Straightening a wheel lip
 

Hi Gents,

I bought a set of early 90s NOS round spoke Cragars for my Z and in transit one of the wheels sustained damages to the outermost lip. Pics below. Anyone have meticulous wheel guy who can help?

Thanks,
Dan

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psrgcwwt7n.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pstisleisd.jpg

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

If it weren't chrome Ive carefully hammered and brass punched them back into shape.

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Dan
I have had steel wheels repaired by a local shop that does aluminum wheel refinishing. Their method appears to be gentle, no heat , might check the local exotic car dealers to see who does wheel refinishing. Also ask your chrome shop.

Paul

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Thanks guys... from what i've research, the straightening process includes heating, and massaging back to spec. This is concerning as blistering, cracking, and discoloration may occur.

Friendly bump to those who know chrome straightening well.

Thanks,
Dan

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Wish I could help, I've straightened a lot of stuff here at work with great results. The key is making a couple of dies to hold the rim and then reversing the direction of the dent, sometimes gradually other times all at once. Most likely the chrome will be marred in this area. I do a lot of SST and aluminum items but my last operation is to polish/finish them out. Weigh in the options of paying to straighten, then a possible re-chrome and your going to be upside down quick. Tape the area up with duct tape and give it some love. Hardwood (think baseball bat-ash)in front and behind and hammer the wood. Spinning it out would be even better. You have nothing to loose, it's already junk. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

Sorry man...


BIG

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Perhaps this could work.

ACU-TRU wheel repair

I know nothing about this process. This is just what I found when I googled it. They only use pressure.

Good luck.

Marty

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

well I worked 20 years in the tire buisiness and have straightend more than I can think. although crude it involves a large hammer and something to protect the rim. Looking at this IMO a 2x4 would work fine as long as you dont miss the wood and it wont be marred having a wheel mounting machine would be good to hold the wheel still. Start soft and work your way up till you can tell its moving back till you get it where it was - this really isnt that bad off, I dont think it would take me 10 minutes to do. have you talked to local tire shop?

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

I have done a few with a large adjustable wrench working it in small increments but they were not chrome

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Dan
The wheel repair professionals never beat anything with a hammer. They use hydraulic pressure. There are co's out there who will repair this wheel and it will be flawless but expect to pay $350-400 or more + shipping. Their expertise does not come cheap.

Forget rechroming..each chrome shop is different and the color won't match your other NOS wheels.

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Dan, What I would do is buy a brand new Cragar wheel, lathe off the rim from the spokes on each wheel and transfer outer rims and have a certified welder weld it back. Put it on lathe and dial indicator it in, spot weld it then take it off and finish weld it.

The new Cragar wheels are different in spokes but the outer rim on the standard offset wheels is about the same.

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: whitetop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dan
The wheel repair professionals never beat anything with a hammer. They use hydraulic pressure. There are co's out there who will repair this wheel and it will be flawless but expect to pay $350-400 or more + shipping. Their expertise does not come cheap.

Forget rechroming..each chrome shop is different and the color won't match your other NOS wheels. </div></div>

never said I was a professional, this is a steel wheel not aluminum or magnesium nor is it badly damaged. How did it get bent in the first place, an impact? I suggested a simple fix for a minor problem
I've seen body men go after sheet metal with a hammer and it too survived
sorry all my life I have tried to be cost effective was just my .02c

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Hi Gents, thanks for the support here and I appreciate you bringing different solutions.

The rim was damaged by dropping. The seller shipped the wheels with an inadequate amount of packaging.

Dan

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MosportGreen66</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hi Gents, thanks for the support here and I appreciate you bringing different solutions.

The rim was damaged by dropping. The seller shipped the wheels with an inadequate amount of packaging.

Dan </div></div>
If that's all it took to bend it, it stands to reason it should go back relatively easily also. If the initial shock didn't crack the chrome, you might get lucky. I'll bet a decent wheel shop will take care of that with ease.

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

What size is it? I see uni-lug so replacing it might be another solution.

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

15x7, NOS from 1995, unilug, round spoke. Original tags still on the drum. Never mounted. I polished the chrome on 1/2 of another wheel from the set and with minimal effort the wheel appeared as better than new.

