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Author
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Topic: Magnum 500's
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 779
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 11-09-2002 08:40 PM
   
The Magnums on 2 of my cars are , to my dissapointment,all out-of-round!
While having them rebalanced, the tech told me the "rims are bent!"
Sure enough, when I looked at them on the balancer, they 'wobbled'.
Now, the cars don't drive bad, but who wants bent rims?
I called Wheel Vintiques(I bought one set from them) and they told me that ALL Magnums(original and re-pops) are 'lug-centric', as opposed to 'hub-centric' and that would make them appear to be 'bent' if balanced on a hub-style balancer.
Has anybody ever heard of this? Or is this just a hustle? ------------------
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 11-09-2002 09:30 PM
Yes, it's the truth. Your wheel and tire guy needs an education on wheel balancing. You can't set the cone to a hub centric balancer on an irregular surface like the inside of a Magnum, so you need to balance them by the lugs. If you want a good balance job, find a place that balances them on the car. It's worth the bucks. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 779
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 11-09-2002 09:33 PM
Excellent advice, I will definately do that. I had the wheels balanced at...Pep-Boys. I know, I know...but the lifetime balance was free with the tires.------------------
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kcode
Gearhead Posts: 2623
From: alvaton,ky,usa Suburb of Bowling Green, M&M #79, MCA #29208
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 11-09-2002 11:18 PM
I have a set of BFG drag radials mounted on 15 x 7 steel Boss 302 rims. The service tech that was mounting them commented that they were relatively old rims. I agreed with him and asked him how he knew. They ran out of round. He said that by todays manufacturing standards they would never pass. Gee they worked good in 1970.  Mike
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 19751
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 11-10-2002 01:25 AM
It's true. 
Most steel wheels that were produce for use in conjunction with center caps were lug concentric to avail themselves of several types of different center cap styles. ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
MCA member# 53321
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00, '01, & '02
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Professional Manwhore
The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
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mustangboy
Gearhead Posts: 670
From: Ont, Canada
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 11-10-2002 12:36 PM
Cobravenom I was just curious how you liked dealing with wheel vintiques.I was thinking of getting some 15x7 or 8 68 chrome GT style wheels to mount some sticky tires on my mustang.
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 779
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 11-10-2002 08:59 PM
The wheels from 'Wheel Vintiques' are pretty nice. I think they make them for everybody else, but I'm not sure.
It's cheaper to order direct from them than to order from a parts house.
Thier 'Customer Service' people on the phone need a little attitude adjustment however.
As a side note, the 'spokes' on the repop Magnums are chromed, which is technically incorrect. They should be painted argent.
But the quality of the chrome is far superior to authentic Magnums. ------------------
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mustang68mustangs
Gearhead Posts: 289
From: pittsburgh,pa.usa
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 11-12-2002 02:22 PM
Hey Guys,I dont understand this whole lugcentric or hubcentric thing.I work part time in the evenings at a tire shop and we use A pretty high tech machine to balance tires.The machine uses different cones to center the wheel on the machine.then you spin on a collar and tighten it down.We dont see many old cars there.I just want to know the difference if I ever run into it.I have never seen the inside of a Magnum 500 rim either.
Bob
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 779
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 11-12-2002 03:13 PM
Well, as I understand it, a hub-centric wheel is manufactured so that the hole in the center of the wheel(the 'hub') is indeed in the exact center of the wheel.By mounting the wheel on a balancer that uses the hub to mount the wheel, you are at least assured that the wheel is centered correctly on the machine before it is balanced.
On the other hand, a lug-centric wheel does not necessarily have the hole in the center in the exact center of the wheel.This makes it unacceptable to mount the wheel on the hub, for the wheel won't be properly centered before balancing.This wheel must use the lug-holes for thier centering.
In one of the posts', Steve mentioned to get the wheels balanced while still on the car, which would obviously be the best way.
It is unclear to me however, if there are also spin-balancer machines that use lug-mounting mechanisms as well as the hub-style mounts.
