walpal Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 These rims came on the car when I bought it. I liked them since they are similar to Libres' and I have not seen them on many other cars (mostly 240Zs'). They are American Racing "Le Mans" so there is a connection to the classic wheel. They are 15" x 6" (with a 4" backspace) so lots of options when it comes to tires and they fit the car nicely. So I order some tires and go to get them mounted and find that 3 of the rime have cracks and flat spots in the inside lip with the fourth having a flat spot on the outside lip. Crap. Long story short I got some Rota RBs' (15" x 7") and moved on. Pro: I like the way they look, not a common rim, an old school look, not very heavy. Con: They do use the shanked lug nuts with washers which is kinda' funky and my research shows repairs are going to run at least $125 each for the cracked ones and most likely more when all is said and done. They are old. So my question is: are these worth saving or do they get melted down for beer cans? Oh yea, someone wrote TR-6 with one of those paint pens on the inside of a couple of the rims so I am guessing they might fit those as well. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 Cracked??? No way. Get rid of them.... reluctantly, but get rid of them. Scrap, don't sell or give away. 1 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 Sell for scrap, srsly Quote Link to comment
walpal Posted June 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 Yea, I was leaning that way since I already replaced them but just wanted a second opinion. Thanks. Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 While its theoretically possible to fix those cracks, I'd suspect that the metal is fatigued beyond recovery and will just crack again, in different places. Not safe. Those are time bombs waiting to go off. While I;m sure someone would be willing to take/buy them knowing the issues they have, there's a high likelyhood THEY won't tell the person they sell them to about the cracks (fixed or not). Quote Link to comment
jrock4224 Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 send them to me ...... i can do wonders with it .....i will pay u scrap .... bring them to blue lake....got a few sets out there surgically repaired....then i will funk them up for some winters ...after all my avatar is a unicorn ...fwiw...srsly send them ....... i know people have apprehension about repaired wheels ..... i do too at times ..... but those are to funky not to try and save...14's? near a les schwab at all ...????? Quote Link to comment
Ratwagon1600 Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 What some of the others have said i.e. scrap them. You've got approximately 2100lbs balanced on these things, as Datsunoholic said, "ticking time bombs" Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 I think scrap is the safe, honest and correct thing. Sometimes you have to save people from them selves. True, they could be welded up but what if someone was hurt by a failure? Quote Link to comment
Jdm720 Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 Or you can make some creative furniture... If you really don't want them to go to waste 1 Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 If they did come off a TR6, all the more reason to sell for scrap. I believe the consensus on the TR6 was "the epitome of all that is wrong with an English sports car." Quote Link to comment
Guest 510kamikazifreak Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 Sure look like revolutions... Quote Link to comment
walpal Posted June 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 Well I have decided that beer cans it is. I don't want to have to worry anyone being hurt because I couldn't make the right choice. Thank you everyone for chiming in. I prefer folks holding beer made from these (or sodas) since they are less likely to be fatal. 1 Quote Link to comment
Kirden Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 You beer made me run into the street and get hit by a car! Honestly I wouldn't scrap all of them. Take the best one and turn it into an art project. Scrap the rest. Quote Link to comment
Ranman72 Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 only scrap the broken ones I am sure someone is looking for a replacement or spare one just like that they are hard to find wheels Quote Link to comment
Dawa Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 i was gonna suggest welding the cracks, but then i saw how many there were. use them as coffee table, hose reel, or shop chair 1 Quote Link to comment
Radim Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 I'd personally fix them, I've repaired plenty of wheels worse than this, with chunks missing and they've still held up fine even at track events, expensive but if you REALLY want to keep them I'd fix them.If you do end up deciding to scrap them I will take them for above scrap value. Quote Link to comment
Dawa Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 dont listen to anything Radim says, ever! jk. i mean a crack here or there is aight and weldable, but that many cracks is ridiculous. sell them to ^ Quote Link to comment
510T Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 If you love the look that design is currently being remade by VTO Wheels and sold by Dave at FutoFab: http://www.futofab.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=11&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=89 15x6 +3 or +24 offset 15x7 +0 and +18 offset Quote Link to comment
cruznude Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 Seriously, just scrap them,enjoy your beer money any get ahold of Dawa here and see what he can do to help you out. He comes across some bitchin' rims. 1 Quote Link to comment
Dime Dave Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 Old aluminum wheels can be death traps. I had a friend break the center out of a Minilight on his 710 racecar and ended up hitting the wall. Old wheels may look cool but ones with obvious problems like these should be scrapped. Like Bababoey says VTO makes a Lemans that is very similar to the original American Racing. 15x7 +18 fits well on a 510, depending on the tire size & ride height you might need to rool the fender, but they fit quite well. Quote Link to comment
Dime Dave Posted June 22, 2013 Report Share Posted June 22, 2013 VTO Lemans, 15x7 +18 with 205/50-15 Dunlops. 1 Quote Link to comment
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