Cragar S/S history questions

[njsteve]

Today's verison have a different, sharper spoke design and a different outer rim that has an angled step towards the center hub instead of a pronounced series of flat steps like a staircase. They are also more of a blue chrome than the old white chrome that is no longer used. The new ones are also only available as unilug.

Here is a set of 15x4-1/2 wheels in 4-1/2 bolt pattern. The outer 2 wheels are Jan 1970 dated and the inner two that I just found on ebay are from the late 1970's. Note the pronounced series of steps from the bead to the center section. The newer rims have gotten rid of most of the steps and just have a smooth angle inward, depending upon the width of the wheel. I just finally found a 1976 pair of 15x8s to outfit the rear of the Charger so I can finally replicate the original owner's set.







Here is a photo of a new 15x8 cragar. Note the smoother transition from the bead to the center hub. The spokes also seem to have a more "pinched" look where the lugnuts mount. I think they did this to allow for more room to access the lugnuts.



Compare to my old 1970's wheels:

[Mr. Chevy]

Steve, I really can't notice that much of a difference in the spokes of the wheels. Would the bead to the center hub transition be different anyways due to the wheel width size difference?? For example the 15x8 would be different in appearance from the 15x4??

Rich

[DarrenX33]

Geez, I can't tell either..

[John Brown]

The late 60's/early 70's 15x4's took different diameter center caps from the rest of the Cragars.

[ASTROJET]

I have some NOS ones in a box,are they All dated?

[njsteve]

Ths is the date code on my original 1970 rims:



The box goes from "J" January to "D" December along the top and says "70" for 1970. I have no idea how to read the braille dots. Later rims actually were stamped with a more traditional month and year inside the rim (not accesable if the tire is mounted)

[copo69]

I found a 3 yr. old email from Whitetop (wish he were still on here, as his day 2 knowledge is missed). Here's what he said:

Greg
The new ones are 15x4.5 while the pre 2000 versions were always 15x4. Look
for the early style 15x4 from '67-74 era. The spokes/rim where a lot different.
The '74-2000 ones had a very ugly spoke design. -kinda fat looking. Very hard
to explain. The new 15x4.5 actually look closer to the '67-'74 versions other
than being 4.5 wide.
Crgar also changed the center cap about 1974. The old ones before that had no
registartion symbol and the edge of the cap was more squarer and the
lettering was a little different.
The caps today are way way off.
If you find a set that needs replated you will have to cut them apart
yourself and send to www.platecorp.com They are one of the very few last chrome
shops in the uS that still uses Hex Chrome just like Cragar. Any other chrome via
Pauls, Custom Chrome, Advanced plating etc is way off. EPA chrome that 99% of
the shops are forced to use is very "dark" Hex chrome is almost white and
has a very light bluish cast. If you have a set that needs done do it know
because Hex chrome is being epa'ed out. Unless you want to send them to Mexico or
china like cragar.

Figure about $200 per wheel for plating. If the rims are rusty or pitted they
either will not do them or charge you an arm and a leg.
Hope this helps
Dave