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Finally!..... Turbine Wheels :)

BigBen

BigBen

1/2 ton status
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For some strange reason I've wanted a set of these since I was a kid.
I finally found a set on Ebay and got them last week!

After learning what Mag Shank Lugs are, I finally got one on the '74 to see what it looks like. I was a little concerned because the lugs were so tight in the holes... but it looks like they'll work.

IMG_3465.jpg

15x10s with 4" backspacing.
The guy blasted them, so I'll need to figure out how to refinish and polish them up.

One question though:

How close is 'too close' between the wheel/caliper and the wheel/TRE?

I've got about 1/8 inch. Is that OK?

IMG_3467.jpg

Right now the wheel spins freely without touching.

Or do I need to start looking at spacers???


-Ben

IMG_3465.jpg

IMG_3467.jpg
 
yeah i think they look good too....but i might be just a bit biased in my opinion LOL

Blazer002.jpg
 
i wish I could see your rims. i don't have access to the members photos.

Where did you get your lug nuts from? I picked up some turbine rims at a swap meet years ago. Only like 20 bucks for all 4. They had bald tires on them. It was the end of the day and he had marked them down from 100 bucks. I quickly got them but it was a pain to carry them out. Took like 30min.

They stopped making these... i think there was/is a limited run for the 69 dodge charger. Anyways the problem was that under stress these rims would shatter. Mine is a mag wheel and the casting does look a little poor. It is not as stong as a steel rim.
 
Absolutely.
I used that photo of yours from the "what will my ride look like" thread to convince my Finace that I HAD to have them! :)

Now, I just have to get married and settle down before I can buy some rubber to wrap around them.

Were yours that tight against the Tie Rods?

-Ben
 
wazzabie-

I found bulk packs of the standard length mag lugs (20 per) at several of the chain stores. (Autozone, Kragen, etc) and Napa has them online if you search for them.

My rims were about 1" thick, so I orderd the 1" shank lugs (longer than standard) from Gorilla brand through my local Auto Value store. The Gorilla number was 74177 as I remember.

You can also find tons of them on Summit: Gorilla, McGard, and Summit brand. Word on the street is that the McGard are the best, but I could get the Gorillas reasonably priced and easy to try it out. I don't see anything wrong with them, so I'll probably just buy 18 more there for the rest of the truck.

-Ben

PS> American Racing still has the "Vector" rim which is similar to a turbine for sale for car applications.
 
BigBen said:
How close is 'too close' between the wheel/caliper and the wheel/TRE?

I've got about 1/8 inch. Is that OK?

Right now the wheel spins freely without touching.

Or do I need to start looking at spacers???


-Ben
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how they balance those turbine wheels, but mine had about that much clearance before ol' schwabbie got ahold of them. I'm not sure what wheels are on mine, the PO put 33" x 12.50's on and the clearance at both the caliper and the TRE are pretty tight. Shortly after I bought it I noticed a griding sound from the front and and found that the TRE's were rubbing against the crimp-on balancing weights. I'm gonna take them back and see if they can use the stick-on kind...
 
Ooooh... good point. I hadn't thought about balancing.
This may get more interesting!
 
Wow, if you had been at an auction in New Petersburg, Ohio last summer, ya could have bid on a set attached to a rusty old '77 Blazer Chalet......

New Petersburg, OH Chalet.jpg
 
Well, mine are a tighter fit than NewUser's so I hope they'll work. I figure that in the worst case I'll have to pick up a 1/8 or 1/4 spacer plate.
 
Thanks Craig.

It's been a long and difficult decision process on what to do for wheels. I've been oscillating between the original steels like you have and turbines. These came up first on E-Bay, so my direction was chosen by the E-Bay gods. :D

I'm slowly collecting parts and hoping to get the restoration underway. I was supposed to start this spring, but I put my K5 money into an engagement ring.

Crap, I get married in a week and a half! Scary. When are you two walking down the aisle? I don't remember.

Anyway, back on subjet, I'll keep you guys posted, but it may be a while until I've got the money to finish the Blazer restoration.

-Ben

PS> Next Challenge: Convincing the future wife that "70's Gold" is a legitimate paint color for my K5 :D
 
Cool Chalet. Looks like I should have been in Ohio. :D

Glad to see I'm not the only one with/that likes Turbine/Hurricane/Typhoon/Vector wheels :waytogo:


PS> are those wheels on the Chalet 2-toned, or is that Brake Dust? Either way, it's the look I'm thinking about for my wheel restoration.
 
You got plenty of room , just use sticky weights and make sure the cotter pins poky tire shredding ends point towards the pumpkin . Mine are close too with my soft 8's :thumb:
 
pauly383 said:
You got plenty of room , just use sticky weights and make sure the cotter pins poky tire shredding ends point towards the pumpkin . Mine are close too with my soft 8's :thumb:
Click to expand...

On second look at mine, I don't think that the stick-on weights will work either. The clearance on the caliper is mighty tight...may have to have the weights put on the outside of the rim = tacky as fuk :o. Now I'm really starting to wonder what kind of rims these are. Could they even be stock with 12.50's on them??
 
Well.... 7 years later and my project hasn't moved as quickly as I thought it would :)

I finally realized that the wheels were past something I could finish up by polishing.
I looked up Scott B. over at Detroit Vintage Wheels back in April.

I just picked up the wheels this weekend and I think the wait was worth it.

IMG_20151122_194226734.jpg 20151120_162636.jpg 2015112095162622.jpg 2015112095162633.jpg
 
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