The magnesium elephant in the room

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by rodneym

It's not the backspace, its the thickness of the rim, as in the clearance you need for brakes, but in this case the edge of the billet suspension.
Phil Schmidt said I could have the wheels turned to make them slightly thinner. Not loving that idea. I'm just keeping them as is for the next owner.

And the difference in backspace is between Vintage and Trigo. Trigo same as Hali. Fran, don't know.

So, the Trigo and Vintage wheels are thinner (less material) castings?

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by rodneym

It's not the backspace, its the thickness of the rim, as in the clearance you need for brakes, but in this case the edge of the billet suspension.

Just a stretch here but possibly trim the offending suspension bits? Don't think that would hurt integrity...
Call K's??

[patrickt]

You know, considering none of us own original cars, and after looking at the pics of those new wheels up close, I would say that carefully crafted painted replicas would not only be easier, but would look better as well. Remember, we've already hashed out the weight issue and even Chas admitted that the modest savings were not compelling....

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Remember, we've already hashed out the weight issue and even Chas admitted that the modest savings were not compelling....

---AT THE COST FACTOR IN EFFECT TODAY.
When I bought mine in '92, they were less than half the cost of these. And I was building a car that was 'pretty snotty' then but rather routine now.
Even Cliff 2076, building his race FIA out of tissue paper uses heavier steel wheels.

[patrickt]

... and my point is that there are "restoration guys" out there that could paint your Trigos in such a way that you would swear they were original mags (excluding valve position and the like).

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Just a stretch here but possibly trim the offending suspension bits? Don't think that would hurt integrity...
Call K's??

Last time I looked, the fit between the rear suspension, brakes and wheel was extraordinarily tight.

[rodneym]

Chas,
IIRC, the suspension parts are already tapered by design. Any more would, I'm sure, start to mess with its integrity.
And it is indeed a tight fit.

- stay tuned for a quip from patrickt about integrity.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by rodneym

Chas,
IIRC, the suspension parts are already tapered by design. Any more would, I'm sure, start to mess with its integrity.
And it is indeed a tight fit.

- stay tuned for a quip from patrickt about integrity.

Better that than the person who will usually come along on this thread so they can inform us that magnesium is highly flammable, thus we shouldn't "vape" near them.

Rodney could tell us what the weight savings is in a jiffy since he has both Trigos and Halibrands. I'm sure it's at least 100 lbs between all 4 wheels.

[rodneym]

Probably. The space where the brakes go, wall to wall diameter, is greater on the Trigo/Vintage.
I can't say for sure if there's less material. Maybe the Halis are thicker where the tire covers the rim.

[ERA Chas]

Edit:
My Halibrands actually came from Halibrand and their foundry. Kress' may be M&A or elsewhere. '60's owners may care about that.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Edit:
My Halibrands actually came from Halibrand and their foundry. Kress' may be M&A or elsewhere. '60's owners may care about that.

Other than the fact that they have some magnesium in them, they are no more real than a set of Cragers from PepBoys. And, frankly, they don't look all that good. I know nobody wants to come out and say that out loud, with them costing six grand and all, but they really don't look that great. A talented restoration painter could pull that off with little difficulty. Plus, if you wanted them to look like really nice mag wheels, he could do that too.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

And, frankly, they don't look all that good. I know nobody wants to come out and say that out loud, with them costing six grand and all, but they really don't look that great.

What are you talking about? They look great.

OTOH, beige on a Cobra, not so much.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

What are you talking about? They look great.

You only think they look great. They really don't.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

You only think they look great. They really don't.

OK, how many hours have you spent dragging 2 decade old mags back from the dead and kept them 'show'-that qualifies you to make that empirical statement???

NYG-NOBODY here drags your name into anything useful unless the subject is trolls and posers. You instigate yourself into a subject you're clueless about and are dispensing parliamentary explanations about what's taking place.
You have NO value at all on this forum.
You are living proof that DB's can flourish on forums these days.
Many of us don't know why you're allowed.............

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

You only think they look great. They really don't.

Just like when magnesium ages, folks that are remodeling their homes pay extra for distressed cabinetry, countertops, hardwood floors and patio stone. People pay extra for that "aged look."

[rodneym]

NYG, not sure of your real identity.
Me thinks you're a shill.
Now, who could it be?

[RodKnock]

BTW, Mr. Muck, if you truly want to be helpful, and not a troll on this thread, then I'd suggest helping to arrange for a Kirkham owner to visit Fran with his or her Kirkham so that Fran can determine if his new wheels will fit on a Kirkham with the billet suspension and Wilwood brakes.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

BTW, Mr. Muck, if you truly want to be helpful, and not a troll on this thread, then I'd suggest helping to arrange for a Kirkham owner to visit Fran with his or her Kirkham so that Fran can determine if his new wheels will fit on a Kirkham with the billet suspension and Wilwood brakes.

He could just FedEx two out to Utah and just ask them. I bet he'd get a nice detailed answer gratis. Uhhh, but that might make too much sense.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

He could just FedEx two out to Utah and just ask them. I bet he'd get a nice detailed answer gratis. Uhhh, but that might make too much sense.

That would be a great idea too.

[rodneym]

Rick,

I, for one, did speak to Fran 'enough' times. At the time, I was so horny for mags, I would have paid 'whatever' for mags made from molds owned by........, from a person who didn't need seed money (yet wanted deposits), and would be sold without the backing of a company. But it died on the vine. He eventually didn't call back and my/our list dwindled to the two Rodneys. No disrespect to Fran whatsoever. Those are the facts. Once ALL avenues were exhausted [see below] I continued my search and got a beautiful set from Colin.

What additional avenue was exhausted, you ask? I spoke and emailed Richard at Halibrand, and offered him all the money needed for a min run. The deal: I pay for the run, get paid back (on a set by set basis), split profits with Richard, all the while usings Halibrands 'business' - boxes, name, etc. Richard could save face (he couldn't afford the run on his own), make some cash, and, oh yeah, please customers. But he said NO. I wasn't going to make the same offer to Fran (heard he's well heeled - maybe not true), didn't want help other than deposits, ran mags before - yes, but no name or backing to offer.

Now the wheels show up. Great! I hope Frans sells all of them and more. But some of the 'put up or shut up' comments are unfounded.