Halibrand Magnesium 427 Wheels

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

No, I haven't talked to M&A recently.

Not a bad idea, but I've found communication to be overrated when it comes to magnesium wheel production.

OK then here's another thought. Why not contact the nice folks who make the high quality Vintage wheels (by all accounts) and discuss pouring mag in those molds instead of bauxite.

They'd be $600 per wheel instead of $1000. You would have a beautifully poured and machined set with very minor shape differences from originals. A steady supply. You would not be held hostage to guys that apparently don't see the percentage$ for casting 25 sets (initially). They are acting like health insurance companies-they want to price you away -so you don't buy their insurance. With Vintage you'd have folks that are responsive to questions and orders.

The snobs among you would say 'well it's an offshore wheel and not a "real" Halibrand'. The show-off factor is less. That makes no sense unless you want them for a 3000 series car.

Your current Trigos are less "real" than that-they're aluminum, have stems in the 'wrong' location, shape and marking differences. Further, Kress' stuff would not be "real"-no logo or stampings per original. I don't know what Richard's wheels would be marked like.

RodM has made a serious, organized effort to make this happen-350+ posts and 24 pages worth and is still being ignored like a lap dancer with leprosy. Others desirous of mag have launched similar campaigns as evidenced by the multiple wheel threads. At some point you've got to realize these two don't wanna make these wheels for you.

I have no axe to grind-I've got my "real" ones- and have no connection to Vintage. I just hate when a flock of very willing customers with $$ at the ready are consistently ignored with a host of bogus reasons-and worse, unresponsive communication-why these can't be produced. You've got to conclude the message from Kress and Richard is "go away".

Of course an inquiry to "China" and you'd have 1000's of mag wheels in 6 weeks for $199 each...

[RodKnock]

I've got to assume that Bob Lacey, I believe the owner of Vintage, has had to have seen at least one or two of these ridiculous magnesium wheel threads. He's probably staying away because isn't pouring a magnesium wheel a little different than an aluminum wheel?

I've been chasing a set for three plus years now. I think my best bet may be finding an NOS set on eBay, but then I'm competing with the CSX3000 owners, which could/will be problematic.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I've got to assume that Bob Lacey, I believe the owner of Vintage, has had to have seen at least one or two of these ridiculous magnesium wheel threads. He's probably staying away because isn't pouring a magnesium wheel a little different than an aluminum wheel?

Exposing yourself to NOS sharks is asking for an $8K set. You could do Webers for that.

Yes that's true mag pouring is different but my point is, it can't hurt to ask...

[rodneym]

I wouldn't give up hope just yet on Fran. Everything I've heard about him is that "he'll get it done" and "he's the guy to call" with many singing his praises. He's recently run mag kidneys and is always filling some voids in our hobby.

I've emailed Richard twice last week. Still no response. If I call, I'll catch him. Notice the word 'catch'. I'll post his latest today.

Fran did say he'd call me today.

If we get nowhere with Fran and Richard then maybe we can try Chas' idea.
I know that Trigo isn't interested. I'm confident that a min run (25 sets?) would all get sold in a resonable amount of time (whatever reasonable means ) but that initial outlay of cash is the blues that everyone's singing now.

[RodKnock]

If the wheels gets produced....great. But I'm certainly not losing any sleep over it.

Fran said he would call me too. Operators are standing by.

It's a lot of moolah. 25 sets at a cost of about $3,000 set is $75,000. If my math is correct.

[slider701]

With all the effort you guys have expended in posting why not try to source them yourselves??

All you need is a CAD file of an existing wheel (maybe one of you could sweet talk David K. to kick one loose to you or have Sandwich whip one up quickly)

From there a quick email to one of these companies, along with the CAD file, and expected quantities and you're in business.

http://www.smw.com/contents/catalog/id/16

http://www.magnesium-technologies.com/apage/8663.php

http://qhsunglow.en.alibaba.com/