Features Vintage front wheels, post pic's here.

NICE WORK! Looks like a great weekend project. Any tips Kev before I cut up all my 15x7's lol

 

I can't believe I just read and looked at every post in this thread! Great stuff!

 

I have seen Ansens marked a lot of ways, some say Ansen on the face between the lug nuts some on the back and some that came in an Ansen Box new with no markings at all (early '70s I believe was the time frame). Mine are marked on the step below the bead Ansen Automotive Engineering with the size and serial number opposite. The serial number is stamped.

It is going to be a while because I got a ton of running to do this morning but I will get you a pic later if I can.

I love the Fenton Gyros but I like the Ansen for the distinctive step at the face. Funny how taste in wheels differs isn't it.

 

My Fenton Gyros mocked up with the front end:

 

Nice set up. I really like the fluted headlight lenses.

 

When did the Rocket Strike wheels come out? I have a set, 15x31/2, and 15x7, along with the spinner center caps. Thinking about selling the 15x7's and keeping the skinnies for a gasser project.

 

Well, I too am glad to see this post come back up, I too am a addict, and my 12 step program failed miserably. Yall' can pick through the rack in my picture here, nothing different than anyone else has posted, top row are 16" pairs, 9 1/2" Ansens, 11" Big Window Halibrands I just cleaned up, and a set of 10" early(?) round spoke Americans, (they have American racing equip cast into the front step around the spokes) I still need to machine the lips to complete the repair. next row down has 15 x 10 round spokes, and 15 x 9 1/2" Big windows, next row has all front runners, early Ansen 15 x 5 1/2" (2 pairs different offset) 15 x 4 round spokes, and a pair of 15 x 4 1/2" US slots polished, Bottom row has a pair of 15 x 6 round spokes, a pair of 15 x 8 1/2 American 200s, and last but not least a pair of 15 x 10 American Spirits that look almost like a big window with no lip. In the rack next to the wheels I have 2 sets of 15 x 3 1/2" Fenton slots with NOS bias ply's on them, a pair of Shelby 500 15 x 3 1/2" slots, and 2 pairs of 15 x 10 slicks, a set of Hurst's, and a set of Firestones.

 

This is a close up of the 16 x 10 round spokes I referenced above, if anyone knows anything about this version of the wheels please chime in, the other pairs I have seen have a large / taller step up to the spokes, and a shorter spoke. This is how they looked when I found them, they had 4 holes on one side of each wheel that were too low and actually would have kept the tire from sealing, or just went straight into the thickness of the rim and did not even contact the tire at all. Rookie move right?? Any way, good thing I have a Uncle that can weld anything and had some magnesium rod, he got them all filled and semi finished them with no porosity in any of the welds. Tough to fill up a blind hole eh???

 

First step to realizing you have a problem, is admitting you have a problem...Good for you!! (I'm jealous!)

 

used for weights to balance them (racing rims who cared)

 

Bought a set of International Dragmasters from a fellow HAMBer. The fronts had been narrowed to 4.75" by Eric Vaughn (the rears are 8.5"). Going on my '23 T tub project!

 

Beautiful.
Are the centers as-cast aluminum or are they painted? If painted, do you know what paint?
Thanks,
Gary

 

They're painted an aluminum/silver. Haven't decided if they'll stay that way or end up a darker color.

 

Either way they'll look great. That "shiny rim/gray spoke" look is hard to beat for a serious-looking hot rod.

 

The wheel may have been a foundry test, checking wall thickness variation and shrinkage after machining. We routinely drill holes as it is an easy may to check wall thickness, but when we are done we also cut a large pie out before scraping. This prevents someone from buying from the scrap man and using a wheel th a time may not have been heatreated.

 

Here's a pair that are on a project that I recently bought. If you zoom in, it says "Palamides" instead of "American Racing". Any idea if these were early wheels before the start of American Racing?

 

I dont know who took this photo so i cant give credit unfortunately, but its of my car.
15x4 magnesium Americans.

 

bald1: The 1st ad I have found showing the early spindle mounts is HRM June of 1959, this ad is American Racing on Florida st in San Fran. The 1st Palamides listing I've found is in HRM "whats new" column January 1957, only mentioning the 4 hole rear type. Sooo... I would think your pair were made sometime between Jan '57 and June of '59 ; pretty RARE puppy's...very cool!

 

Romeo Palmides started AR with a partner......I think the partner bought him out for 1/2 ownership of a $5000 race car........and I think I've made some financial mistakes

 

great site thanks to all that have posted

 

My father in-law has a pair of these wheels in 14x6 he is going to use on the front of his 56' Ford Victoria gasser. We were wondering what brand they were as well. I did some searching through this thread and can not seem to find a response. Anybody know? They have a nice look to them.
Greg

 

They sure look like Keystones to me.

 

The wheels pictured in the post from 2011 are CRAGAR Grand Prix. You can tell from the steel edge protruding past the aluminum edge on the front face. Also they have a "C" indentation next to the lug holes. If they were cleaned real well there would also be a C.I. (CRAGAR INDUSTRIES) cast onto the backside of one of the spokes. I have a pair of 15 X 6. They use the short fat center caps. there were many companies making a 2 piece cheap version of the 5 spoke but as far as I know or have seen only the CRAGAR have the features I mentioned

 

I hope these aren't to OT... I picked up a set of direct drill Keystones a while back 15"x4"
They could be late 60's or early 70's but I have seen them on period super stock cars from the 60's

 

Excelent. Thanks for the info. We were going to blast and repaint them. I am sure after going through the blast cabinet we will spot some lettering or words. The ones you pictured are just like them. His centre caps are missing of course. I think with some clean up they will look great. Bummer his are 14" but with some tall skinny 14" tires they should look fine. I will have to post the 15x4" Cragar SS and redline Michelin tires I picked up for my 55' chevy. I just haven't taken pictures of them yet.
Greg

 

I love this thread!

 

15 x4 American magnesium 5 spokes from 1963 according to the guy I bought them from

 

I've bought another set of skinny slots that I can't find a name on. They say for racing use only on the back and that's all I see.

 

Those look exactly like a set I ran on a 55 Chevy... I think they're Ansens.

You'll have to take the tire off the rim to see to see the makers mark.

It should be on the very inside of the center inner ring.