American Silverstone Wheel Dummy Nut Question???

[MadRiver]

Hey gang -- I've found a pretty nice set of original American Silverstone wheels, but of course they're missing the dummy center lock nuts. Any thoughts on how to fix that (aside from hunting them down, of course). I assume the threads on the wheels are different (larger diameter?) than standard center-lock wire wheel nuts, yes?

Seller is asking around $1400. Thoughts on whether that's reasonable?

 

[tomshobby]

Re: American Silverstone Wheel Dummy Nut Question?

Hi Bill, lucky find!! I had American Silverstone magnesium wheels on my '67 GT6. Instead of the nuts I had caps over the wheel centers. Actually did not know they came any other way. In 1968 my 13" wheels were $100 each and I thought that was plenty.

I can't believe they won't make them again. I think they are the best looking wheels ever made. I have written them a few times and never even got a reply.

Good luck!

 

[Tomster]

Re: American Silverstone Wheel Dummy Nut Question?

Just found these under google image search
Scroll down about a dozen or so wheels
Look like Minis or Pans to my uneducated eye
https://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=ht...l%3Den%26sa%3DG

 

[MadRiver]

Re: American Silverstone Wheel Dummy Nut Question?

Oh, I did in fact buy the wheels, and I'm so stoked! My search for the fake spinners now begins in earnest. I got them for what I think to be a pretty good price.

American Racing does make a wheel called the Silverstone, but you're quite right, they're pretty much Minis/Pans. The wheels I picked up over the weekend were the magnesium (also available in aluminum, I think) eight spoke wheel that they made and that was offered as a Triumph accessory for the 4A and 250 (perhaps the 4 as well, but I don't know).

I'll take a photo and post later. They're pretty outrageous!

B.

 

[DNK]

Re: American Silverstone Wheel Dummy Nut Question?

Weren't the original mini's magnesium?

 

[MadRiver]

Re: American Silverstone Wheel Dummy Nut Question?

Search me!

 

[RobT]

Re: American Silverstone Wheel Dummy Nut Question?

I have a set of Siverstone 13 inch 4 1/2 rims. These are off the Europa, replaced these with wider "Lotus Brand" alloys.

They have the same stud pattern as the Spitfire/GT6/Vitesse/Herald. They are really light, and have near new Sumitomo 175/70 R13s on. Ran fine on the Lotus. Are these desirable? Any idea what they might be worth?

 

[DanNagy]

Re: American Silverstone Wheel Dummy Nut Question?

Put them on eBay. Let the market decide.

 

[CinneaghTR]

Re: American Silverstone Wheel Dummy Nut Question?

Rob,
I just sent you a PM.
Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[angelfj1]

I've had these 'stones on the 250 since 1985. They were fairly pitted so we painted them silver. (see before photos) However, I always wanted them to look like the original TR-250 brochure. After glass beading and polishing the rims I am very pleased with the results.

BEFORE OUTSIDE - MOUNTED ON MICHELIN X

BEFORE INSIDE RIM ONLY

AFTER OUTSIDE RIM ONLY (GLASS BEADED AND POLISHED)

AFTER MOUNTED ON NEW BF GOODRICH REDLINES

One note of caution, magnesium is quite porous. So, if you intend to run tubeless tires, you should paint the inside surface of the rim with an epoxy sealer. We did this and the tires are holding pressure.

 

[2wrench]

Very pretty. Nice work.

 

[MadRiver]

They look great! The set I bought are painted, but perhaps in the future. BTW, Angelfj, I sent you a pm. Thanks!

 

[MadMarx]

my faworite type of wheel is the Le Mans 4-spoke one from ARE.

But they are rare. The Revolution wheel is somekind of replacement as 5-spoke wheel.

Cheers
Chris

 

[Twosheds]

Re: American Silverstone Wheel Dummy Nut Question?

I think I know the wheels you bought. A vendor was selling them at VTR in Valley Forge. I am totally flat broke, but was considering putting the wheels on a credit card because the price was so low I thought I could "flip" them and make a profit. Capitalism and whatnot, don't you know. But I decided not to do it. I'm not much of a businessman.

I asked the guy if they had inspected them with dye-penetrant before they painted them. He didn't know what dye-penetrant was, so I took that as a "No".

My conscience is bothering me. I hate to rain on your parade, Bill, but I am afraid that the beautiful paint job might cover cracks. Dye-penetrant won't work on painted surfaces. Actually, it's not very good on porous material either, but maybe it would work on magnesium. You have to remove the paint with chemicals. If you bead-blast the paint off, you have to acid-etch the material before dye-penetrant inspection. Maybe eddy current of ultrasonic inspection could be used without stripping the paint, I don't know.

To answer your question, I don't see why a knock-off couldn't be re-threaded to fit the wheel.