The Jalopy Journal

fifty5rod · 07-30-2012, 03:15 PM

Has anyone tried the Mooneys white wall toppers, I am considering some for my 56" Poncho wagon...would appreciate some feedback on how these have worked for you..right now I cant afford whitewalls but will consider in the future..right now will try them but before will need some info on them...Thanks guys!!

**HOTRODPRIMER** · 07-30-2012, 03:28 PM

Are you referring to porter walls?,,,they are lame and don't lay flat against the tire. HRP

**pdunn10** · 07-30-2012, 03:38 PM

we put some on an early El Camino, we used valcanizing fluid and roughed up the back side and the tire. we let them sit out in the Arizona sun 120 ish until they sat flat. they held and most people did not know they were fake WW. They got dirty and stained faster than real WWs. I would try and find something to give them a thick protective coating.

prewarcars4me · 07-30-2012, 04:21 PM

Easy to spot and look "poserish" to me. Kinda like hemi valve covers on a small block chevy. Wait till you can get the real deal.

**willbe** · 07-30-2012, 04:34 PM

I installed dozens of them in the 50/60s. If you want to look best and lay flat simply break the front bead and using no lubricant place the porta-wall over the rim evenly then reinflate the tire using a rubber mallet(cloth wrapped so as not to put black marks all over the porta wall) pound on the piece close to the rim as soon as the bead pops in place. Continue to pound the piece as you fill the tire with air. Important to use no lubricant and keep pounding, then stay away from curbs etc...............This was bias-ply tires radials weren't around in the U.S. yet.

**Rocky** · 07-30-2012, 04:47 PM

They gotta work better than rubberized whitewall tire paint. I painted the radials on my 55 Pontiac wagon...laid on about 4 coats over a peiod of 3 days...left Omaha for Minneapolis and hit the first rest stop about 20 miles out....EGAD! The radials had worked back and forth, heating the paint which melted and deposited itself in the wheelwells and down the sides of the car.
I hear the porta-wall-type covers will work back and forth on radials until they come apart.
I'd go with a set of diamondbacks next time.

thesupersized · 07-30-2012, 05:08 PM

My mother had porta walls on one of her off topic cars a few years ago(beetle) they actually looked pretty legit, however, they chewed into the sidewall of the radial tire. Not sure if they just arent designed for radials or what. But i would never use them.....

Gromit · 07-30-2012, 05:12 PM

Had Porta-walls on a Classic Morris Mini, They looked good when I had the narrow Bias plys on it, but would not sit right on Radials.

**rld14** · 07-30-2012, 05:14 PM

They don't work well on Radial tires because radials have their strength in the tread, meaning the sidewalls flex a bit. Bias plies have their strength in the sidewalls, meaning the tread is the flexy part.

fifty5rod · 07-30-2012, 06:56 PM

Thanks for the advice guys..anyone have any pictures with them on??

fifty5rod · 07-31-2012, 12:13 AM

Bump

Don's Hot Rods · 07-31-2012, 02:20 AM

I ran them years ago and remember driving down the road and suddenly seeing a big chunk of whitewall fly up in the air. If you even lightly touched a curb it would cut them and that was the end of that portawall.

Wrinkes were also a problem.

Don

guthriesmith · 07-31-2012, 05:54 AM

As already mentioned, I wouldn't necessarily recommend them. However, I did run them on a 51 Ford I had a few years ago and thought they looked decent on an old beater pickup...But, they are no comparison to the real thing and have all the problems mentioned already. I didn't run them long enough to see any of the problems personally. Here are a couple pics.

**willbe** · 07-31-2012, 07:40 AM

^^^^^^ Those appear to be on radials and look good ^^^^^. I ran 'em for years and with care had no problems on bias plies. Some put them on the inside on fenderless cars to have two-sided whitwall tires.

**porknbeaner** · 07-31-2012, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOTRODPRIMER

Are you referring to porter walls?,,,they are lame and don't lay flat against the tire. HRP

Never heard them called toppers but I have seen some that were floppers.

