My car has its original wheel rims in steel. They are 14", currently with 195's. I am keen to go back to a narrower tyre and if possible keep these rims. The edges of three of them have been scuffed a bit and a few small edge indentations after 52 years. I have local place that can refurbish them with sandblasting and fix up the edges with some heat and metal work. However, it seems that Alfa rims are un-numbered or stamped as original and I do wonder about the value of doing this.
Are new steel rims still available? Most of the new rims seem to be alloy (probably a good thing) and most are in 15".
Hi Merv
New steel wheels are available from O/S suppliers, (need to factor in freight costs). Here is a link to one.
https://ebspares.co.uk/part/K/EB2/wh003.cfm
I haven't seen new steel wheels available, but I would just get yours restored or some other second hand ones done if yours end up not being good enough to get a good result.
Many thanks Bonno and Rowan. The ones that are available are all alloy these days and no one seems to bother with the steelies. I also like the steel wheels as they alone allow me to keep the lovely original stainless steel hubcaps. I will see how they go with some work with heat and a suitably shaped anvil at the local repairer. If not then, the only viable option is the alloy 14 x 6 from Classic Alfa.
I have decided to stay with the existing rims and get the rough edges refurbished by Warner's Wheels here. It seems they are original, based on their measurements and other indicators. When I get the tyres off there should be a stamping date and hopefully the CMR manufacturer marking.
None of the available aftermarket rims are in 5.5" nor do they have provision for the stainless steel hubcaps that I like so much.
I am also looking for a decent set of Campanatura wheels 14 x 5.5 (38) if anyone has some. I did find some from a seller in Melbourne but I was asked to buy them before seeing them!
Quote from: Merv on February 26, 2020, 09:20:50 AM
I am also looking for a decent set of Campanatura wheels 14 x 5.5 (38) if anyone has some. I did find some from a seller in Melbourne but I was asked to buy them before seeing them!
Hi Merv, campanatura pretty much means offset and is not the brand. Cromodora or Campagnolo maybe? Is it the 5 star ones you are after or the turbina ones?
Thanks Derek. Point taken. The ones I have seen in images are 38s (Campagnolo or Cromodora?) in the turbina style, which will, I believe, fit my 4 bolt (PCD 108) Alfa GTV 1750. Am I correct in this?
Yes that's right. Just beware that poorly cared for 50 year old wheels with high magnesium content have their problems.
Rowan makes a good point
ClassicAlfa have new (repro?) versions of what you want (I think).
Merv, I am a tragic for original factory parts so would keep the original wheels but respect Rowan's comment.
I had my original CMR wheels stripped, re-rolled and painted and are as good as new. Alfa used at least three different wheel suppliers on 105's and funnily enough, the CMR spare wheels are 5 inch wide.
Good advice and thanks again. I must admit I also like original parts and have on many occasions spend hours refurbishing a part, when most people would just buy a repro.
What ever I do about wheels will involve correctly refurbishing and keeping the original rims. However, I do also like the Turbina look on these cars and would like a set of those to fit. The repro ones on CA are the perfect size but unfortunately Out of Stock and according to Giles may never return.
https://classicalfa.com/wh042-campagnolo-millerighe-5-5-x-14-wheel/
Just an update on the original steel rims. They are off being cleaned up with a gentle medium ($20/wheel), then to get re-rolled and any dents and abrasions over the years repaired ($100/wheel) and I now have the correct paint to finish the job.
Good work Merv...
What shade of silver did you settle on for the rims?
Rowan is correct with his comments too. I have a set of original Cromodoras for my GTV. They
Have a high content of magnesium and are pretty light, but they have white powdery spots on the surface
Under the paint. The wheel place said some of the stuff back in the day wasn't as pure as it should
Have been and can have some impurities that years later manifests itself as blistering etc.
Only way to make them safe was to crack test them and check if they are structurally sound.
Dilemma, do that and then risk your car on 50 year old wheel that could still let go at any time, or just
Purchase a new repro set?
No brainer for me, got a new set. Not worth the risk, they make a nice display now for the man cave.
Cheers.
I agree about the possible problems with old mag/alloy rims. The CA repro ones look great and I will wait until they are available. In the meantime I think I have good plan on the original steel rims. Sliver Argent is generally agreed as being the closest to the original colour. It was also used on some older Fords as "Ford Wheel Silver" (but NLA). Eastwood still have the "Silver Argent Rally Wheel Paint" which is durable and long lasting and will easily take any high wheel temps. Over the top of that I am not keen on the high gloss clear on wheels and prefer a semi-gloss which is again closer to original I am advised (Wurth have this "Lacquer Spray Special clear semi-gloss for under $18.00 a can).
Both are premium products with high quality paint nozzles on the cans to get a fine mist without spatter.
Pity I didn't see this thread earlier Merv I had a perfectly restored set of Campagnolo Turbinas you could have bought.
Now since sold.
Thanks anyway Clyde. I am now pretty focussed on the restoration of the original CMR steel rims and then getting the correct tyres for them. The CA repro Turbinas do look nice if they are ever made again.
Just to finish this off. I removed my old tyres (195x65x14) and found that all the rims are original 5.5's (a mix of 2 CMR and 2 Fergat; spare is a CMR). I had them 'rolled' and the edges tidied up and the centres checked for any plane distortion (not uncommon). Then removed all the paint and primed them. I used Eastwood Argent Silver paint for colour correctness and a Wurth Satin Gloss over the top as I really like the hub caps on the Series 1 cars (and I am not that keen on really glossy rims). Last, fitted some quality 185x70x14 tyres and I am very pleased with the outcome
Looks great Merv. My car is also Blu Pervinca :). I'd like to do the same for my 1750 GTV steel wheels, here in Sydney. How did you locate and choose a business to re-roll the wheels? Alternatively, can anyone recommend a company who can do this (closer to Sydney Northern Beaches preferred)?
