This is the first time I've heard about these hubs. Ya know how we MG drivers
are! I don't hang around the FOT list ... whatever
that is.
I have been checking on having aluminum hubs manufactured for my MGB. I would
be very interested in further discussing this with
you.
Larry Hoy
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-vintage-race@autox.team.net
>[mailto:owner-vintage-race@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Jack W. Drews
>Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 10:50 AM
>To: vintage-race@autox.team.net
>Subject: Triumph aluminum hubs
>
>
>REcently I told everybody on the Friends of Triumph list that Southwick
>Machine and Design plus me were working on supplying aluminum hubs for
>Triumphs TR2 - TR6. You may not be on the FOT list, so I'm sending this
>out to the whole vintage racing list. The reasons I'm doing this are
>twofold -- first, to notify any Triumph racers we've missed, and second,
>to ask if there are other cars for which Southwick could supply hubs at
>a similar price.
>
>My message to the FOT follows:
>
>Thanks to all who indicated interest or no interest in the aluminum hub
>project. I just returned from Southwick Machine and Design, who will be
>supplying the hubs. Although the engineering is not quite complete,
>material is being ordered based on the 20 to 25 sets of hubs that we
>think may be sold. I think you will want to read the rest of this
>message, whether you thought you were interested or not..
>
>I am told that the current price of aluminum hubs from Britain is $200
>apiece -- $400 a set. If this is incorrect, somebody please correct me.
>The price that Southwick is shooting for is about $200 PER SET OF TWO,
>including all studs, bearings, and seals!
>
>Features:
>
>1. The hubs will be made from 6061 aluminum -- the best alloy we can
>get.
>
>2. The external shape is modified, eliminating the necked-down portion.
>Flanges are thicker.
>
>3. Hubs come with studs installed.
>
>4. The engineering is complete on the basic hub. However, we are trying
>to upgrade both the inner bearing and the outer one to eliminate or
>reduce bearing failures. We're looking at three possible improvements
>there -- bearings with larger OD but same ID, bearings of more modern
>design with more rollers, or possibly sleeving the spindle in one or
>both locations to allow the use of larger bearings. This technique is
>used by street rodders and circle track racers when they install disc
>brakes, because the standard hubs have larger beraings than than the
>spindles. We are reluctant to get into redesigned spindles. We can do it
>
>but it complicates the project a lot -- metallurgical and engineering
>advice, dealing with the heat treaters, etc.
>
>4. We're trying for a different inner seal, to replace that dumbe sheet
>metal and felt contraption with a modern lip seal.
>
>Finally, we want to supply the hubs with the new studs and the new
>bearings installed, partly to make sure they are installed correctly,
>and partly to give a final check on bore diameters.
>
>Again, it looks like the price will come in very close to $200 for a
>pair. If you are considering a hub upgrade you may want to see how we
>come out on this -- Southwick is shooting for April availability.
>
>And, again, no financial gain for me.
>
>--
>
>uncle jack
>
>Like I said, "Life isn't long enough for me to do another ground-up
>restoration". Well, thank goodness, it is.
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