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Dan, I have straightened quite a few Harley rims through the years. I would think you should be able to straighten that one pretty easy. My method is pretty simple. I have different size solid brass bars, about 1/2&quot; thick x 1/2-3/4&quot; wide, varying lengths, that I have put a slight radius on. I start at the end of the bend, hit the brass bar with a decent sized hammer. Move to the other end, do the same. Work your way from both ends to the center. Don't try to get it all at once. Move slowly, take your time. If you have something like a small sheet of soft plastic, it will help protect the rim. I use something called &quot;Rim protectors&quot; that are designed to keep from scratching a rim when changing tires.
I know, it sounds like I'm a &quot;hack&quot; with a BFH. Oh well, it has worked for me for years. You have nothing to lose by trying do you?

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

ive straightened at least a hundred over the decades..but chrome wasnt an issue..if i saved it..great..if it popped the ins company just bought a new one...but i cant remember ever not fixing one

i use a dead blow of 4 or 5 sizes, and 5 or 6 2x4s ive trimmed and shaped...the hoops are soft...it doesnt take much and they move like butter...

that deep..i dont know how the chrome would ever survive...the shock going back the other way seems like it would chip or crack...

i agree,,its fubared now..whatta ya gotta loose...find an old time tire shop..with an old guy and pick his brain...ive seen wheel machines bend the edges and the old guys repair the wheels with no issues...

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Can't hammer this wheel it is chrome

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Zman1969</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: whitetop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dan
The wheel repair professionals never beat anything with a hammer. They use hydraulic pressure. There are co's out there who will repair this wheel and it will be flawless but expect to pay $350-400 or more + shipping. Their expertise does not come cheap.

Forget rechroming..each chrome shop is different and the color won't match your other NOS wheels. </div></div>

never said I was a professional, this is a steel wheel not aluminum or magnesium nor is it badly damaged. How did it get bent in the first place, an impact? I suggested a simple fix for a minor problem
I've seen body men go after sheet metal with a hammer and it too survived
sorry all my life I have tried to be cost effective was just my .02c </div></div>

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

How did I do? I used duck tape covering the wheel and a couple rags under the adjustable wrench. I'm really upset the wheel isn't in the NOS condition I bought the set for but let's be honest - the wheels are going on my driver '69 Z. I use the car all the time, especially now with the ZZ4 w/hot cam package and Edlebrock intake in it and original motor on the stand. The wheels will only get dirty, especially when Dave does burn outs. Lol. And before the chrome condition comes into play, that was a photo immediately after my repair. They're very clean and shine like new!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pskcarr6xr.jpg

Dan

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Looks pretty good to me Dan. TLC and patience comes through again. Are you going &quot;Big-n-Little&quot; or all one size wheels?

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Well done [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Dan

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Hey Dave, I was going to but these are 15x7s. I'll likely keep them as is for now. I'm running 15x7 Americans on the Z now and they look pretty good.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps475htv0i.jpg

Thanks for the compliment Dan V.

Regards,
Dan

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

I love the fact that you are driving the wheels off your Z-28 (Soon, one small dented wheel).....ENJOY!

Dan

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: whitetop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dan
The wheel repair professionals never beat anything with a hammer. They use hydraulic pressure. There are co's out there who will repair this wheel and it will be flawless but expect to pay $350-400 or more + shipping. Their expertise does not come cheap.

Forget rechroming..each chrome shop is different and the color won't match your other NOS wheels. </div></div>

Reminds me of when I rebuilt my A-arms. Called a front end shop that had a reputation for working on old cars, and asked if they could press in new bushings. They said, &quot;Of course, we do it all the time.&quot; I dropped them off, and when I returned, the guy told me they'd be ready in a few minutes. I looked out into the shop, and saw a worker walking with a sledge hammer in one hand and my A-arms in the other. I told the guy that I could have beat the bushings on, myself!! He just gave me a blank look and said, &quot;If you want your A-arms back, that'll be $40.&quot;

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Nice job, sometimes it's all trial and error. Practice practice practice.....next stop, Carnegie Hall!

BIG

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

Dan, that is a very cool Z/28!!! And square bars, too!!! Love it!!!

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

dan, does it balance out OK - spin good with no vibration??

Re: Straightening a wheel lip
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: enio45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">dan, does it balance out OK - spin good with no vibration?? </div></div>

I'll report back in a few weeks when I have them mounted and balanced. Great Q...

Dan