Either way, I have been unable to find anyone in my area that can balance the tires on the car.------------------
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 11-12-2002 05:00 PM
Kit is right on the description, hub centric systems use cones, lug centric systems use flanges with studs that go into the lug holes to mount the wheel while balancing.  Kit, as much as I hate to say it, check with a large gm dealer in your area for a vehicle mounted balancing system. They usually have the state of the art systems. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 [This message has been edited by SteveLaRiviere (edited 11-12-2002).]
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 779
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 11-12-2002 05:11 PM
Steve, It doesn't bother me too much, all that 'GM vs. FORD' crap.I have several of each. The guys down at the local FORD and GM dealerships where I used to live all knew me, and I would have no problem taking any vehicle to either, if necessary.
Unfortunately, I have visited a couple of FORD-stores here in Orlando, and thier workmanship seems a little sub-standard. Maybe some high-tech parts changers, but thats probably about as specialized as they get. Oh well, I'll keep looking.------------------
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 11-12-2002 05:11 PM
Kit, another idea is to contact Hunter and ask them who uses their machines in your area:http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/product.htm ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 779
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 11-12-2002 05:28 PM
Great idea Steve, I think I'll do just that.------------------
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68 S-code GT
Gearhead Posts: 1129
From: Sayreville, NJ, US
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 11-13-2002 05:56 PM
Are other styled steel wheels or the regular type of stock rims like this also?
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 19751
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 11-15-2002 12:56 PM
Most specialist alignment shops all still have and use "on car" spin balancing equipment. Especially the "old time been in business forever" shops that do not sell tires.
Through the 70's and early 80's, every new car dealer that I worked at had on car spin balancing equipment. The wheel roller looked like a giant vaccum cleaner.  ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
MCA member# 53321
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00, '01, & '02
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Professional Manwhore
The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 11-16-2002 07:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 68 S-code GT:
Are other styled steel wheels or the regular type of stock rims like this also?
It depends on the wheel. Styled steel wheels usually need lug centric adapters to be balanced right. Regular steel wheels usually have nice round center holes for the cones to sit in. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Be sure to remember our sponsors, Mustangs Plus, NPD, and Osborn Reproductions.
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Rory McNeil
Gearhead Posts: 1235
From: Surrey, B.C. Canada
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-16-2002 07:41 PM
I have seen these "on car balancers" but have never used one. How do you use this on a car with a posi? you would be spinning both tires, the diff & the driveshaft, as well as the transmissions mainshaft. Or are they only meant for the front wheels? ------------------
78 Fairmont 428 4 speed 10.20@130mph
80 Fairmont 302 5 speed 12.8@105mph
85 Mustang NHRA Stocker under construction, 302 5 speed
59 Meteor (Canadian Ford) 2 dr sedan 332, auto
74 F350 ramp truck 390 4spd
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soaring
Gearhead Posts: 116
From: New Mexico
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 11-16-2002 10:02 PM
yep, speed balance is the way to go. Also, my 500's tend to get surface rust quickly. So, I am not pleased with the quality of the rims.
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fordnmerc
Gearhead Posts: 940
From: Watkins Glen, NY USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 11-17-2002 01:28 PM
My family had factory Magnums on a 77 Limited Edition Maverick. Straight six engine.  We never lost a center cap, but they all rattled like crazy on the least little stretch of rough pavement. If you had valve stems knocking on the trim rings besides, it was EXTREMELY annoying!  Anyone else have rattling center caps?I just don't care for Magnums. Seems like everyone is getting them. They take quite a lot of care. Lug wrenches can scuff up the fancy chromed lug nuts. Etc, etc. I may be swapping my 79 Ranchero GT and 78 LTD II for a 72 Ranchero GT soon. Guy put over 15 grand into the resto. It has Magnums and BF Goodrich Radial T/As. I told him he could keep those if we make the swap and I will put on the standard steel wheels with Firestone FR480 white letter tires and 1960 Galaxie cone shaped wheel covers from my 79. Those wheel covers are a breeze to clean and look great, in my opinion. ------------------
David I thought an Escort Service was a group of mechanics that only repaired small Fords. 1975 Elite 351M
1979 Ranchero GT 351W
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 19751
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 11-17-2002 04:52 PM
You did them one side at a time Rory with the opposite wheel and tire off. ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
MCA member# 53321
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00, '01, & '02
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Professional Manwhore
The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
IP: Logged |
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