Rich,
I'm very interested in this but when I tried the link I got a "specified server
could
not be found" error message; tried a few variations and got nothing; then tried
a search
for companies like Custom Built Wheels and got wooden wagon wheels...pretty
cool but not
exactly what I was looking for.
Is the link correct?
Do they guarantee the balance and trueness after welding in the new center?
Thanks,
Mark Noakes
58/56 Chevy Suburban
59 GMC Suburban
"Rich Kinas" wrote
>
> Hey all,
>
> I've been very busy on my 59 lately, finely got the frame painted and most
> of the suspension back on. I've been racking my brain over my wheel
> situation. Here's been my dilemma. I have 6 original 59 wheels, measuring
> 5.5 x 15. These wheels being 42 years old have their share of rust and
> paint. The major problem with old wheels is when tires sit on them out in
> the rain the bead section of the tire holds water and rust love to form
> there. So even thought my wheels look very good the tire bead section is
> very rough and probably would not make a very good seal with a tubeless
> radial. So.... I've got $10 per wheel purchase price, the local price for
> sand blasting wheels is $20 per wheel, bring the total to $30 per tire. ( I
> would normally blast them myself except that it takes a very, very long time
> to blast wheels to an acceptable state using a 6Hp 80 gallon compressor and
> desk top blasting cabinet. So even if I had the wheels blasted the former
> steel part of the wheels, which was converted to rust and removed via
> blasting, is now missing, which makes one wonder what the balancing
> characteristics of the wheels would look like now. So, after so much second
> guessing I have decided to take another route.
>
> A company called Wheels of Steel, www.custombuiltwheels.com, make a product
> very very close to original 59 six lug wheels. I called the owner and
> inquired about the product. After informing him that what I wanted was
> original 59 wheels, he stated that he would go out and acquire 4 original 59
> six lug wheels with clips, remove the center section and remount it within a
> new wheel hub of 6 7 or 8 inches, providing me an original wheel with a
> brand new tire bead section for perfect sealing with new tires. All this for
> a price of $65 per wheel! finished in bare steel. I have just ordered a set
> of 4 and will take some digital pictures of my original wheels and of the
> new wheels when they arrive. Oh by the way I went with the 6 inch wheels so
> that I would be sure of no clearance problems on the front end. My front end
> is 100% original, with all new bushings of course.
>
> Rich Kinas
> 59 Fleetside
> Orlando, FL
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