repro AZ rally wheel question

[Greg L.]

I have an original rim from a 75 that I was going to use on my 69 however it has runnout(wobble) of about .080". I took it in to get straighted and they said that the barrel was bent...out of round and that it couldn't be straightend. I asked how this could be and he said that it can happen from sitting over the years like how a tire gets a flat spot from sitting....uhhh...okay?...?

Anyways he would sell me a new one, made in the USA that looks okay from the front side but the back side is different. Where the rim is welded to the center section it is totaly different because the original looks to be spot welded but the repro is bead welded. Not a big deal for a driver but this is a resto and I'm sure that rim will take a point or two hit...right?

So the question is, are all the repros welded like this or are some spot welded? If they are all bead welded then what are my options? Try it the way it is and hope for the best(probably not the best choice) or keep looking untill I find a good AZ rim, or try another wheel repair place?

Thanks.

Greg Linton
#45455

[Mark #28455]

look for a 1979 model year rim

The 1969 model year rims are frequently too pitted for show and beat up to use as road wheels. There are still more than a few 1979 model cars that had the base steel wheels which were then upgraded to aluminum rims. You can pick those rims up on e-bay in really decent shape for about $200 a set. The main difference that can be seen when installed is that the 1969 rim had a welded "BB" at the harmonic point on the rim. Just grab your mig welder and weld on a single "blob" wherever and voila you have a like new "NCRS correct" 1969 rim (including a genuine date code).
Mark

[Greg L.]

Re: look for a 1979 model year rim

Hey thanks Mark but there might be a problem with that. I have a Feb 2/79 rim that for the longest time I thought was a 69 rim. You are correct about the welded BB but comparing this 79 rim to three other 69 rims that I bought a while back there are other differences as well that can be seen with the tire mounted. Two that I noticed right away were the "GM" and "K1 over 8" stamping on the hub of the 69 which the 79 doesn't have. The other one is date stamping is "upside down" on the 79 as compared to the 69's. With the 69 on a bench with the valve stem hole at the bottom near the bench, the writing is right side up but with the 79 rim oriented like this the writing is upside down. Strange to me...maybe they could have been stamp either way...I don't know.

Anyways I do have a date correct spare so all I really am looking for is a road worthy AZ coded rim and I'll be set.

On the other hand if the judges only look for the date stamp and BB then I will start looking for more 79 rims!

[Mark #28455]

Re: look for a 1979 model year rim

Judges are NOT supposed to disassemble the car to judge it, so they can only see what's there with the center cap and trim ring installed. If they are motivated, they can see the date code through the valve stem hole and the welded BB but not a lot else.

Mark

[Greg L.]

Re: look for a 1979 model year rim

I knew they weren't supposed to take the rings and caps off but I didn't realize that they might still look for the BB and dates. I thought that the only date judged rim was the spare so maybe I should look into getting some "matching" rims for the road now too...or at least add that BB to the ones that I have! Thanks Mark.