Magnesium Wheels
- Thread starter spyder625
- Start date
Neilda
GT Owner
Aren't they (magnesium) a bit more trouble than they're actually worth? Some Aston and Ferraris have had them over the years and the owners normally complain.....
fjpikul
GT Owner
If you're talking about the Halibrand type, they don't exist. Kirby Viera had a lead on someone possibly doing them, but no dice. There are no other wheels to fit the car unless you go up in size. this gives you more choice in wheel and tire selection. Do a search for wheels to see examples.
STORMCAT
GT
There is a company that will make Mag wheels for the GT.. I was looking at them making some 5 spoke wheels. They would run about $ 12,000. There wasn't that much of a weight saving over the Forged BBS wheels. The Dymag CF wheels are less and offer a little better weight saving.. If you want the link for the Mag wheels I'll look it up. I did an extensive wheel study 2 years ago.. got the the info filed away.. One thing to note is we could get the cost down for a group buy. Some of the cost was for shop drawings etc..
STORMCAT
GT
It took me a few minutes to find it.. They changed their site and the link changed,,:ack
http://www.neezusa.com/
TallCarGuy
GT Owner
If you look at American Racing Wheels web site, in their Vintage section, they make an aluminum version of the old Halibrands. They also say they will make custom sizes.
Richard Hille
The GT School
Richard Hille
The GT School
911teo
GT Owner
I am involved with a company that makes NLA parts for Porsche.
Amongs other things we have just finished a 17" Fuch RSR wheel and next in line are the centerlock RSR and 917 wheels.
These will be super quality wheels, 3-piece and forged. Since most of the RSRs and 917s are used on the track the wheels must be very strong and light.
The 17" Fuch ended up being lighter that the original 15" and passed all strenght controls.
I have been toying with the idea of making a replica of the Halibrands and/or BRM wheels for the GT.
Since these were centerlock wheels I was also wondering if we could adapt the RSR/917 hub.
When I saw that Kirby Viera had a lead on a possible product I stopped any research.
But if you think it would be a good idea maybe I can look into it again.
The whole process takes time though as we need to find an original wheel, digitally map it, increase its size to 18" and 19" mantaining the correct proportions and then run a feasibility study.
Depending on the numbers I think the wheels should end up costing $5,000-6,000 per set, with the hubs another $3-4k (including floating rotors)....
Timewise.... it would take between 6-12 months (plus I would have to finance the run upfront).
What do you guys think?
Amongs other things we have just finished a 17" Fuch RSR wheel and next in line are the centerlock RSR and 917 wheels.
These will be super quality wheels, 3-piece and forged. Since most of the RSRs and 917s are used on the track the wheels must be very strong and light.
The 17" Fuch ended up being lighter that the original 15" and passed all strenght controls.
I have been toying with the idea of making a replica of the Halibrands and/or BRM wheels for the GT.
Since these were centerlock wheels I was also wondering if we could adapt the RSR/917 hub.
When I saw that Kirby Viera had a lead on a possible product I stopped any research.
But if you think it would be a good idea maybe I can look into it again.
The whole process takes time though as we need to find an original wheel, digitally map it, increase its size to 18" and 19" mantaining the correct proportions and then run a feasibility study.
Depending on the numbers I think the wheels should end up costing $5,000-6,000 per set, with the hubs another $3-4k (including floating rotors)....
Timewise.... it would take between 6-12 months (plus I would have to finance the run upfront).
What do you guys think?
cobraownr
GT Owner
I have many original Halibrand magnesium GT40 wheels in various widths (all 15" diameter) if someone needs one as a model.
911teo
GT Owner
Cobra
this would be very helpful as the 1st step in the process would be to make a digital capture of the wheel so that all the proportions can be mantained when going from 15" to 18/19. Below is the 1st rendition of a 17" RSR wheel from a 15" Prototype.
The company I am a partner in is called Zuffenhaus Products and it is based in NC. I will PM you later to arrange collection, insurance and shipping of the wheel if it is OK with you.
I have made some calls and what we need to establish first is how to modify the centerlock hubs to work with the uprights and bearings of the Ford GT.
At the same time we need to make sure it is possible for us to make a 19" wheel. There might be issues with the barrel.
I will keep you posted.
Here are the pics of the RSR wheel and the hubs+hats.
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MAD IN NC
Proud Owner/ BOD blah bla
911teo - COOL!
Jason Heffner also was designing set.....
http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12779
Jason Heffner also was designing set.....
http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12779
AtomicGT
GT Owner
don't want to steal the thread, appreciate the mag info, can anyone give me a simple answer on NITTO race tires, anyone using them?
911teo, incredible looking wheel!
911teo, incredible looking wheel!
cobraownr
GT Owner
To make sure everyone is on the same page about replica wheels for our Ford GTs, the first photo below shows an original "Halibrand" GT40 mag rim, 15" x 8-1/2". This wheel was introduced into the GT40 racing program in 1965 to supplant the Borrani wire wheels that the GT40 started life with in 1964. This "Halibrand" style evolved into a few different sub-styles ("Big Window," "Small Window"), as shown in the second photo below. This is my old GT40 #P1040 at the 1967 Monza race with "Big Window" Halibrands. The third photo (courtesy of www.racingicons.com) is of "BRM" style GT40 mag rims. These were not made by Halibrand. These rims came into use in mid-1966 (my GT40 used BRM rims at 1966 Le Mans) and seem to be the ones that most guys want replicated. All original "BRM" GT40 rims are 15" diameter. Widths went from 8" up to 14". I believe both styles of wheels are available today from a few companies in 15" and 16" diameters in true knock off configuration, with adapters for use on conventional bolt-on hubs. I have many examples of the Halibrand wheel, but none of the BRM, although might be able to borrow one if needed.
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AtomicGT
GT Owner
Here are a couple of pics I have
This one is the introduction of the GT40
This one below, is from my neighbor's collection in 2002. AN original 1966 GT40. Car subseqently underwent 1.5 years of restoration in Minnesota and change in color and won Pebble Beach several years ago for post war best of show.
Notice the wire wheels in both images
This one is the introduction of the GT40
This one below, is from my neighbor's collection in 2002. AN original 1966 GT40. Car subseqently underwent 1.5 years of restoration in Minnesota and change in color and won Pebble Beach several years ago for post war best of show.
Notice the wire wheels in both images
AtomicGT
GT Owner
Anyone have an image or know of a company making the Halibrand style wire wheels to fit the new FGT? Wonder what it would look like? Let me try a little photoshop action.
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pauleddy
Owner
If you find a manufacturer of 18"/19"/20" wires in knock-off config to fit our cars, along w/hub adaptors...count me in for a set and keep the rest of us in the loop!
B O N Y
MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
The reason that you don't see wires on modern cars is that they will not stand up to the torque and g loading that our cars produce. I would be very cautious about moving forward with this idea. They look good, however require regular tuning.
911teo
GT Owner
What Daniel said.
In fact even back in 1963-64 the had to abandon the wire rims on the Ford GT because of the torque produced.
Also it is a lot more difficult to make a 18"/19" wire wheel than a 15" one.
