Halibrand Magnesium 427 Wheels

rodneym · #1 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

... hmmm, not to be the pessimist, but I detect the faint acrid smell of a deal going sour. But on the positive side, it hasn't actually curdled yet, so there still may be time.. but as RodKnock would say, "it's starting to look grim."

OK, doubting Thomas's. It's aint over yet. I just got some answers from Richard @ Halibrand.

1. CSX289 (SAAC forum) wants 4 fronts w/ no gold coloring: Richard said this is not a problem. He will quote seperately when he gets the cost finalized...
2. COST?!?! Still weeks away from getting this done. Mid January.

3. WhatsaCobra (2 sets by Spring): Richard said that delivery takes 60 days which would put us at mid March (Richard's words). May be a best case scenario, but still

What if it's April or May? Would you be in or out?
4. Will the machined lips be coated? Richard is currently looking at a new coating for the lips that shows promise but won't have an answer until mid Jan.

Nothing Earth shattering but we're chipping away at it. I'll keep this thread alive thru January. If anyone has more questions, I'd be happy to ask.

Any mag owners want to share with us how awesome their wheels are?

(and you can complain all you want, if they're on your Cobra, they're worth it

)

csx289 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 04:35 PM

Hi,

Well, you call them "fronts," I call them 2 fronts and 2 rears for my narrow hip 427!

I would want them with no coating of any kind, and no paint or powder coat on the centers.

Please send me a PM when you get somewhere on the project, as I don't get to the forums too often.

Thanks!
Colin
csx289

rodneym · #3 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csx289

I would want them with no coating of any kind, and no paint or powder coat on the centers.
Please send me a PM when you get somewhere on the project, as I don't get to the forums too often.
Thanks!
Colin
csx289

No problem, Colin. I'll find you on SAAC.
When we get close, Richard will need to speak with you personally.
Thanks.

DanEC · #4 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csx289

Hi,

Well, you call them "fronts," I call them 2 fronts and 2 rears for my narrow hip 427!

I would want them with no coating of any kind, and no paint or powder coat on the centers.

Please send me a PM when you get somewhere on the project, as I don't get to the forums too often.

Thanks!
Colin
csx289

If you have a narrow hip 427, please post some pics. That's my favorite body variation.

ERA Chas · #5 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneym

4. Will the machined lips be coated? Richard is currently looking at a new coating for the lips that shows promise but won't have an answer until mid Jan.

Any mag owners want to share with us how awesome their wheels are?

(and you can complain all you want, if they're on your Cobra, they're worth it

)

OK all you Nouveau Halibranistas...

In all my prior cautions about oxidization, I omitted one significant factor; brake dust. If you wish to keep them in as-new condition, one season (or year-round) of brake dust will attack them and bore into the surface over time-meaning emery cloth(s), steel wool, wet-or-dry(s)-then polish. Gibbs, WD or anything else won't stop that. Of course you can leave it for that 'real' look (can't get more real than H's) but your investment is going away. Don't expect too much about any coating because brake dust will eat anything. I can post a snap as I'm doing mine right now-if anybody cares. And mine are highly maintained. Also -forget washing the car with a water hose (never did that) if you don't want them to turn.

Share/awesome?-They been on my car since 1991-what does that say about how I feel about them? They make Trigos and Vintages (both fine wheels) look like Chinese copies. Then if you compete the car there's the unbearable lightness. There presence transports the car back in time...
My not-so-humble opinion.

RodKnock · #6 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Don't expect too much about any coating because brake dust will eat anything.

Well, if there was ever someone to put out a fire, Chas would be the man. Talk about someone pee'ing on your parade.

Dumb question. What about organic brake pads? I shop only at Whole Foods and I'm a Vegan.

patrickt · #7 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I shop only at Whole Foods and I'm a Vegan.

Then you should find this of interest.

http://www.slate.com/id/2248998/

rodneym · #8 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Well, if there was ever someone to put out a fire, Chas would be the man. Talk about someone pee'ing on your parade.

