Magnesium wheels

Cobra Pack · #1 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 06:16 PM

Based on the description, I am assuming you have been talking to M&A Castings. Fran Kress uses them for a variety of wheels including GT40 MKII, GT40 MkIV and FIA. I believe Kidney Beans are in the works which I am personally interested in for my '63 Comp Car replica. He may have SC wheels available as well.

His contact info is at http://www.cobracountry.com/kress . You will find that his prices are very high -- significantly higher than what you are quoting.

Lew Ledyard · #2 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 06:43 PM

Correct, it is M&A Castings. Ted Wayman is the person at M&A with whom I have been speaking. You may be right about the price as I have only gone so far as getting a quote to make the castings/molds for a 15 X 7 1/2" wheel and a 15 X 9 1/2" wheel. I have not closed the loop on nailing down a price to make each wheel after that. I just have not had time to follow up with Ted. Of course price depends on volume. It would not make sense to have only one set made. At 20 sets, it might be reasonable.

Some folks have spared no expense in building their cars. The quality of available wheels (heavy and glossy gray painted centers) seems to be one area that is lacking when trying to build an accurate replica/reproduction or whatever you want to call it. If people are willing to spend $1,000 for a set of tires that wear out, maybe they'd be willing to spend significantly more than $1,500 for a set of more authentic looking and lighter weight wheels. Personally, if they were $3,000 or so for a set of four, I would buy a set. If they were significantly more than that, I would have a tough time justifying the cost.

I have asked Ted to take a look at this thread so that he can better see our interest and concerns.

Cobra Pack · #3 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 07:01 PM

I am all for spending money on my car. Unfortunately, the price I was quoted for the Kidney's was $1500/wheel - yes $6000 for a set!

Sal Gerace · #4 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 07:18 PM

Include me.

bbrown · #5 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 07:33 PM

A couple, few years ago, I chatted with Larry Bowman in the pits at Laguna during the vintage get together. He had Halibrand cast a number of magnesium 427 wheels and he still had sets available. Didn't ask the price as I was not interested in 427 style, but he did run quite a few sets. Might be worth checking with him, if anyone on the forum has contact info.

To 427 SO

Hmmm. Interesting bit on sourcing and cost. That sounds like a good reason the magnesium project I was working on in South Australia in 2002 went nowhere.

To o'brien

Please be careful. I have been playing with magnesium wheels for decades. If one of my wheels didn't hold air, it meant it was cracked. Magnesium castings should not be porous. It casts well and machines well.

Bert Brown

eschaider · #6 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 08:25 PM

This is a page on the M&A website that shows a number of wheels they already produce including what they call a GT40 MKII and also a Cobra FIA wheel. They look pretty nice from the pictures. No posted prices though ...

Click here ==> http://www.macastings.com/products.html

Ed

Cobra Pack · #7 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 08:33 PM

They do not sell wheels in individual sets. They only do large runs and you pay for the tooling. Their wheels are gorgeous in person.

Power Surge · #8 (**permalink**) 10-19-2007, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra Pack

I am all for spending money on my car. Unfortunately, the price I was quoted for the Kidney's was $1500/wheel - yes $6000 for a set!

Do you have a pic of the reproed Kidneys?

Cobra Pack · #9 (**permalink**) 10-19-2007, 10:30 AM

The reproed Kidneys are not complete to my knowledge, but the molds are being made from original wheels. For me, I don't really care if they are mag or not.

If PS had their one piece Kidneys available in more that 6.5" I would buy them in a second. However, I can only get the right sizes in the 2 piece variety from them. I am just not comfortable running the 2 piece welded Kidney Bean wheels after extensive discussions with many vintage racers. Further, the 2 piece Kidneys look different than the original wheels - they look like two separate pieces (rim and center).

On another note - I have FIA/Comp 427 Competion Girling style brakes; original Kidneys do not clear them. The backsides are being machined to clear the big girling brakes since most vintage racers are using the Comp brakes.