I used to find them on the side of the road alot when they were still popular, they used to fly off. When I collected a full set I would sell or give them to someone else.

guthriesmith · 07-31-2012, 08:19 AM

Yea, the ones on the Ford were on radials and it took me several tries to get them to lay flat. Once I got them on initially laying flat, they seemed to stay that way for at least the time I had them on. I didn't have them long enough to see if they wore into the sidewalls.

billibob1980 · 07-31-2012, 08:30 AM

These are the Atlas branded ones. Make sure you keep the back of them greased with rubber grease or vasoline otherwise they will perish and tear off and also chafe the side walls of the tyres. Just replaced the front 2 and the last ones were on there for nearly 10 years.

fifty5rod · 07-31-2012, 08:55 AM

Thanks again...keep em pics coming!!

Hdonlybob · 07-31-2012, 09:44 AM

Used a lot of them back in the early 60's and liked them...but yes all the problems listed above "could" be a problem....I rarely had any problems with them....and think they are cool today on period correct cars that used them....
JMHO..
Cheers.........

56 Royal Lancer · 07-31-2012, 10:43 AM

I have been running them on the '56 for over 5 years, no issues at all. The brand on my car are "Wegu", came from Germany of all places!
I'll buy actual wide whites when I can afford them, but for now I'm saving up for paint/interior updates.

fifty5rod · 07-31-2012, 11:32 AM

What kind of tires are you using Royal Lancer??

302GMC · 07-31-2012, 11:39 AM

Bear-Foot (?), the maker of the "genuine" Port-A-Wall, sold Toppers. They made big whitewalls into the trendy new "inchwalls" with a ribbed black rubber ring installed just like the big one.

fifty5rod · 07-31-2012, 11:53 AM

Anyone tried the ones Mooneys sell?

fifty5rod · 07-31-2012, 11:54 PM

Bump

fifty5rod · 08-01-2012, 05:10 PM

Anyone else with some advice??

BLUDICE · 08-01-2012, 05:22 PM

Get on YouTube, they got some good demos on mounting. I read that wheel width and tire size can make a hugh difference on the out come.

40FordGuy · 08-01-2012, 06:44 PM

Until i saw them "in action",..they seemed like a cool item....Nice, until the car is driven....... Gimme the real deals.....

4TTRUK

fifty5rod · 08-02-2012, 12:01 AM

Thanks..now 'm really gonna save up for the real deal whitewalls.

Crookshanks · 08-02-2012, 02:56 PM

Your time's worth $$$. Sounds like a lot of wasted time for a mediocre look - and the look is the whole point, no? Maybe look for some used WWWs...? A lot of guys are going back to blackwalls these days and may be selling.

jimbousman · 08-02-2012, 03:47 PM

I put my last set on my '41 SD in 1966. I put them on a set of 6:00 x 16 Sears 2 ply tires. They are still there (see photo) I'm not sure what I did to get them to lay flat but I remember it wasn't easy. I think I had to push the inner lip down into the rim so the Porta was sucked tight to the tire. Anyway the worked and they have lasted 46 years on the car. (46 YEARS?!? Holy Crap, Am I that old)

**RainierHooker** · 08-02-2012, 04:08 PM

I just ditched the Porta-Walls that came installed on my Buick. They look like they wear out long before the tires and looked like hell, but who knows how long they were on there. Word of caution though, if they dry-out like mine had, they can be downright sharp on the edges...

fifty5rod · 08-02-2012, 05:05 PM

Im definetly saving up for the real deal!!

gal6xie5 · 08-02-2012, 05:41 PM

The smaller ones look better and are tucked up onto the tire more. I have one we use for display and it fools the heck out of people.

gal6xie5 · 08-02-2012, 05:47 PM

The smaller ones look better and are tucked up onto the tire more. I have one we use for display and it fools the heck out of people.

**docmike** · 08-02-2012, 08:50 PM

I think I'll stick with real white walls on my car but, I think port-a-walls look great on the trailer that I pull behind my motorcycle.

These are the current offering from Moon.