Sorry - just noticed this. At the Sunshine Coast there is a place that does wheel refurbs. Old style place that also does steel wheels. They rolled the edges, welded/filled any curb cracks beforehand and check the outer rim to wheel centre alliance (most down do that and they can be misaligned). Then they buff the edges and I stripped them and had them primed again before repainting in the correct silver.
Correct silver ??
There are lots of threads on this, but the agreement seemed to be that it is not the bright Wurth Silver wheel paint, but very similar to the original (and now NLA Ford Silver Wheel paint of the same era). It is a darker silver. I found after a lot digging around and emails to various folk that Eastwood Argent Silver was pretty much on the money. I also used a Wurth semi-gloss clear over the top to avoid the blingy look one often sees.
I am about to have my original steel wheels tidied up.
There was a particular problem with one, which had suffered the abuse of having a tire being (attempted to be) fitted from the inside edge resulting in some edge damage. No one in Sydney seems to be prepared to either roll it back or fit a new rim to it. Does any one have a recommendation?
Alternatively, I am in the market for a used (can't buy new steel) 14" x 5.5" wheel to fit my 1976 spider.
Try the wheelman who should be able to repair your wheel at one of their 2 x workshop facilities located in Sydney. By the way, your Spider looks absolutely stunning and a credit to you for maintaining it that way as the original owner.
https://www.mobilealloywheelrepairs.com.au/
Thanks for the info and the appreciation Bonno. I will check with them in the morning. Jimmy at TD Automotive Parts in Brisbane has 4 wheels for sale but doesn't want to sell them individually.
That pic was taken in 2003 right after its previous paint. It is in for some accident damage at the moment, so I am trying to address all the little things that have not been worth the effort while I was still working. Hopefully now the wipers will park, the lights and the blower will work, and the rust will stop for a while.
Quote from: marcphil2 on March 25, 2021, 08:07:50 PM
and the rust will stop for a while.
Sorry, took me 5 minutes to stop laughing . . . . .
While we are talking colours does anyone know the correct . or closest for respraying my Cromodora cd 35 5 star rims ?
Hi xitsurf
Find attached link to AlfaBB post on the colour for your wheels. Additionally speak to wheel specialist such as the one provided above for advice.
https://www.alfabb.com/threads/wheel-color-campagnolo-millerighe-turbina.695667/
If you are familiar with the Ford 12 Slot wheels (or 5 slot!) then that 'grey' is close.
I think that colour is also mentioned in the AlfaBB post.
Various names but I think VHT make an exact copy of the 12 Slot stuff called 'Wheel Argent Grey' or Argent Silver (Deep Argent is different).
Easy to buy a can and test it out and see if it looks like what you want.
Cheers,
Paul.
As Paul indicated, VHT Ford Argent Silver SP188 is the correct period correct colour for your wheels. If your planning on refurbishing the wheels yourself and save heaps of cash, be mindful of the 3 step process required to achieve the desired result (removal of old paint & prime, base colour and clear coat).
https://www.vhtpaint.com/high-heat/vht-wheel-paint
Quote from: bonno on March 26, 2021, 12:25:31 PM
As Paul indicated, VHT Ford Argent Silver SP188 is the correct period correct colour for your wheels. If your planning on refurbishing the wheels yourself and save heaps of cash, be mindful of the 3 step process required to achieve the desired result (removal of old paint & prime, base colour and clear coat).
https://www.vhtpaint.com/high-heat/vht-wheel-paint
Again, this is just BS
There is NO understanding or documentation of what the correct paint colour is for these wheels.
Lots of supposition over the last at least thirty years I've been involved as to what is the closest colour though
To say something is correct is simply erroneous (and fucking annoying)
Unless you have a source?
Hi Craig
Sorry to have offended, but my post is based on my research and is provided to other users for information to do as they wish. Correct me if I am wrong, but is it not the aim of this forum for spreading the knowledge (limited/extensive) in the maintenance of our beloved Alfas, bearing in mind the SUBJECT wheels.
Quote from: bonno on March 26, 2021, 02:53:04 PM
Hi Craig
Sorry to have offended, but my post is based on my research and is provided to other users for information to do as they wish. Correct me if I am wrong, but is it not the aim of this forum for spreading the knowledge (limited/extensive) in the maintenance of our beloved Alfas, bearing in mind the SUBJECT wheels.
Nice passive aggressive strawman.
You are not "correct"
There is no research that identifies either of these paints (Wurth, BMW Polaris silver, etc.) as being the "correct" paint colour for Alfa's many suppliers of steel wheels.
Your research, unless you are able to point to some AR doco, is based on 30years of supposition and eyeballing by the community in the many forums. It's value amounts to no more than anything said here. It is not a fact, it is not correct, is an opinion - my point
I would deduct concourse points if somebody tried to tell me their wheel paint shade, application and process was OEM correct - it's just a (superior) nonsense.
Noted. ???
Geezuz Craig, take a chill pill .... you wouldn't happen to be a lawyer by trade?
You are correct no one knows the correct shade/colour/mix/pigment whatever of the steel wheel finish. As we know multiple suppliers etc. i mean the spare original on my
74' GTV wasn't even that same silver as the other 4 wheels, it was a matt, lighter grey finish. This was the way it was supplied.
I guess the point of this was that the "Argent" Silver/grey is close to and or a decent substitute for whatever was on the wheels when fitted by Alfa.
It's a free country (i think it still is!) so people can put whatever colour they want on their wheels at the end of the day.
Cheers,
Paul.
Quotehttps://www.alfabb.com/threads/duetto-rim-color.2666/#post-8694392
This link might be of interest to those wishing to recreate the original grey wheel colour