Club Cobra - 289 splinned wheels.

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Hank Williams is the original owner of his car, and I believe that it was factory equiped with Torqe Thrusts. maybe Cal or Snakeeyes Bob can help us out. Maybe check the SAAC registry too.

From the looks of those spokes, I would be surprised if they were Americans-- they appear to be Halibrand. --And spline drive as well. I wonder if there is anyone still at Halibrand with the institutional memory or the files to be able to comment.

David Friedman's book (Shelby archieves) P. 1-2 dragonsnake with the same wheels but those appear to have pin drives or is it one of them bolting-on splinned insert adaptor??

I think Jim Maxwell's car are pure spline arrangement??

Bob - There looks like there might be enough "meat" in the wheel centre to make those pin drive, maybe even six pin? If these are torque thrusts then they might possibly be able to supply them unmachined.

In Friedmans Shelby Archives, there is also an FIA loading onto a trailer with these whells and they look great.

Andy

Here's a 289 with original magnesium spline drive Torque Thrusts. They are great for street or track.http://members5.clubphoto.com/_cgi-b...tem_id=9359351 Best seen by clicking "view full image" button to see the detail of the wheels.
I had to pursue this set for 6 years before I could get them away from the prior owner. I think they are 6 1/2" and 7 1/2".
I have put many track miles on these things. The only problem is the 2-earred knockoffs tend to tighten up alot and are tough to get off because they are so close to the spokes of the wheel, but a big lead hammer does the trick. Forget even the biggest rubber lead filled hammer-it won't work!

Jim,

Great pictures - great cars!

Did they have an internally splined steel insert in the wheels? If not, were the splines the standard Dunlop wire wheel spline?

Thanks,

I measured the "standard" American Racing wheels...

There isn't enough "meat" to use the Trigo adapters. Machining for the hub base would leave too little material left for structural integrity.
The splined Dunlop adapters that we used might fit if the wheels can be purchased un-machined. Since they sell the wheels with custom offsets , that might be a possibility.
I think there's enough meat behind the spokes to drill for the Trigo drive nuts, so using the splines to drive the wheel wouldn't be necessary. The result could, potentially, be a wheel that looks just like the original, but with pin drives.

Now if I can just get someone to pay me to do all the final development work... :rolleyes:

Spline Drive Magnesium Wheels

I came across this old thread. I thought I would post some pictures.

American Racing published this advertisement. I have only seen it in old magazines twice.

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...50AR-Wheel.jpg

Apparently American Racing offered to versions of these wheels through Shelby American, Inc. as both styles were sold on new cars. Both styles were offered in ½” width increments between at least 15X6 and 15X8.5.

One was the “drag wheel” design and is so described in some old SAI parts lists. The “drag wheels” have “bolt through” style adapter mounting. Dragon Snakes used them. I have read of trouble with the “road race” version tearing up if used on drag racers. They say the bolts wallow out the magnesium on rear wheels.

Front side of Dragon Snake 15X6 front wheel.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...15X6-Front.jpg

Back side of Dragon Snake 15X6 front wheel.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...015X6-Rear.jpg

The second version was the “road race” style with “bolt into spokes” adapters. Ken Miles is pictured racing (CSX2431 ???) at least once with this style wheel. (The adapters do not interfere with the standard “red” length drive pins. I have confirmed this myself on CSX2551.)

Front side of “road race” 15X8.5 wheel.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...5015x8_5-1.jpg

Back side of “road race” 15X8.5 wheel.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...5015x8_5-2.jpg

The adapters and bolts for both wheel styles appear to be exactly them same, only the “drag wheel” gets plated washers and acorn style lug nuts.

I forgot to mention that the American Racing Equipment spline drive magnesium wheels are not exactly light weight. An all steel 15X6 70 spoke (center laced) Dunlop wheel for a Cobra weighs in at an average of 23 pounds. The 15X6 Dragon Snake wheel averages a little over 18 pounds I believe. The 15X6.5 six spoke Halibrand made pin drive wheels I weighed were around about 13-14 pounds if memory severes me.

A good friend of mine owns CSX2478. It has the magnesium torque thrust spline drive wheels you guys are referring to. Going to try and attach a pic. If it doesn't work, the pic is in my gallery.
David

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...cat=500&page=1

Any more pics of 2478? Sweet looking ride.

Mike

Just a quick correction. I believe the car number is 2476 not 2478. I bet Ron will have a pic real quick of 2478 :)
I'll see if I can find any more pics.
David

I found one more pic. It's also in my gallery here. Wish I had one of the engine, it's got the 289 w/ webers. Without question this is my favorite CSX. Mainly because my buddy let me drive it :)

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...cat=500&page=1
David

One other interesting thing about the magnesium torque thrust wheels that I have notice (and can be seen in the photos that Dan Case has posted) is that some have an extra web in the spokes. Not sure why, maybe the web was added later? In the photos, the extra web is on the "bolt through" wheels, but I have one bolt through that doesn't have the web.

Rob