American Racing Torque Thrusts - what vintage?

[beater68427]

I have a set of 15x6 I purchased from the original owner, who said he bought them in 69, I looked at the backs this morning they look the same as yours.

[ORIGLS6]

I have a set of 14 x 7s on my Nova. Two are like the ones pictured at the top and the other two are just a bit earlier without the extra machining (which I believe allows use with disc brakes). I'd place them in the late 60's era. Like Bill said, 14" TTs aren't too popular any more because 14" tires are hard to find. I'd take all the 14" TTs I could find though. Those look to be in very good shape, although the spokes look too dark to me. The finish on the wheels Bill shows are more period-correct. Just my personal preferrence.

But be careful with the center caps. The new caps offered for the TTDs won't fit on the vintage wheels. I'm not sure if the caps for the new TTOs use the vintage bolt pattern or if they kept the new pattern for the TTDs.

If those caps are good and you want a correct American Racing insert send me a PM and I'll hook you up with someone who can help.

[427TJ]

I carefully drill-out/open up the screw holes in the new caps so they fit the old screw pattern in the wheels. Gotta' be careful though since the new plastic caps have plating that comes off easily. My wheels (seen in the post above and here) have a "special" mix silver paint sprayed on the spokes by the guy who restored them. Another TT restorer I know uses the darker gray (lower image) on the spokes--I think it's just a matter of taste and technique. Oh, and always run a tap in the screw holes and clean them up so you don't strip the center cap screws!





I'd rather look at old TTs than a beautiful woman... (Old TTs are cheaper!)

[ORIGLS6]

After using a number of products to clean the spokes (with poor results) I admitted defeat and painted the spokes. The color I chose has a slight gold tint to simulate the old, original 'Mag' finish. I fugure I can always strip it off and go with a different shade at a later date.

I agree Bill, the lighter shade seems more correct for the vintage wheels.


( on the straight slot screws.)

[427TJ]

Yeah Dennis, I like the slight gold-tinted silver look too. On my dark-painted spokes I fogged them over with "light silver argent" in a spray can and it made the spokes look more "as-cast" the way we all like--that fresh-cast sparkle they had when new. Kind of hard to tall maybe in the photo but I like the result:

[Nova Jed]

I have to say that those look great! Where did you get those slicks??

[mockingbird812]

Boy Bill, your tire/wheel combo looks just terrific ! Would you provide the contact info of your wheel restorer.

Thanks!

[scuncio]

Bill, where did you ever find that Lions plate frame? Oh, nice wheels, too!

[427TJ]

Tony, a buddy of mine found the Lions frames at the California Hot Rod Reunion. I think a vendor there makes them? I don't know if there were Lions frames back in the day but they look cool on the '55.

Sam, here's the site for Terry Vaughan, the wheel restorer: http://www.torquethrustcentral.com