Doc

**El Caballo** · 08-02-2012, 09:33 PM

Anyone here have a regular whitewall ground back?

twistedridez · 08-06-2012, 10:34 PM

Thanks for the Info... Always wondered myself!

**oldfart36** · 08-07-2012, 05:48 AM

I've got a couple sets of the old METAL port-a-walls hanging in my shop. Found them in the trunk of a 49 Plymouth years back. Talk about not looking user friendly! Really had never seen metal ones before I found these.

BURRITO · 03-06-2013, 01:51 PM

anyone say, revive a thread???

i am a noob to custom car culture but my first truck had 14" wheels with port-o-walls/ white wall toppers/ ww inserts and i have had no problems with them. they dont sit flat but still not too bad... and, later, had to buy new/used tires but they still worked fine on the new radials. i like em'.

the only issue i had was the tire shop guy does not like to put them on... haha so now i have to learn to put them on myself

07-30-2012, 03:15 PM	#1
fifty5rod Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 178	White wall toppers?? Has anyone tried the Mooneys white wall toppers, I am considering some for my 56" Poncho wagon...would appreciate some feedback on how these have worked for you..right now I cant afford whitewalls but will consider in the future..right now will try them but before will need some info on them...Thanks guys!!

07-30-2012, 03:28 PM	#2
HOTRODPRIMER Alliance Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Anderson,S.C. Posts: 17,097	Re: White wall toppers?? Are you referring to porter walls?,,,they are lame and don't lay flat against the tire. HRP __________________ Tradition without intelligence is not worth having. T.S. Eliot '54 Ranch Wagon build photos

07-30-2012, 03:38 PM	#3
pdunn10 Alliance Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: forest grove, OR Posts: 570	Re: White wall toppers?? we put some on an early El Camino, we used valcanizing fluid and roughed up the back side and the tire. we let them sit out in the Arizona sun 120 ish until they sat flat. they held and most people did not know they were fake WW. They got dirty and stained faster than real WWs. I would try and find something to give them a thick protective coating. __________________ If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough

07-30-2012, 04:21 PM	#4
prewarcars4me Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: BHC, AZ Posts: 2,583	Re: White wall toppers?? Easy to spot and look "poserish" to me. Kinda like hemi valve covers on a small block chevy. Wait till you can get the real deal. __________________ Some of you guys are so tight with your money, I bet you can stretch a penny to wire your car.

07-30-2012, 04:34 PM	#5
willbe Alliance Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Great state of Texas Posts: 1,542	Re: White wall toppers?? I installed dozens of them in the 50/60s. If you want to look best and lay flat simply break the front bead and using no lubricant place the porta-wall over the rim evenly then reinflate the tire using a rubber mallet(cloth wrapped so as not to put black marks all over the porta wall) pound on the piece close to the rim as soon as the bead pops in place. Continue to pound the piece as you fill the tire with air. Important to use no lubricant and keep pounding, then stay away from curbs etc...............This was bias-ply tires radials weren't around in the U.S. yet. __________________ I aint done nothin wrong Last edited by willbe; 07-30-2012 at 07:50 PM.

07-30-2012, 04:47 PM	#6
Rocky Classified Editor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Bellevue, Nebraska...suburb of Omaha Posts: 10,798	Re: White wall toppers?? They gotta work better than rubberized whitewall tire paint. I painted the radials on my 55 Pontiac wagon...laid on about 4 coats over a peiod of 3 days...left Omaha for Minneapolis and hit the first rest stop about 20 miles out....EGAD! The radials had worked back and forth, heating the paint which melted and deposited itself in the wheelwells and down the sides of the car. I hear the porta-wall-type covers will work back and forth on radials until they come apart. I'd go with a set of diamondbacks next time. Attached Thumbnails __________________ My wife says I never listen to her....at least that's what I think she said.

07-30-2012, 05:08 PM	#7
thesupersized Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Posts: 1,361	Re: White wall toppers?? My mother had porta walls on one of her off topic cars a few years ago(beetle) they actually looked pretty legit, however, they chewed into the sidewall of the radial tire. Not sure if they just arent designed for radials or what. But i would never use them..... __________________ I like real customs.

