Wheel/ Rim Question

[JPSmit]

Merry Christmas! My darling daughter gave me a book called MG Sports Cars. Very sweet. In the Midget section there is an ad for an early Midget with rims that look like the attachment I've included. Two questions.

1. Would they fit a '76 Midget? and if so,
2. Are they available?

To my mind they are much more unique than the Rostyle and possible even the wire wheels.

thanks
JP

 

[Bugeye58]

JP, those are Bugeye wheels, and were notorious for cracking. Hence the update to the later style steel wheels. They are probably out there, but I wouldn't run them with modern rubber. This is only <u>my</u> opinion, understand.
I'm sure you'll hear from someone who has raced on them for forty years with no problems. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
Jeff

 

[jollyroger]

Actually they would crack on a race course, but driving around the road they work just fine. If that is still a concern the MKII wheels look the same except they moved the brake adjustment hole slightly away from those little holes around the rim. The bugeye wheel had a brake ajusting hole right next to one of those little perimeter holes. That is where the crack happened, between the ajuster hole and the little holes. The rims are skinny (3.5") a 155-70-13 should work, maybe a 165. I think they are neat too. Got tons of them around the shop.

 

[JPSmit]

thanks for the responses, I didn't realize there was a nuance here. I guess what I'm really asking is whether steel rims are a viable option for a '76 and whether they are available? (doesn't matter whether they are pre or post bugeye.) when did they stop using them?

 

[Bugeye58]

JP, the ventilated steel wheels were gone by '64. Maybe as early as '63. My '61 and '62 both have them, and the '63 had wire wheels before I converted it to aluminum wheels. My '64 has the later style steel wheels. I'm pretty sure the later wheels were 4" wide as opposed to the 3 1/2" width of the vented wheels. I'll go out later and measure one.
The later steel wheels were available with "beauty rings", and with the stock hub caps don't look bad, but they are a fairly plain wheel.
As they fit the disc brake cars, I don't see why they wouldn't fit a '76, but you will be limited in tire selection.
Jeff

 

[jollyroger]

If width is a concern there are services that will take your wheel centers and weld them on fatter rims. If you are going to drive hard then make sure you get the wheels with the shifted adjuster holes. In fact I think I will take a set of mine and do just that. Just think a 6" rim with those centers.
Thanks for the idea.

 

[Guest]

The other problem with some of those ventilated early steel wheels is that the centers were riveted to the rim, not welded. It's been 40 years, and they might not be as strong.

 

[jollyroger]

I have never seen that problem, but hey..it could happen, I guess. There are a lot of bridges around here that are riveted together. They are still working fine after 60 or 80 years. I would worry about the 60 plus year old drivers first huh? The cars (with the wheels)will likely out last the drivers.