
>
> Regards, Twan
>
Re: Wire wheels
2006-01-11 by twanaldenzee
Thanks for your reactions, this makes it for me more clear. Actually I want to fit 5,5" x 15" wheels, which should fit. So for me is important to find the Cortina adapters. I will contact Wayne Bier, perhaps someone has an address in Europe. And yes, I know there are some negative points for wire wheels. But as you have written Mike, they look really great to the car. Thanks again!!! Twan --- In MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Denman" <mikedenman@s...> wrote: > > Hi, > Don is right.... I had 14" on the back and 13" on the front (which compromises the handling). I had two different sets of wire wheel knock-off adapters... one set of adapters were the 3.75 (Spitfire) and one was the 4 1/4 (Cortina). With this type of wire wheel once the knock-off adapter is installed any of the wheels will fit in any position. There is another kind of wire wheel available that bolts directly to the drum/disc with lug nuts and these would not be interchangeable unless you changed the front hubs (which isn't a bad idea regardless). I have heard that the wire wheel people don't like making the 3 3/4 " adapters anymore so you might not have any choice. The wire wheels are heavy (59.8 pounds total difference in weight between Minilite mags and the wire wheels), they require more maintenance, are harder to get flats fixed, and are harder to keep balanced. The only positive is that they really look great! I traded my wheels and adapters to Wayne Bier at Triumphs Only in Stockton California (209 939-1030) and he might still have them if you are interested (NFI). > Good luck, > Mike Denman > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Don Lattimer > To: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 8:27 AM > Subject: [MarcosManiacs] Re: Wire wheels > > > Twan, > > The rear bolt PCD was 4 on 4 1/4" originally. Mike Denman used to > have wires on his 1800. 13" up front and 14" rear I believe. He > might jump in here and give some help. > > I went to 16" wheels but had to buy new alloy hubs for the front. > Those hubs replaced the 3 3/4" PCD with 4 1/4" PCD to match the > original Ford rear end. > > Why wires?? > > Don > #3M5759 > > > --- In MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com, "twanaldenzee" > <t.aldenzee1@c...> wrote: > > > > Who has any experience with wire wheels for a 3 Litre? > > My main problem is the hubs, where can I find these for a Ford > axle. > > > > Any help is welcome. Thanks!!! > > > > Regards, Twan > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS > > a.. Visit your group "MarcosManiacs" on the web. > > b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > MarcosManiacs-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- >