Chrome Wire Wheels ?

[Vila]

I am currently doing a ground up restoration on a 1962 Triumph TR4. This year TR4 originally came with 9 different wheels. Early in the model year the wire wheels were 48 spokes while later in the year they switched to 60 spokes in either Bright chrome, dull chrome, aluminum paint, silver lacquer paint, and finally steel disc wheels.

I plan on using bright chrome Dayton 48 spoke wheels which are appropriate for my car built in April 62, but both the Dayton and Dunlop replacement chrome wheels use polished stainless steel spokes and only the rim and hubs are chrome plated steel.

No where in the 2009 AACA judging manual can I find any statement on using Stainless steel to replace chome for any part.

The Triumph Registry of America's judging manual says this is acceptable for safety reasons, since the stainless steel spokes are stronger.

Anyone have experience on how AACA judges will handle this.

Bob Beers

Edited October 5, 2009 by Vila
Spelling error (see edit history)

[ex98thdrill]

Bob,

A person who you should touch base with is Peter Heizmann. Peter has an early 70's vintage TR-5? that has won a Senior AGNM award. Peter might be able to help you or direct you to someone who can.

Personally with the issue with cleaning and rust, I'd go with the stainless spokes. You can polish the stainless good enough where you're not going to see a major difference.

[Peter J.Heizmann]

Hi, Bob...Welcome to the AACA Forum.

Just came home from a Hershey Library Meeting and literature auction set up. Getting a bit late however tomorrow evening will go to my car storage garage and look up tech details for you. Have an excellent original equipment book by Bill Piggott who was a tech specialists for Triumph. Will get back tomorrow evening.

In the meantime if you want to check another good source google the VTR (Vintage Triumph Registry).

Regards,

Peter.

Edited October 5, 2009 by Peter J.Heizmann (see edit history)

[ex98thdrill]

Ahhhh the beauty of the forum!!

[Vila]

Peter, thanks for the quick reply. Any assistance will be appreciated.

My concern is will I receive a deduction for having polished stainless steel spokes rather than chrome.

I plan on using Dayton Bright Chrome wire wheels. The TR4 would have originally come with Dunlop wire wheels, but they are now made in India and I would rather use Daytons which from my research are still made in the USA. From what I have seen both wheels look exactly the same. In my opinion the Dayton's are also better wheels, and come with a better guarantee.

Triumph switched to 60 spoke wheels midway thru 1962 to supply stronger wheels. Whether we are talking about 48 or 60 spokes, the original chrome plated spokes had a strength problem due to the plating process from what I have read.

On the International Triumph Registry website I found a TR4 built just prior to mine and one just after mine with original 48 spoke wire wheels as confirmed by email responses from the owners.

Piggott's "Original TRIUMPH TR4/4A/5/6" book confirms most of what I have said and the rest of my data came from other sources including the "Triumph Register of America TR4/4A Judging Guidelines" manual.

Bob Beers

[Restorer32]

Very unlikely that you would receive a deduction for stainless in place of chrome in AACA competition. Many, many of the high dollar classics you see at Hershey have stainless top irons in place of the original plated steel along with stainless spokes and nipples. It is very difficult to tell stainless from chrome if it is properly polished. Those who tell you they can "spot it a mile off" are the same ones who say they can spot a "good lacquer paint job" from the same distance. Ater all, stainless steel is primarily nickle alloyed with chromium. I would be more concerned with whether the repro wheels are in fact identical to your originals, shape and profile wise. The new wheels supplied for '53 Buick Skylarks (for example) differ in significant ways from the chromed steel originals. Original packard spokes from the classic era are tapered from end to end. The available repros are swaged or "necked down" rather than fully tapered.

[Peter J.Heizmann]

Bob,

I agree with Jeff and Ron that you would not get dinged and from what I just read in Piggott's book he confirms our contention that: Quote..."Finishes available for wire wheels were lacquer paint (aluminum or silver) or chrome (bright or dull), although the parts catalogue indicates that silver lacquer were deleted for the TR5/250".

He also mentions that the 48 spoke was inadequate for the car's weight and one should use them for show purposes or very light driving.

Bottom line...go for it and do not worry about it. Have fun with the AACA.

P.S...Pat, Jeff, Ron "see you guys this week for the annual ritual we call Hershey."

Best,

Peter J.

Edited October 5, 2009 by Peter J.Heizmann (see edit history)

[DavidAU]

You may find that Dayton supplies the wheels with the stainless steel spokes chromed to match the rest of the wheel. Some of the other suppliers do it this way because you would see the difference in color between the chrome rims and the polished spokes. It would be worth contacting them to find out.

David