Restoring Simmons Wheels

Started by shane wescott, May 02, 2009, 11:23:57 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Colin Edwards

Dismantled the offending wheel and halfway through cleaning for re-assembly. 
See attached pikkies of failed screw, complete screw, new bolt and before and after cleaning
New titanium bolts / nuts will reduce overall wheel weight by a bit over 400g.
Present
2023 Tonale Veloce
2018 Abarth 124 Spider
1987 75 3.0

Past
2020 Giulietta Veloce
2015 Giulietta QV
2009 159 3.2 Ti Q4
2012 Giulietta TCT Veloce
2006 147 Ti 2 door Selespeed
1979 Alfasud Ti 1.5

Colin Edwards

Another pikkie
Present
2023 Tonale Veloce
2018 Abarth 124 Spider
1987 75 3.0

Past
2020 Giulietta Veloce
2015 Giulietta QV
2009 159 3.2 Ti Q4
2012 Giulietta TCT Veloce
2006 147 Ti 2 door Selespeed
1979 Alfasud Ti 1.5

Colin Edwards

Another
Present
2023 Tonale Veloce
2018 Abarth 124 Spider
1987 75 3.0

Past
2020 Giulietta Veloce
2015 Giulietta QV
2009 159 3.2 Ti Q4
2012 Giulietta TCT Veloce
2006 147 Ti 2 door Selespeed
1979 Alfasud Ti 1.5

Colin Edwards

last one!
Present
2023 Tonale Veloce
2018 Abarth 124 Spider
1987 75 3.0

Past
2020 Giulietta Veloce
2015 Giulietta QV
2009 159 3.2 Ti Q4
2012 Giulietta TCT Veloce
2006 147 Ti 2 door Selespeed
1979 Alfasud Ti 1.5

poohbah

24 hours on after a good couple of hours "vigourous" driving, and my replacement bolts are still holding fast, no loss of tyre pressure ...

Now I actually have to get around to replacing the tyres. Need 205/55/R15s - any recommendations? (The Goodyear Eagles now on the car are apparently no longer available in that size)

Within reason - don't need ultra expensive semi slicks.
Now:    2002 156 GTA
            1981 GTV
Before: 1999 156 V6 Q-auto
            2001 156 V6 (sadly cremated)

Colin Edwards

Wheel back in one piece!
A day or two for the sealant to dry, fit the tyre and find out if the air stays where its supposed to!
Present
2023 Tonale Veloce
2018 Abarth 124 Spider
1987 75 3.0

Past
2020 Giulietta Veloce
2015 Giulietta QV
2009 159 3.2 Ti Q4
2012 Giulietta TCT Veloce
2006 147 Ti 2 door Selespeed
1979 Alfasud Ti 1.5

poohbah

Now:    2002 156 GTA
            1981 GTV
Before: 1999 156 V6 Q-auto
            2001 156 V6 (sadly cremated)

poohbah

#37
Hey Colin, once I got all the grime off and had some decent light I could see my original bolts were also stamped 12.9 on one side and HM on the other.

What make, type and spec are the new bolts you bought and where did you get them?

Just to close things out - I've just contacted a local supplier in Perth (L&T Venables) which sells the correct bolts (in black too) off the shelf.
Now:    2002 156 GTA
            1981 GTV
Before: 1999 156 V6 Q-auto
            2001 156 V6 (sadly cremated)

Colin Edwards

Steel 12 point flange bolts / nuts are from
http://www.magwheelcentre.com.au/
Peter West is a top bloke!

The titanium equivalent bolts / nuts I purchased from
http://www.racebolts.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=44_54&products_id=92

All are class 8 items.  The class 12.9 bolts are way too hard.  No point using way over spec steel bolts to hold aluminium together in tension.  The aluminium would (should!) fail well before the steel screw would. 


Present
2023 Tonale Veloce
2018 Abarth 124 Spider
1987 75 3.0

Past
2020 Giulietta Veloce
2015 Giulietta QV
2009 159 3.2 Ti Q4
2012 Giulietta TCT Veloce
2006 147 Ti 2 door Selespeed
1979 Alfasud Ti 1.5

aggie57

Interesting thread.  I refinished a set of B45's many years ago: pulled the centre off, sandblasted and repainted that and polished the rims.  Simmons told me at the time that as long as I didn't disturb the seal between the two halves I could just refit the centre with new bolts.  I'm pretty sure the original bolts and nuts are still sitting on the shelf in my garage in Surrey Hills.

Anyway, they came up a treat.  And I see the current Simmons are still offering not just the B45 but also the earlier V5.  Wow!
Alister
14 Alfa's since 1977. 
Currently 1973 GTV 2000, 2020 911 C2S MT, 2021 Mercedes GLE350, 2023 Polestar 2 LRDM
Gone......far too many to list

Alfetta77

#40
Hi all, I am restoring some Simmons wheels that seem a little different...interested in any info / experience anyone may have.
They are 15 x 6.5 inch v4s, 4x98, two piece.
Bolts are smaller than the 3-piece Simmons, and after a lot of measuring and fiddly metric / imperial converting, I figured out they are 1/4 x 28 UNF, and I needed a 3/16 key to get one out.
The nuts are also different in that they have a sleeve that slots into the rim (see pics).
Was surprised as I have only heard of metric bolts on Simmons wheels?
I'm thinking I'll buy some new bolts https://www.boltandnut.com.au/screws/socket-allen-screws/socket-head-cap/1-4-x-28-tpi-unf-plain-black-grade-12-9-socket-3-16-key-head-cap-screws.html and clean up and re-use the existing nuts as I have no idea where I would get something similar!
Inners and rim will be vapour blasted and the inners painted.
Thinking I'll get ACE Wheels in Braeside to clean up and polish the outer lip and do the final re-assembly - I'm not sure of the torque settings for the bolts.

Current:  Alfetta GTV 1977 Silver
Previous: Alfetta GTV 1980 Red

bonno

#41
Hi Alfetta77
Find attached link to Simmons wheels website (refer to  parts menu).
https://www.simmonswheels.com.au/parts/

ALFAAA

#42
Hey guys I had not issue with sealing my 1984 Simmons 3p Rims.
Just make sure you use the correct anti corrotion silicone.

My centres were green and I refurbish them back to gold.
Current :2004 916 V6 3.2 Spider (baby)
             :Alfetta GTV6 1984 3.2 24v
             :2024 Tonale Veloce SUV

Past       :Alfetta GTV  1977
             :147 Selespeed 2002

ALFAAA

More Photos :)
Current :2004 916 V6 3.2 Spider (baby)
             :Alfetta GTV6 1984 3.2 24v
             :2024 Tonale Veloce SUV

Past       :Alfetta GTV  1977
             :147 Selespeed 2002

bonno

Nice job on restoring the wheels ALFAA. In the past I found Dow Corning 832 sealant a great product for such an application (pressure, temperature and dissimilar materials).