Halibrand Magnesium 427 Wheels

RodKnock · #1 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011, 11:12 AM

All it takes is one call to M&A. They can build a mold very quickly since they know the wheel quite well having built Halibrand's version as well as Fran's version in the past.

The difficult part is the money. I'm sure $25,000-$50,000 of seed money is required to get them going.

slider701 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011, 12:56 PM

The other question I have is why would you spend $4000 on a set of cast mag wheels instead of finding someone who can forge them.

A set of forged wheels is going to be 10x the strength of cast wheels, and shouldn't cost that much (if any) more to make.

I'd be willing to bet that if you took a bunch of detailed pictures and measurements from your aluminum wheels and sent them to the last link in my post above (the Chinese one) they could reverse engineer the wheel and make them for $500 a piece in forged magnesium.

RodKnock · #3 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slider701

I'd be willing to bet that if you took a bunch of detailed pictures and measurements from your aluminum wheels and sent them to the last link in my post above (the Chinese one) they could reverse engineer the wheel and make them for $500 a piece in forged magnesium.

I'm not looking to make this my life's work. Also, I'm just not qualified to navigate the peaks and valleys of wheel manufacturing.

Having said that, I did have a long conversation with M&A Castings today. Much info to digest, but they could/would build it for us, if I/we come with bags of money. The cost is very similar to previous postings of mine on a per wheel basis, but obviously decreases as the quantity increases. Whoever puts up the money would own their own wheel molds.

It doesn't sound like Fran or Halibrand are close to inking a deal with M&A. There's more info, but I don't think it was for public consumption. Needless to say, it doesn't sound like we're close to having UPS drop off boxes at our front door steps.

RodKnock · #4 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011, 01:40 PM

I should add that you could just make as few as 10-15 sets of wheels, but the cost would be greater.

Personally, if I decided to go into the wheels business, then I wouldn't be doing it for free. Not much money in it anyway.

Where would I put 40-100 boxes?

Cobra Pack · #5 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011, 01:27 PM

I wouldn't write off Fran. Unfortunately, I don't believe more than 4 people have called him. If you read these threads, it seems like a couple dozen people want these wheels. In reality, I think there may only be a handful of interested parties at this small volume price point.

I wanted magnesium kidney beans. I asked for them and I got them, so he will make them --- if there is true interest.

Mark IV · #6 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra Pack

I wouldn't write off Fran. Unfortunately, I don't believe more than 4 people have called him. If you read these threads, it seems like a couple dozen people want these wheels. In reality, I think there may only be a handful of interested parties at this small volume price point.

I wanted magnesium kidney beans. I asked for them and I got them, so he will make them --- if there is true interest.

I talked with Fran early today on something different. As he does not "compute" I mentioned the drift of this thread to him. He said very few have actually contacted him to register interest and fewer yet are ready with a deposit.

While I know Fran is not doing this gratis, I doubt he will pay off the SPF GT40 he bought from me with the proceeds.

Bottom line from my outside view, if you want a set, step up to the pump and commit. Twenty pages of web posting will not wheels make......