07-30-2012, 05:12 PM	#8
Gromit Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 755	Re: White wall toppers?? Had Porta-walls on a Classic Morris Mini, They looked good when I had the narrow Bias plys on it, but would not sit right on Radials. __________________ Tradition is a guide, not a jailer - Somerset Maugham Narf! - Pinky

07-30-2012, 05:14 PM	#9
rld14 Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Englewood, NJ Posts: 1,504	Re: White wall toppers?? They don't work well on Radial tires because radials have their strength in the tread, meaning the sidewalls flex a bit. Bias plies have their strength in the sidewalls, meaning the tread is the flexy part. __________________ Good running 292 Y-Block needed!

07-30-2012, 06:56 PM	#10
fifty5rod Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 178	Re: White wall toppers?? Thanks for the advice guys..anyone have any pictures with them on??

07-31-2012, 12:13 AM	#11
fifty5rod Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 178	Re: White wall toppers?? Bump

07-31-2012, 02:20 AM	#12
Don's Hot Rods Old School HAMBer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: florida Posts: 6,012	Re: White wall toppers?? I ran them years ago and remember driving down the road and suddenly seeing a big chunk of whitewall fly up in the air. If you even lightly touched a curb it would cut them and that was the end of that portawall. Wrinkes were also a problem. Don

07-31-2012, 05:54 AM	#13
guthriesmith Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arcadia, OK Posts: 999	Re: White wall toppers?? As already mentioned, I wouldn't necessarily recommend them. However, I did run them on a 51 Ford I had a few years ago and thought they looked decent on an old beater pickup...But, they are no comparison to the real thing and have all the problems mentioned already. I didn't run them long enough to see any of the problems personally. Here are a couple pics. __________________ H.A.M.B. Chapel Last edited by guthriesmith; 07-31-2012 at 06:41 AM.

07-31-2012, 07:40 AM	#14
willbe Alliance Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Great state of Texas Posts: 1,542	Re: White wall toppers?? ^^^^^^ Those appear to be on radials and look good ^^^^^. I ran 'em for years and with care had no problems on bias plies. Some put them on the inside on fenderless cars to have two-sided whitwall tires. __________________ I aint done nothin wrong

07-31-2012, 08:19 AM	#16
guthriesmith Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arcadia, OK Posts: 999	Re: White wall toppers?? Yea, the ones on the Ford were on radials and it took me several tries to get them to lay flat. Once I got them on initially laying flat, they seemed to stay that way for at least the time I had them on. I didn't have them long enough to see if they wore into the sidewalls. __________________ H.A.M.B. Chapel

07-31-2012, 08:30 AM	#17
billibob1980 FNG Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Gluecestershire Posts: 25	Re: White wall toppers?? These are the Atlas branded ones. Make sure you keep the back of them greased with rubber grease or vasoline otherwise they will perish and tear off and also chafe the side walls of the tyres. Just replaced the front 2 and the last ones were on there for nearly 10 years.

07-31-2012, 08:55 AM	#18
fifty5rod Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 178	Re: White wall toppers?? Thanks again...keep em pics coming!!

07-31-2012, 09:44 AM	#19
Hdonlybob Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brodhead, Wisconsin Posts: 2,603	Re: White wall toppers?? Used a lot of them back in the early 60's and liked them...but yes all the problems listed above "could" be a problem....I rarely had any problems with them....and think they are cool today on period correct cars that used them.... JMHO.. Cheers.........

07-31-2012, 10:43 AM	#20
56 Royal Lancer Grenade Inspector Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 387	Re: White wall toppers?? I have been running them on the '56 for over 5 years, no issues at all. The brand on my car are "Wegu", came from Germany of all places! I'll buy actual wide whites when I can afford them, but for now I'm saving up for paint/interior updates. Attached Thumbnails __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

07-31-2012, 11:32 AM	#21
fifty5rod Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 178	Re: White wall toppers?? What kind of tires are you using Royal Lancer??

