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Torque Thrust vs. Crager SS

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Old Jan 5, 2006 | 09:56 PM
  #1  
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Default Torque Thrust vs. Crager SS

I've searched the forums and archives, and see that TT2's are the most popular, but I had Crager's on a '71 when I was a kid, and they seem much more "vintage" than the TT's. (just because they're Cragers). Is it a quality thing, or a fit thing? or what am I missing? why are the TT's so much more popular than the Cragers on C3's????
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Old Jan 5, 2006 | 10:22 PM
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because the cragars are two piece steel wheels and rust
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Old Jan 5, 2006 | 10:27 PM
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cragers and keystones should go away. never liked them on anything
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Old Jan 5, 2006 | 11:17 PM
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I've owned them both. I had a buddy with a blue 454" '71 while we were in high school. He had Cragars on it and it was absolutely perfect looking!

I used regulat TT's on my '67 when I first put it together. Later the polished TTII's came out and my wife bought me a set.

But lately I've been lusting over the old Cragars!

The differences are that regular TT's usually need a thin spacer to clear calipers on a Vette. No big deal I routinely ran it to 140-150 mph on "tests" and had no issues.

The later polished TTII's have a different curvature on the rear of spokes and they clear just fine with no spacers.

The Cragars will also need spacers.


Whatever you do...don't go nuts with the 'bling" wheels. Many 17's and for sure the 18"+ just look dorky. Those little thin rubber band tires look lost in the C-3 wheelwell.

Put a nice set of Cragar 15's on it and be cool!!


JIM
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Old Jan 5, 2006 | 11:38 PM
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now see i like the big in. wheels and tires. they actually fill in the wheel well. and give the vette a complete look. no giant gaps between fender and tire. must be a age thing
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 12:02 AM
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I used to have a set of Cragar's..but up against the TT II's theres a big difference... For myself, I'm leaning towards the chrome TT II's or the Boyd Coddington Smoothies... I'm leaning towards the latter... Its my understanding, (from a few local guys) that the polished are a PTA to keep polished...and lookn' good <~~~ advise
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 12:32 AM
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I had a similar question. I can order Eagle Wheels from a friend at dealer cost. They have one very similar to the TT's (Series 211). Anyone ever used them?

http://www.eaglewheels.com/images/211full.jpg
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 12:37 AM
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Are you serious? 99% of the big wheel cars just look like a bad joke unless you lower them significantly. The wheelwells of C-3 were designed for tires that are 26-27" tall at least. The old H-70's folks ran were taller than that even. Many of the new rubber bands are 25" or less and leave these huge gaps above tires.

The best one I've seen yet is on Zwede's Red C-3. He has a set of 17's TTII's with powdercoated centers (grey), but the trick is he used a relatively tall sidewall tire and he managed to fill fenders well while maintaining near stock appearing height.

And you're right...it is probably an age thing. I'm stuck on the old look. I've seen a few I like (Zwede's) but they are few and far between!

JIM
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 07:26 AM
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I'm sort of in the middle. I had Cragers in my younger years and they were suitable for the times. Now with the TTII's weighing in at 17lb/ea and aluminum you can't beat them.

I settled for the 16's. I'm not a real "big wheel" fan.


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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 08:46 AM
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Originally Posted by redc3
cragers and keystones should go away. never liked them on anything
I had Keystones on my '69 442, loved em.

I bought TT2's cause I wanted 17" and Cragers didn't come in that size then
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 08:57 AM
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I guess it all gets down to a matter of personal choice. I've always liked the Cragar SS since I was a kid, so when it came to getting wheels, I went with what liked the best.
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
Are you serious? 99% of the big wheel cars just look like a bad joke unless you lower them significantly. The wheelwells of C-3 were designed for tires that are 26-27" tall at least. The old H-70's folks ran were taller than that even. Many of the new rubber bands are 25" or less and leave these huge gaps above tires.

The best one I've seen yet is on Zwede's Red C-3. He has a set of 17's TTII's with powdercoated centers (grey), but the trick is he used a relatively tall sidewall tire and he managed to fill fenders well while maintaining near stock appearing height.

And you're right...it is probably an age thing. I'm stuck on the old look. I've seen a few I like (Zwede's) but they are few and far between!

JIM
I run 17" TT2's with 255/50/17 overall diameter is 27.04" which is almost exactly the same height of the stock 255/60/15 tire height of 27.05. No speedo error and fill the wheel wells perfectly without lowering.

Last edited by kermit1654; Jan 6, 2006 at 02:58 PM.
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 09:59 AM
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Originally Posted by kermit1654
I run 17" TT2's with 255/50/17 overall diameter is 27.04" which is almost exactly the same height of the stock 255/60/15 tire height of 27.05. No speedo error and fill the wheel wells perfectly without lowering.

I too bought the 17" TTII's but DANG I didn't get a girl like that with mine!! (My wife would have made me take her back anyway )
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 10:09 AM
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i've had my cragers on since 94 and i still luv the look of them and no rust issues
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 10:31 AM
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TTII are awesome looking on any old car. Look good on most new vehicles also. I have a set 15's
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by kermit1654
I run 17" TT2's with 255/50/17 overall diameter is 27.04" which is almost exactly the same height of the stock 255/60/15 tire height of 27.05. No speedo error and fill the wheel wells perfectly without lowering.


OK not fair whos the girl..........
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 10:51 AM
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also, TTII's just plain FIT.

cragars can be MADE TO fit.

they both look great though.

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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 11:17 AM
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[QUOTE=Jims79]OK not fair whos the girl.......... [/QUOTE

How am I suppose to remember all their names? I think her name was Lolla or Lori or something with an "L"? Now if you saw Brenda or Brandy? (I'm terrible with names) she was really hot, but I didn't get a picture of her with the Vette.
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 11:37 AM
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looks like she's been cut and pasted actually...ok, so what mag was it, i wanna see the whole spread
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Old Jan 6, 2006 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
Are you serious? 99% of the big wheel cars just look like a bad joke unless you lower them significantly. The wheelwells of C-3 were designed for tires that are 26-27" tall at least. The old H-70's folks ran were taller than that even. Many of the new rubber bands are 25" or less and leave these huge gaps above tires.



JIM
Amen brother, the word skate board comes to mind. In my opinion no other car calls for tall fat tires more than a C3....
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