Modifying wheels

[TrackTV6]

I decided I wanted to use "real" sprint car parts on my track roadster. While I like the looks of the aluminum wheels that were available, I had doubts about how well they might hold up to hitting a pot hole. So my next choice was to modify a set of steel wheels to accept the Weld centers.

 

[T-Test]

Brake lathe works fine for a lot of things,huh?

 

[RPM]

Brake lathe works fine for a lot of things,huh?

I can't imagine the noise that made.

 

[T-Test]

Might could have put the rotor rubber band around it?

 

[TrackTV6]

Really wasn't all that noisy since I was cutting steel rather than cast iron.

 

[GAB]

Any updates? I'm interested in what you are doing with the spline drive. Running an open tube Quick Change maybe? Just curious.

Track Roadsters need race car styled wheels IMHO. I did some for my long dormant pile of parts.

 

[TrackTV6]

GAB, I have finally gotten some work done on the front wheels. The rears will be 8" wide with a 4" offset, the fronts will be 4" wide 2 1/2" offset. I'm trying to get the front wheels tucked up closer to the kingpin pivot to have as little "scrub radius" as possible so the steering will be easier. I'm having a friend make some adapters for the splined drive rear wheel centers to adapt them to 9" Ford axle flanges. The front wheels will be what is known a "direct mount", the front hub, brake mount and wheel center are one and the same. Soon as I can get some pics, I'll post them.

 

[RazzBarlow7]

I'm following this project with a lot of interest! I really like the look that you're going for here. Have that true "sprint car" look to the wheels.

 

[TrackTV6]

RazzBarlow7, is the pic on your ID a car you have? I know that to be the old "Brizo" Mazda rotary powered track roadster that Lil John Buttera and Steve Davis built. Later it got a new nose and a Ford V6 motor. I'm actually building mine along the same lines.

 

[RazzBarlow7]

No, that's just the inspiration. And I'm rapidly moving away from it as I get more and more into my planning process. But I've always loved the Varner track roadster.

 

[GAB]

Looks like you are fudging a little bit ....just like I'm doing. Bolt on genuine knock offs. Mine are pin drive instead of spline and match the stock Pinto bolt pattern....on the second attempt. The extra set of holes in the flanges with the threaded tube are the result of a screw up reading something. Either the bolt pattern chart or the offset with the rotary table. Hacked me off but I wasn't going to single point those threads again. Just call them lightening holes, or maybe engineering revisions.

15 x 8 rears and 15 x 4 for the front. Traded some work for the rear blank rims and bought the front blanks. We have a manufacturer of blank rims not too far from here. A lot of them are used in converting jet aircraft tires for use on farm wagons. I guess that the tires have a pretty short useful life on airplanes but will last quite well on wagons.

The centers are 1/4" plate that I made a pattern for and flame cut. I bored the center hole on the mill and laid out the bolt pattern (right one this time) and drilled them. The blank center was about 12-5/8"diameter and the largest lathe that I have will swing 12". I made a tool that used two dowels that engaged the center hole and had an adjustable scribe so that I could mark the diameter of the blank. I had left just a small amount on the O.D. for finishing to a tight fit in the rim. I ground the center to the scribed line on a disc sander and got a nice snug fit as they were TIGed together. Lots of welding but fortunately I have a rotary welding table.

Made the pins for the drive and made a pattern for casting the pressure plates. Finish machined them and flame cut some knock offs that have a tapered tube section that matches the pressure plates angle and the threads on the adapter.

This was a fun project and I am happy with the outcome.

 

[jmr122848]

WOW, that's all I can say George, WOW

 

[Youngster]

As always, Neat stuff George!

Ron

 

[TrackTV6]

 

[GAB]

All Right! I like that look. Unique, clean, simple.

 

[TrackTV6]

 

[TrackTV6]

Making some progress, weather is warmer, time to get busy again!