[SoCalRat]

What are the best wheels in your opinion (besides Torq Thrust D and Torq Thrust II's) that would look good on a 67 Malibu but wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg. The tires are 15x8 front and rear.

 

[David Nafarrete]

I like the Weld Drag Lites. But Wheels are a very personal thing.

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David Nafarrete
Team Chevelle Gold
1965 406 6speed
(almost on the road again)

 

[DG]

Hey SoCalRat,
At the risk of sounding cheap, what about Rally's. I could probably afford more $$ wheels, but I like the look. Just one thing, please don't paint 'em pink. That kinda effect just seems to bother me....

But it's your car. There was an article in Car Craft a while back that put 15 different kinds of rims under a 70 Chevelle, and a new Camaro. Might wanna try to find the back issue.


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DG
Springfield, Ohio
70 Chevelle Malibu

www.wright.edu/~s001dga/chevy.htm

TEAM Chevelle Member #0086

 

[Canuck64ss]

SoCalRat,

I like the Torq Thrust series on our car's. They look really sharp and are from the correct historical vintage. Weld also has the 5 spoke flavour I believe. What about Vette Style Rims... They look sharp too...

I used Cragar SS rims on my 64 and they look great but! There's the but... I would never consider pushing too hard for too long because those wheels aren't made for it.

Just keep in mind that you get what you pay for.

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The proud owner of a Canadian 64-SS with ZZ4 Power!
Team Chevelle Gold Member #37
Canadian Classic Chevelles & Beaumonts Member #350

[This message has been edited by Canuck64ss (edited 07-04-99).]

 

[Sean Flanagan]

Three styles look great on any car and are affordable.
American Racing outlaws (style 1&2)
Cragar s/s
Ansen Sprint/Amer Racing Indy(5 slots)

 

[Gene Chas]

I have the 5-spoke SS GM wheels on my '67 and I think they look real good. I swapped out the z/28 centers for new bowties. Plus they have a hefty 4 3/4" backspace which allows 275/60 ( L60) tires on the rear.

 

[DZAUTO]

I like the 8 x 15 Corvette Ralleys with the small 67 style center cap. Looks good, you get an 8in wide wheel and it stays Chevrolet.

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[JWA]

I am running chrome 15x8 ralleys with Wheel Vintiques' fluted knockoffs. The center emblem is a 69 SS396 center emblem. Too many people running the torq thrusts so I took mine off. They are the US Wheel torq thrust so they don't have the "ugly" hump in the spoke. I plan to get them polished and use them later............My 2 cents

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Jeff A. ACES#841
68 SS396(454)
68 L78 Project
87 MC SS

 

[Guest]

Gene,
Do you have any pictures of your car with the 5 spoke SS wheels?

 

[Ken K]

I would use American Racing Torque Thrust, people confuse the orginal torque thrust wheels with the torque thrust D. The orginal torque thrust wheel does not have a flared spoke, even the orginal style D wheel is different than the reproductions they sell now. ET, US, Ansen, Fenton all have a wheel that is similar to the orginal American Racing Torque thrust. The way to identify the wheels is look inside the back of the wheel, Americans will say American Racing Equipment cast into the wheel, Fenton will say Fenton Racing Equipment, Ansen will have Japan in the back, US will not say anything, and ET will have ET cast into the spokes on the front of the wheel and usaly have unilug wheel slots on them. All the center caps are interchangable.

 

[David Nafarrete]

I agree with Jeff. I was going to get some Torq Thrust II's, then I went to the Super Chevy Show at Pomona. Everyone had them. Now I don't want them anymore. I wanted them since they came out, before they were popular. Just didn't have the dough. They are really expensive. Especially if you want the big sizes like the 17's

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David Nafarrete
Team Chevelle Gold
1965 406 6speed
(almost on the road again)

 

[TH]

Ken K sounds like he has a real line on things. Ken, know where I could score some? They just scream "hot rod." Too cool.

Can anyone hook me up with a used set of wheels? I like Gene's idea of the stock SS 5-spoke, but I'm not sure if I've got the bucks. We need probably a 4 3/4 backspace too. I'm not a fan of the billet stuff. We're definitely looking for something that'll make it look like a traditional 60s or 70s era rod.

 

[Ken K]

I have 4 or 5 sets of the vintage torque thrust type of wheels, I have also sold a few sets over the years. Now save all the wheels I find because they are getting harder to find. I guess I can give you the secret to finding the wheels. Look in the rim racks in all the junk yards you come across, also look in all of the old tire shops. You may only find 1 or 2 at a time but if you keep looking you will start to match up sets. You can call Big Al in southern CA at 714-537-6483 he deals in vintage Torq Thrust style wheels.

 

[TH]

Thanks Ken. That sounds very tempting...and probably too expensive. I'll keep him in mind though. Maybe some money will fall out of the sky or something.

 

[Byfield]

Ok, someone help me out here.

What's the difference between 'vintage' torq thrust rims and ones that I can purchase today? Is there a visable change in design?

Kurt

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The 68 Chevelle info page. [last updated Nov. 30, 98]
www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6873/Chevelle/68_Chevelle_Info.html
Email: [email protected]
A.C.E.S. #1352

 

[Ken K]

Yes the vintage torq thrust wheels are different then the ones you can buy new. The spokes on the new wheels are different than the original wheels, even the original torq thrust Ds have different spokes then the reproduction wheels. The caps from the vintage wheels won't work on the repo wheels. The Ds were first used on Corvettes to clear the disc brakes. If you know what you are looking at you can tell the wheels apart right away. A quality restored car will have the vintage style wheels on them as they are a little harder to find. Look in the adds in back of a street rodder magazine there are places that sell the vintage wheels. There are people in CA that hoard the wheels, I talked to one guy who has 1200 wheels.

 

[SoCalRat]

Thanks for the info. I'll look into giving Big Al a call. He's a half hour away from where I live so I'll have to check em out. I've never seen original Torq Thrusts. Also does anyone know anything about Astro Supremes? They were built in the 60's and 70's I believe. Really nice. I saw a 51 lowered Bel Air with em. Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

[jmw]

The old Keystone mags always looked good to me. A 67SS in my old home town ran on them. Very nice.
John Walker

 

[Clint44]

Has anyone ever heard of a company called P&S Engineering? They make a Halibrand-clone kidney bean wheel that will be the next style of wheel going on my 68 El Camino(17x9 & 17x11w/8 pin knockoffs) Everyone seems to not like Torq-Thrust wheels but that's all this thread is talking about. The old wheels are neat but it's kinda hard to get a decent width & backspace with them. Myself, I think I'll just keep my TT II's for now.<g>
Clint Hooper
68 El Camino
17x8 & 20x10 Torq-Thrusts

 

[David Nafarrete]

I don't deny the TT II's look great. But it was discouraging to see so many cars with them at Super Chevy this year. I can only imagine how many will be at Route 66 in Sept.

I saw some wheels that are a little different. They look like TT II's but directional. I have a picture from the Seal Beach show. If I can get a hold of a scanner(that works) I'll post them.