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Projects Paint Torq Thrust Centers to match Car?

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by jaw22w, Jun 8, 2019.

  1. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,757

    Deuces

    Me likey!:)
     
    OLSKOOL57 likes this.
  2. jnaki
    Joined: Jan 1, 2015
    Posts: 9,295

    jnaki




    Hello,
    When the American Racing Corp, Torq Thrust Wheels came on the market, they were out of reach of most hot rod guys/girls. Unless, of course, the time honored thing of deep pocketbooks of parents or grandparents and sponsors. The problem with painting real Torq Thrust Wheels is that no one in our hot rod world would spend that kind of money and then ruin it by painting it to match anything. These were/are the epitome of the hot rod look that came from drag racing.

    This is as close to looking like a race car as you can get without robbing a bank to get real Halibrand Magnesium wheels. But, those mag wheels for the street were in its infancy just because of the super high cost. Plus, they weren’t made for long distance, daily grind of bumps, curbs, and dips of everyday driving.

    In our Bixby Knolls hot rod central area, those Torq Thrust wheels did show up eventually, but they were not on all of the hot rods and definitely not painted. Now, those odd occurences could have been done elsewhere in the USA, during those drug crazed 70s, but the styles change and not always for the better. It was the race car look that highlighted the classiest of hot rods and sedans
    upload_2019-6-11_4-29-0.png Our new set made the stock car look like a show/race car, just by adding 4 new American Racing Torq Thrust Wheels. It would have looked awful painted a matching blue.

    Jnaki

    On our early hot rods, we definitely wanted American Racing Torq Thrust Wheels. But the cost out weighed the needs elsewhere in our builds. We were saving as much as we could in 1960 for a set of those or Halibrands to top off our final finishing touches in our Willys Coupe in C/Gas.

    If being PERIOD CORRECT is high on your list, don’t do it. If you want to show how far one will go to get comments on the looks, go for it. There is no need to add anything to a classic and keep the stylish look that was the mag wheel of its time.


    “The early Torq-Thrusts could be considered to be the definitive aluminum hot rod wheel.

    Early Torq-Thrusts are easily the most widely-copied aftermarket wheel in history. Versions of it have been produced by many companies.”


     
    chevy57dude, jaw22w and bowie like this.
  3. denis4x4
    Joined: Apr 23, 2005
    Posts: 4,198

    denis4x4
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Colorado

    Had a black off topic SUV with a dove gray valance and had the factory mags powder painted to match the valance. Subtle, but effective.
     
    46Chief and Deuces like this.
  4. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Tommy Ivo painted his T.T. spokes black on his Chrys Hemi powered digger. He said it kept it 'business like'.
    I got my first Torque Thrusts in 1962, brand new, $62 each. (magnesium) My nice Washington Blue '46 Ford club coupe deserved 'em.
    Opening the boxes on Grandma's living room carpet, I was aghast at the note in the second box.
    "If used on streets and roads, these wheels must be removed every 60 days and X-rayed for cracks."

    Worse yet was the reaction of all the guys at the drive in. "Ugh! What's with the 'truck wheels'? Put the dumped Mercs and caps back on..."

    I had lusted for these wheels, only other guy with American Torque Thrusts was Sam the Barber, on his red '62 409. Ran Firestone Darlington race tires, all around.
    Took awhile for my critics to warm up to them, I just loved 'em.
    Someone said I should paint the spokes to match the car! I asked him if he was silly.
     
  5. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,757

    Deuces

    They look great with or without paint... VN309_15x7_Painted_Gray_W_Machined_Lip_Face-1000.jpg 13437792346325.jpg w20-v.jpg DSC_0330.JPG
     
  6. JRussell
    Joined: Nov 21, 2003
    Posts: 491

    JRussell
    Member

    I painted mine gold , I love the T/t on yours ! .. what did you do with the wires ???? [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
    Deuces and catdad49 like this.
  7. scratch
    Joined: Nov 27, 2009
    Posts: 36

    scratch
    Member

    I have early Appliance 5 spokes with painted matt black centres, I like them
    [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
     
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  8. Greg Rogers
    Joined: Oct 11, 2016
    Posts: 802

    Greg Rogers
    Member

    The only wheel I can think of that is normally body color is the Olds super stock wheels. I like the look of them and I think they look odd when painted black or silver. I realize these are like apples to oranges as comparisons. But I wonder what a torque thrust wheel would look like in body color, don't think I've ever seen it done before. Can someone photo shop a pic?
     
  9. Dan in Pasadena
    Joined: Sep 11, 2009
    Posts: 867

    Dan in Pasadena
    Member

  10. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,802

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'll ask this because no one else has. Show us a photos of: yellow, blue, red, brown, white, green, etc cars with them painted to match you will see why.. Black, gray, gold, cars don't count.
     
  11. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,144

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Just because I didn't say it doesn't mean I didn't think it!!!
     
    jimmy six likes this.
  12. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,335

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

  13. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    I have a set vintage Sprints (just like Torque Thrusts. Thinking I will put my M/T spinners on. Maybe you could do similar.
     
  14. wildwest
    Joined: Jan 20, 2007
    Posts: 373

    wildwest
    Member

    I remember a few body color spokes on different cars, when done right I don't think it looks bad ? The two I can think of are some kind of muscle car (GTO, Chevelle, ?) that was dark maroon with matched spokes and nice chrome lugnuts and caps, sitting low, looked good! and I remember something that was bright turquoise but I cant' remember what kind of car? It's only paint, if you decide to, do one side and if you don't like it blast it back off ! I have factory black spokes on my 65 Mustang, and had raw spokes on my last 32. My favorite wheels for the last 30 years !
     
    Deuces likes this.
  15. Terrible80
    Joined: Oct 1, 2010
    Posts: 785

    Terrible80
    Member

    Just an fyi- Jegs has Torque Thrust II wheels on sale. They have a curved spoke- don't know if they are considered trad. 14 & 15's also.

    Sent from my LG-TP450 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    Deuces likes this.
  16. bowie
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,098

    bowie
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I’ve stripped paint OFF quite a few!
     
  17. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,144

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Based on how you worded this (14" & 15" also) I'm gonna say no, not traditional.
    Those large diameter wheels with the curved spoke always looked odd to me.
     
  18. Terrible80
    Joined: Oct 1, 2010
    Posts: 785

    Terrible80
    Member

  19. Mike
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 3,540

    Mike
    Member

    Torque Thrust IIs are American's modernized version of the curved spoke Torque Thrust D wheel. (modern, not traditional)

    Their Torque Thrust Originals are like the old, original strait spoke Torque Thrust wheel.(traditional)

    Their Torque Thrust Ds are the curved spoke Torque Thrust wheel introduced in the mid '60s to clear Corvette disc brakes. (traditional depending on what era you are going for)
     
    Terrible80 likes this.
  20. I wouldn't, but maybe try some Plasti-Dip and see how you like them in color. That stuff peels off pretty easily if you don't like it.
     
    Deuces likes this.
  21. WB69
    Joined: Dec 7, 2008
    Posts: 1,958

    WB69
    Member
    from Kansas

    Not a fan of painted. Torque Thrusts look good on almost anything just like they came out. Love the wheel!
     
    robracer1 likes this.
  22. A Boner
    Joined: Dec 25, 2004
    Posts: 7,419

    A Boner
    Member

    Color the non-machined parts to replicate MAGNESIUM......yes!
    Body color.....probably not.
     

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