Revfan

My search for vintage wheels for my 67 continues. Honestly, I don't really care if they are Torque Thrust, or Ansen Slots.. I'd just like some Late 60s wheels...

I am also a budget shopper... so I (and my wife) am sensitive to the $ outlay.

I found a guy with these wheels... any idea whether they are vintage or newer made? Is there a difference?
or is it not enough information?

Thanks for any help

65 fi

The later version. American Racing Equipment will be continuous and absent of stamps or words between on the originals.

Revfan

any differences view-able from the front?

Dr L-88

When placed side by side...........................yes, there is an obvious difference on the front. ORIGINAL American Racing TT D wheels have a reinforcing rib on the back side of each spoke. You should be able to pick up a set of the newer ones (NOT ORIGINALS) for $400 to $500, maybe even less if you shop around.................I'm referring to used ones of course. Good luck with your search.

bill3302

Here is a set I picked. They sat in his mom's basement since 1969. Cleaned up nice. Good luck getting a nice set for $500.00 maybe per rim.

65 fi

What are these?

Dr L-88

Martin,

Those are American Racing Torque Thrust T-70 wheels. Nice wheels.

http://www.torquethrustcentral.com/17.html

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...7-pics.614197/

Qblue92

I have a set of Cragar Grand Prix wheels that I'm going to list on Ebay soon. 2 14s and 2 15s. All 6 inches wide. They look like Torq Thrusts.

Qblue92

These Caps would work on them. Need to be re-chromed.

sub006

One way to tell earlier Torq Thrusts from (most of?) the 21st century ones is the center cap, a slightly different size and shape with a different size circle for the five attachment screws. They do not interchange, but so far American Racing still has both size center caps available.

I forget now which is bigger or smaller.

6T5RUSH

If indeed that reinforcing rib on the back side is the telltale of ORIGINAL Torque Thrust D wheels then that's what I've got. Picked these up on craigslist last November. They were in very good shape.

Just finished having a set of DiamondBack RedLines in a 215x65R15 Michelin Defender tires mounted on these rims today at Discount Tire.

Here's a few pics before and after. The car has not settled after being in the air. I've got some 3 bar spinners to add to them.

Bill3302, your car looks GREAT with those wheels!

Enjoy!

Jim
In God We Trust!


BEFORE...Looks like she's ready to drag race. Those are Michelin defenders in a 215x65R15



Another view of the before



AFTER...Exact same tire with Diamondback's magic of vulcanizing a redline stripe on her



Another view of the after



Closerup shot



Backside of these 15x6 Torque Thrust Ds

colo63sw

Those are what I have on my 63. AR T70 as someone else replied. I like them, but if AR made the TTO in 17 x 7" I would have gotten those.

colo63sw

Revfan,

Note that there is a big difference between what AR todays calls their Torque Thrust wheels. The TTO & the TTD have very different spoke shapes. I think the ‘D’ in TTD means disk brake clearance and the ‘O’ in TTO might mean Original.

If I were you I would try to get new American Racing TTO wheels, they are almost exactly the same as the 60s original five spoke from the outside. Note the center photo in post #5, see how the crease line on the ridge of the spokes is sharp & pronounced not rounded like in your OP photo.

The BIG question is if the TTO will clear disc brakes. When I was shopping, I was looking for my 63 so DB clearance was not an issue for me.

Revfan

I have been looking for about a year to no avail... or when they do come up, they are waaaaayyyy out of my price range.

Since the Vettes were one of the first cars to have disc brakes all around, not many other cars in the late 60s needed 15x6 with a 3.66 back spacing.

By the time other brands/models had the disc brakes in the 70s, it seems like everybody moved to a 15x7 or wider tire.


I can find 14x6s all day long... same with 15x7s... its that dang 15x6 3.66 back spacing.

I am at the point where I don't really care what brand model they are... Ansen slots, Keystones, or Torque Thrust style, as long as they fit....

Dr L-88

I sent you a PM with a good alternative to the pricey AR TT D wheels.

Dr L-88

VERY Nice Jim. Those are the real McCoys, great find Beautiful car.

Revfan

Thanks for the help L-88...
that link, to the ebay listing, was for a set of 15x7s/15x8s... I was under the understanding that 15x6s were the only sure fits on un-modded fenders.... no?

Dr L-88

15x7 will work with the correct back spacing..............

bill3302

On ebay 2 1/8 holes.

Revfan

Whats the correct back spacing for a 15x7 wheel on an unmolested C2 Fender?

I hope I am not opening a can of debate worms, but there seems to be two camps here on the forum... one that says ONLY 15x6 3.66 Backspacing will work, and the other that says 15x7 are on their car now.

What is the magic formula for getting 15x7s to work? There are a heck of a lot more 15x7 options than there are 15x6, that is for sure.