Peeing on our parade?
Sounds like bliss

And when ERA Chas said, "They been on my car since 1991", well, actions speak louder than words. Please post those pics!

patrickt · #9 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneym

And when ERA Chas said, "They been on my car since 1991", well, actions speak louder than words. Please post those pics!

rodneym · #10 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 05:21 PM

Gimme a break. Those came off of some Chebby. I'd recognize that unmistakable lack of love and luster anywhere

ERA Chas · #11 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Mag Minilites? What were they on Village?

OH-I know! a website.

ERA Chas · #12 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneym

Peeing on our parade?
Sounds like bliss

And when ERA Chas said, "They been on my car since 1991", well, actions speak louder than words. Please post those pics!

OK Rod, tomorrow-tonight watching the Giants.

patrickt · #13 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

...tonight watching the Giants.

What a bunch of pussies they are.

A real football team loses in the last second because they can't even kick a PAT.

ERA Chas · #14 (**permalink**) 12-13-2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

What a bunch of pussies they are.

A real football team loses in the last second because they can't even kick a PAT.

-And spends for the highest payed QB on planet Earth...

ERA Chas · #15 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneym

And when ERA Chas said, "They been on my car since 1991", well, actions speak louder than words. Please post those pics!

As promised: Photos are adjusted for white balance but not perfect. They're close.
Here's driver side front, right off the car. Note it's oxidized dull flat silver and the brown accent is brake dust. For reference, the outers on all these was last polished to high shine in October. The inners are done once a year (around now) and only to a fine 'brushed' finish then #1 steel wool, scratch free patina. The car is in the North East at sea level.

Next is the machined flat around the knock off-brake dust and porosity.

The wheel face showing dust and fine porosity. Remember, this section highly polished throughout the season:

More of the same:

Back of same wheel-brake dust is heaviest after a year, oxidation is medium dark gray. Note that the Duplicolor clear on the center section has dark dust deposits but this cleans easily with isopropyl on paper towels. See front finished pics:

Passenger front all finished. They retain a high polish and are coated with Vaseline to preserve the hard work through the winter at least. It will wipe off with a little heat from a heat gun and toilet paper. Virtually all except the finest porosity is removed.

A finished rear. On mine, these brake-dust less due to the inboards but are so deep they're still a big PIA to do. That's why I leave inners at a steel wool finish rather than polish.
It's important to remember these wheels are 19 years old and on the car all that time, not in a box in the basement.

I would like to find a shop that can take about a .003" cut on a lathe, front and back, but haven't found anybody I feel I can trust. It's not easy and needs a skilled operator.

rodneym · #16 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010, 10:28 AM

ERA Chas,

Love those brake dust accents. Very stylish.

BTW, I saw on Jay Leno's sight that there's a new magnesium casting process which literally takes all of magnesiums 'negatives' and does away with them. They make all sorts of car parts with them. It wasn't M&A in the video but progress is being made on casting (and probably coating) magnesium parts.
But what's the point if they were perfect? A Cobra is what it is and you either love it or you don't. And we know what trouble you went through to get those brake dust accents just right.

RodKnock · #17 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010, 10:39 AM

Hey, if the magnesium wheels don't work out, then we could always buy a new Vette.

ERA Chas · #18 (**permalink**) 12-14-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneym

ERA Chas,

Love those brake dust accents. Very stylish.

That's called 'threshold braking'...

ERA Chas · #19 (**permalink**) 12-16-2010, 05:37 PM

Is this the extent of the interest-6 names? Don't think Richard will start a run with what we have here.
How many more from other sites Rodney?

patrickt · #20 (**permalink**) 12-16-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Is this the extent of the interest-6 names? Don't think Richard will start a run with what we have here.

Hmmm, it would appear so. And I am not going to suggest that for each set of wheels that Richard might want to throw in a car bag and a Kackel Dackel. I simply will not stoop to such childish humor.