yenko chevelle wheels

[mc25t190]

are 15 x 6, or 15 x 7 wheels standard equipment on yenko chevelles?

[bkhpah]

15X7 YH Rally wheels are standard...BKH

[fpcopo]

What were the "mag wheels" that came if ordered on the Yenko Camaros? I've heard Atlas but were American torq thrust D's used?
If so, were they 15X6 or 7? Thanks

[bkhpah]

If everyone is asking about the set of 15X6 Americans on ebay right now. The answer is no. Americans were not used. The spoke design is incorrect...BKH

[Belair62]

The Americans on E-Bay right now are "D" spokes. The Atlas wheel used by Yenko was a knock-off of the American straight spoke Torq Thrust.Americans were probably more expensive too.The American Racing Torq-Thrust was introduced in the early 60's.The spoke design of the Atlas wheel is VERY similar to this wheel."D" spokes are not at all similar.

[bkhpah]

American called the more straight spoke wheel Torque-Thrust-R. The D I am told was a designation for Disc Brake...BKH

[Rat_Pack]

The Torque Thrust was the orignal name for American's 5 spoke wheel. In late 1968 they introduced a new design called the T70 (see the January feature car for a good picture). They began having problems with them cracking due to the spoke design being a little thinner and the mounting flange being a smaller diameter. They then changed the wheel again sometime in 1970-71 and phased in what is known as the T70R. This was the same design as the T70 but they added a lip to the outside of each spoke to make the wheel more rigid and this design was last offered in 74 or 75. The lip was already being used on the new for 1969 200S wheel.

When the T70 came out American quit making both the Torque Thrust and Torque Thrust D, which as Brian stated was for disc brake cars and was different than the current version as the entire spoke was curved including the backside. The current Torque Thrust-D version only has the front of the spoke curved. The T70 was supposed to fit cars with disc brakes but not all widths would clear the calipers on 67-68 GM cars including all Corvettes from 65 and up and some Mopars. Only the 8-1/2" wide wheels would fit the GM cars & Vettes with disc brakes. To use 7" wide or narrower width wheels on those cars a 3/8" spacer was required to allow the wheel to fit. (I have spacers on my front wheels on my 68 Camaro to get them to clear.)

The new T70 & T70R also had a new design center cap. They used the same center cap as the 200S where it used one screw with a retainer cup from the backside of the wheel to hold the cap on. Then American made another change in the early 70's with the center cap design. They went to a "pop in" design where the cap could be installed with the wheel on the car. These are still offered as replacements today.

Sorry for the long post but this may give some insight to the American wheel which was first made I believe in 1961 and it was made from magnesium. A true mag wheel......................RatPack................ ..

[Belair62]

You are exactly right on the "D" designation Brian.They were made to fit early 4 piston calipers.There were actually 3 different Torq-Thrusts available in 1969-70.Torq-Thrusts,Torq-Thrust"D",and Torq-Thrust R. The ones that Atlas looks like are the straight Torq Thrust wheels. The "R" wheel is very different in appearance from either of the other 2. They are a more modern thinner casting and have a different style cap and also have a flat "flange" cast onto the spokes.Very nice looking wheel.The straight Torq-Thrusts date from at least 1964 in magnesium.

[Edited by Belair62 (01-26-2002 at 09:58 PM).]

[bkhpah]

Great American info...BKH

[Rat_Pack]

Bob, to add to your R description that is the T70R. On the backs of some of those wheels they read Torque Thrust R (pronounced Torque Thruster). They tried that name and it really never caught on but there are a few of us that remember them that way. Right Brian? Mike has a set of those wheels on his 71 Motion Camaro.....................RatPack.............