yenko chevelle wheels

JoeC · #1 01-28-2002, 06:59 PM

I have a 1967 Honest Charlie's catalog and in there are American's, ET's, Mickey Thompson's, and Ansen wheels that all look very similar to the Atlas. The Atlas wheels were not marked, as far as I know, so it is difficult to tell what you are looking at especially in a swap meet environment.

**YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY** · #2 01-28-2002, 07:12 PM

Ron;
I can only speak for the Novas, but the judges at Vette-Fest and the Nova Nationals don't really differentiate between the current ARE-Torq Thrusts vs. the Atlas wheels. I don't think the judges could really distinguish the difference, and they can't spend a lot of time on any one car.

There really isn't a 'diamond level' judging criteria for the Novas, so these types of things will not cause a point deduction at a show. Interestingly, the judges will usually allow headers on a Yenko, but they will deduct for 'stepped' and/or coated versions. I have seen one guy get a deduction for Hooker super-Comps, the judge knew they should have been Doug Thorley's. Other Yenko Nova owners get AACA cert. with AM 8tracks, rear seat speakers and flow-master pipes!?!?!?
M

Rat_Pack · #3 01-28-2002, 08:29 PM

Steve, all American Torque Thrusts, T70, T70R, and 200S wheels used there own special lug nut. The diameter of the hole in the wheel was 5/8" dia. instead of the 11/16" dia. which most wheel manufacturers used and still use today. The only other company that I can remember using this diameter hole was M/T. Most people enlarge the holes to accomodate currently available lug nuts as you can no longer buy the correct ones for the original wheels. Also the depth of the shank (not counting the thickness of the washer)was 9/16" which is not made in todays market. To use current lug nuts on original American Torque Thrusts you must have them shortened by a 1/4" at a machine shop..............RatPack...................

68l30 · #4 01-28-2002, 10:11 PM

Ratpack,you are correct.I used a .6875 end mill to machine the lug holes.I custom made some 304 stainless washers to get the correct depth on the lug nut.The counter bore on the lug hole varies from wheel to wheel,quality control was not what you would expect today.If I didn't get in on the bottom floor of this project cost wise I would have thought twice!

Steve

RVOR · #5 01-29-2002, 09:20 PM

Had a chance to look at the ET "0lassic Five"
cast wheel today. It may be an excellent substitute for the original Atlas with the exception of being a 2 piece wheel. I called
Team III Wheels who are the manufacturer and asked for if they had other options. He claimed that was the only straight spoke currently on the market that he knew of. They just so happened to have a 1 piece design in work, due to complete in March. He has picked up a number of vintage wheels from swap meets and is reproducing the ones he thinks enthusiast want. He also stated he has had car clubs in the past give him a wheel that had not been manufactured for years and reproduce it for them. The cost is an initial $3000.00 then approx. $300.00 per wheel.

Jeff H · #6 01-29-2002, 10:50 PM

I have a set of Ansen 5 spoke wheels that look similar to the torque thrusts, but they are 15x6 and they clear disc brakes. They were purchased in 68 and put on a 67 Corvette and are in very good condition. Check this site for a bunch of vintage mags http://www.roadsters.com/wheels/#Ansen it's gives some good information.

Rat_Pack · #7 01-30-2002, 01:11 PM

Jeff H, thanks for the note on that wheel site. Good information for the novice. There are some statements that are incorrect about American and Fenton wheels on that site.

Not all American Torque Thrusts have the offset or size cast into the back of them but they all do say American Racing Equipment. I have not found any of the T70 wheels to say anything more than American Racing Equipment cast into the backs of them. Some of the T70 15 X 7 wheels do have Patent Pend cast into them after the ARE casting. Also I have never seen an original set of aluminum Torque Thrusts with the centers painted (except current TT-D's) as the article states in the "restoration" area. The finish was "as cast" and they even stated that in their ads. The May 68 issue of HRM the ad states "Prime Metal.....we are the largest producers of unpainted wheels in the world". The machined areas were exactly that, machined, but almost to a polished look. They did not have the deep machined grooves like the current wheels have where you can catch an edge with your fingernail. They were a lot smoother and were almost undetectible.

Some Fenton mags that look like the Torque Thrusts are exactly that. They used a Torque Thrust wheel to make their casting and the words Fenton Racing Equipment is cast into the back of the wheel. What is funny is that you can see where they removed the word American and cast their logo in there. This is most commonly found on their 15 x 9 (not 8-1/2" wide that is another difference) wheel. Where they changed the wheel was on the outer machined/polished lip. Besides adding a 1/2" to the width of the wheel, the "step up" where the machined surface meets the spokes is at a sharper angle than the American. Thus giving a deeper look to the wheel.

Sorry for the long post but I just wanted to relay some more information about the many differences of these wheels over the years...................RatPack............

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