07-31-2012, 11:39 AM	#22
302GMC Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,046	Re: White wall toppers?? Bear-Foot (?), the maker of the "genuine" Port-A-Wall, sold Toppers. They made big whitewalls into the trendy new "inchwalls" with a ribbed black rubber ring installed just like the big one.

07-31-2012, 11:53 AM	#23
fifty5rod Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 178	Re: White wall toppers?? Anyone tried the ones Mooneys sell?

07-31-2012, 11:54 PM	#24
fifty5rod Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 178	Re: White wall toppers?? Bump

08-01-2012, 05:10 PM	#25
fifty5rod Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 178	Re: White wall toppers?? Anyone else with some advice??

08-01-2012, 05:22 PM	#26
BLUDICE Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Plainfield, IN Posts: 866	Re: White wall toppers?? Get on YouTube, they got some good demos on mounting. I read that wheel width and tire size can make a hugh difference on the out come. __________________ Why does everyone ask me if my car is a Tucker or Studebaker??

08-01-2012, 06:44 PM	#27
40FordGuy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sacramento Ca Posts: 2,384	Re: White wall toppers?? Until i saw them "in action",..they seemed like a cool item....Nice, until the car is driven....... Gimme the real deals..... 4TTRUK

08-02-2012, 12:01 AM	#28
fifty5rod Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 178	Re: White wall toppers?? Thanks..now 'm really gonna save up for the real deal whitewalls.

08-02-2012, 02:56 PM	#29
Crookshanks Grenade Inspector Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 195	Re: White wall toppers?? Your time's worth $$$. Sounds like a lot of wasted time for a mediocre look - and the look is the whole point, no? Maybe look for some used WWWs...? A lot of guys are going back to blackwalls these days and may be selling.

08-02-2012, 03:47 PM	#30
jimbousman Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Burlington, Wisconsin Posts: 517	Re: White wall toppers?? I put my last set on my '41 SD in 1966. I put them on a set of 6:00 x 16 Sears 2 ply tires. They are still there (see photo) I'm not sure what I did to get them to lay flat but I remember it wasn't easy. I think I had to push the inner lip down into the rim so the Porta was sucked tight to the tire. Anyway the worked and they have lasted 46 years on the car. (46 YEARS?!? Holy Crap, Am I that old) Attached Thumbnails

08-02-2012, 04:08 PM	#31
RainierHooker Alliance Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 574	Re: White wall toppers?? I just ditched the Porta-Walls that came installed on my Buick. They look like they wear out long before the tires and looked like hell, but who knows how long they were on there. Word of caution though, if they dry-out like mine had, they can be downright sharp on the edges... __________________ '29 A Phaeton - '52 Champion - Dad's '58 Apache - Lost & Found '59 Scotsman Goodbye Dad, I love you.

08-02-2012, 05:05 PM	#32
fifty5rod Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 178	Re: White wall toppers?? Im definetly saving up for the real deal!!

08-02-2012, 05:41 PM	#33
gal6xie5 Grenade Inspector Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 279	Re: White wall toppers?? The smaller ones look better and are tucked up onto the tire more. I have one we use for display and it fools the heck out of people. __________________ Wow its Peach...is it a 80's something?

08-02-2012, 05:47 PM	#34
gal6xie5 Grenade Inspector Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 279	Re: White wall toppers?? The smaller ones look better and are tucked up onto the tire more. I have one we use for display and it fools the heck out of people. __________________ Wow its Peach...is it a 80's something?

08-02-2012, 08:50 PM	#35
docmike Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 191	Re: White wall toppers?? I think I'll stick with real white walls on my car but, I think port-a-walls look great on the trailer that I pull behind my motorcycle. These are the current offering from Moon. Doc __________________ Renember, traffic lights set for 35 m.p.h. are also set for 70m.p.h.

08-02-2012, 09:33 PM	#36
El Caballo Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Perth, West Australia Posts: 4,754	Re: White wall toppers?? Anyone here have a regular whitewall ground back? __________________ Road Devils - Texas RDFL