The magnesium elephant in the room - Page 3

ERA Chas · #41 (**permalink**) 08-12-2014, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

All one has to do is compare yours, after your labor of love

, and one can tell the others don't look nearly as nice. Surely you would agree with that.

OK big hug.

But you know that's unimportant to many mag owners. They go out of their way to age and distress them-or let them turn to salt. Pitting and porosity the two huge issues to longevity.
So these are not too much rougher than when bought and used in the day. They weren't icons back then, just holding up the corners...

RodKnock · #42 (**permalink**) 08-12-2014, 10:24 PM

Quote:

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."

Mark IV · #43 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

And secondly, do you know how many countless emails Rodneym and I have made to Fran over the years about mag wheels?

Well there's your problem! Everyone knows you call, you don't email unless you DON'T want a reply.

I have seen the wheels and they are nice. They can be done in custom backspacing or pin configurations. They are real. And they didn't need "deposit money to fund the production" as someone charged in the last thread about these.

I have no skin in the game, these are not my wheels but they are being sold by a friend so I am posting what I know to be true.

fordracing65 · #44 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 05:57 AM

I like the wheels that came with my Kirkham, work great for me and were free with the car...

fordracing65 · #45 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

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."

There are a lot of people out there with more money than brains, if you got the cash, why not, that's what I say, so will someone buy these for me, my B day is August 20th, those would look nice on my Kirkham, thanks...or just get me one ill pick up the rest...

RodKnock · #46 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark IV

Well there's your problem! Everyone knows you call, you don't email unless you DON'T want a reply.

I have seen the wheels and they are nice. They can be done in custom backspacing or pin configurations. They are real. And they didn't need "deposit money to fund the production" as someone charged in the last thread about these.

I have no skin in the game, these are not my wheels but they are being sold by a friend so I am posting what I know to be true.

You purposely deleted "phone calls" from my post, not sure why other than to create hostility and problems. Fran and I have spoken on the phone many times. But, believe or not, Fran does answer emails too, including a few yesterday.

As for someone charging that Fran needed deposit money to fund the production of the wheels, Fran did previously ask for deposits and his wheels weren't in production at the time of taking those deposits. The deposit money was to used for funding the production run. That fact is indisputable.

These wheels today will be made to a buyer's spec. You only have to prepay $6,000.

RodKnock · #47 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 08:24 AM

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 · #48 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 09:38 AM

Quote:

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 · #49 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 10:05 AM

Quote:

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 · #50 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 10:41 AM

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.

1985 CCX · #51 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 10:50 AM

I bought a set.............

Hard to do but worth every penny................

patrickt · #52 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneym

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

Uhhh, maybe if you paid to have Fran's wheels sent to Utah for a test fit, then everyone would feel better about themselves....

Round trip postage, of course.

RodKnock · #53 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 11:04 AM

I can't remember the person's name, but I spoke via telephone with someone at M&A Casting a couple times. We were hatching a plan to create new molds for $10,000 and then new wheels at a cost roughly about $800-$900 per wheel. M&A Casting wanted a minimum production run of 15-20 sets of wheels. Total cost of $75,000 +/-, but I had two fears. One, I didn't want to go into the wheel business, because I know I would lose money. And two, I thought my house would be filled to the ceiling with boxes everywhere.

rodneym · #54 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 11:05 AM

Naw.
The offer is: If I'm to pay for postage, I'd be happy to accept and test the wheels at casa de Rodney.
Returned, of course.

RodKnock · #55 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

I bought a set.............

Hard to do but worth every penny................

Did you buy a set of Halibrands or a set of Kress wheels?

patrickt · #56 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneym

Naw.
The offer is: If I'm to pay for postage, I'd be happy to accept and test the wheels as casa de Rodney.
Returned, of course.

You know, that's a damn fair offer. If I were Fran, I'd take you up on it. Am I right that all you need to do is put them on the hub, tighten down the spinner, and then spin them with the car up in the air to see if they clear? No need to mount tires and ride, right?

RodKnock · #57 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

You know, that's a damn fair offer. If I were Fran, I'd take you up on it. Am I right that all you need to do is put them on the hub, tighten down the spinner, and then spin them with the car up in the air to see if they clear? No need to mount tires and ride, right?

I think you would need to mount tires and road test them. As I mentioned before, the fit back there is VERY tight, especially with the emergency brake setup, IIRC.

Mark IV · #58 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

And two, I thought my house would be filled to the ceiling with boxes everywhere.

Thus the deposit requirement, eliminates the "yes I want a set" guy who then says when they are ready "but, gee I don't have the money/car/desire, etc."

And yes, Fran does now use email but that is a VERY recent development.

RodKnock · #59 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark IV

Thus the deposit requirement, eliminates the "yes I want a set" guy who then says when they are ready "but, gee I don't have the money/car/desire, etc.

Duh, what's your point? Fran wanted deposits. Fran was going to pay for the wheels to be produced. Whether he got the money from the account with the deposit money (or not) is moot. Once he had X amount of deposits, he would then proceed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark IV

And yes, Fran does now use email but that is a VERY recent development.

Well, that's weird. My first email exchange with him was November 19, 2010. And there are "too many to count" emails from him over the last 4 years.

Dimis · #60 (**permalink**) 08-13-2014, 11:51 AM

If I had the coin... I'd probably roll the dice and buy a set irrespective of them not being hallibrand badged. I'll wait for those lotto numbers of mine to come up.

In the mean time Fran would do well to speak with Kirkham and the shelby boys about adding it as an option to their spec sheets.

Just sayin'