Topic: 1970 Shelby Wheels

[ddonzella]

Anyone have a company that can restore Shelby 500 wheels? They're Chrome plated steel barrels with a brushed aluminum spoke.
They are the originals! Don't want to replace them with aftermarkets.

Thank you

[Bob Gaines]

Anyone have a company that can restore Shelby 500 wheels? They're Chrome plated steel barrels with a brushed aluminum spoke.
They are the originals! Don't want to replace them with aftermarkets.

Thank you

If 69 or 70 Shelby the wheel centers have polished spoke highlights with the sides of the spoke a raw aluminum casting . There is no part of the spoke that is brushed aluminum.

[ddonzella]

Hmm. Well mine are missing the polished rib on the spoke.

[tobkob]

Pictures?

[ddonzella]

Hope it uploaded.

[Bob Gaines]

Hope it uploaded.

Those look to have the rib or top of the spoke somewhat polished and someone painted the insides black or dark gray.

[Bob Zink]

There are several challenges to restoring the original wheels.  Many are corroded between the outer and inner sections since they are a 2 piece wheel.  Corrosion prevents reuse.  If the originals are the glued versions, they cannot be separated without destroying them.  The later riveted rims I believe can more easily be separated and restored.  If you do separate and restore them, make sure the restorer puts the rim on a tire machine and verifies runout is within tolerance.  If the 2 pieces aren't perfectly centered, the rim will be out of round on the tire machine.   

I bought these rims in the below auction and will be picking them up tomorrow.  I hope they look nice in person.  I, like you, wanted to have originals instead of repros.  Driving on the glued-only wheels is not advisable since they were recalled and replaced with the riveted versions.   Good luck. 


http://www.ebay.com/itm/261793818355?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[ddonzella]

Thank you! Very helpful

[specialed]

bob did you get the Shelby wheels  as I drove right thru flat rock last week.

[Bob Zink]

No Ed.  I passed on them - the chrome was pitted and rusty.  7 hours of driving wasted.  The guy had 8 rims, but they were all in need of restoration.   

[specialed]

wow they looked good inpics  would they be driver quality as I am looking for some like that ? thanks

[Bob Zink]

The pics on eBay must have been taken years ago.  There was 4 inch x 2 inch sections of solid rust where the valve stem passes through.   All 8 wheels were pitted.  I don't think you could buff out the rust. 

[specialed]

so they weren't new at all a mopar guy selling them?  was he a parts vendor or did anybody know him?

[Bob Zink]

They weren't NOS - not even close.  It looked like they were lightly used, but left in outdoor/damp environment for many years so they rusted.  Outer chrome edges were scraped.  He is a mopar guy for sure and I don't believe he is a parts vendor.  He got these wheels several years ago he said and was holding them.  I think he held them too long in a shed in Michigan, which caused them to rust.  Too bad.  I was really hoping to get a nice set of original, riveted wheels to replace my glued wheels.  I will keep looking.  I need wheels and a left eyebrow.  I've got lucky and found a valence, headlight buckets and right eyebrow on eBay.    Once I find the left eyebrow, I will put the buckets, valence and correct foglight support back on the car.  Topper has an original hood I found and has been restoring it for over 1 year.     He did finish restoring the buckets and valence and they look beautiful. 

[specialed]

I wouldn't worry abut using glued wheels as they are still concours correct & don't know of anyone having any problems with them.   I know where some nos fiberglass is that a guy wants to sell but don't have a price &  has some eyebrows but will check which side.   do you still have the contact # of the mopar wheel guy as I might be interested in a driver set of wheels thanks