Minilite wheels, at the end
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
Minilite wheels, at the end
I took a while to decide between Torq trust D and Minilite...delivered today.
i see not so many forum member using Minilites...i think they are quite expensive in the US.
the main issue is the brake calipers clearance ( also the Vintage wheel works TTDs need a little spacer, they wrote me that). The Minilites are meant to be direct fit for corvettes. I'll fit the new wheels in 2 days and see...btw look at the picture of the back of the wheel
i have not yet weighted them, but they look pretty heavy, even if alu. i will weight the minilite and my rally wheels but i don't expect a big difference. btw the main reason of the buy has been the need to cool the brakes in possible race track days
i see not so many forum member using Minilites...i think they are quite expensive in the US.
the main issue is the brake calipers clearance ( also the Vintage wheel works TTDs need a little spacer, they wrote me that). The Minilites are meant to be direct fit for corvettes. I'll fit the new wheels in 2 days and see...btw look at the picture of the back of the wheel
i have not yet weighted them, but they look pretty heavy, even if alu. i will weight the minilite and my rally wheels but i don't expect a big difference. btw the main reason of the buy has been the need to cool the brakes in possible race track days
Last edited by elle88; Jul 15, 2010 at 02:17 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Minilites are a very classic design for the C3 and I like them. You just don't see many US-made cars with them. I think it's because the Minilite has always been regarded as a road race wheel, while a design like the five spoke TT has been a hot rod or drag wheel. The US market has always favored hot rod and drag race -even to this day.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,931
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Minilites are on my buy list. Once I'm done with the current project, I need to spend some time to find out what sizes are available.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 753
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another option is to have the outer rim in natural aluminum (glossy) but the dealer advised me that if my intention was to race the car ,to don't go for that , because a good amount of aluminum is removed in the process- the rim gets weaker. my rims are 15x8 but i asked for 15x10 availability too-they are
Last edited by elle88; Jul 15, 2010 at 04:01 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 9
From: Crescent City, CA
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss82/trw1111/apvsar.jpg
I went with the Appliance wheels they have the same rear mounting plate to clear the calipers. The "D's" do not as seen on the right.
Last edited by trw; Jul 15, 2010 at 09:59 PM. Reason: http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss82/trw1111/apvsar.jpg
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,931
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I'm confused about the Appliance mention. Is that a model/style, or a manufacturer? (I recall a company named Appliance making a bunch of hotrod stuff in the 70's.)
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 9
From: Crescent City, CA
Appliance is the manufacturer.
From an article on Classic Racing Wheels.
"Appliance wheels were popular in the Seventies. Their five-spoked wheels can be identified by the word "Japan" stamped on the inside, and also by their large, recessed holes for the lug nut washers to seat in. As long as you don't mind the deep holes for the lug nut washers, Appliance five-spoked wheels are considered to be good-quality Torq-Thrust copies."
From an article on Classic Racing Wheels.
"Appliance wheels were popular in the Seventies. Their five-spoked wheels can be identified by the word "Japan" stamped on the inside, and also by their large, recessed holes for the lug nut washers to seat in. As long as you don't mind the deep holes for the lug nut washers, Appliance five-spoked wheels are considered to be good-quality Torq-Thrust copies."
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,931
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Appliance is the manufacturer.
From an article on Classic Racing Wheels.
"Appliance wheels were popular in the Seventies. Their five-spoked wheels can be identified by the word "Japan" stamped on the inside, and also by their large, recessed holes for the lug nut washers to seat in. As long as you don't mind the deep holes for the lug nut washers, Appliance five-spoked wheels are considered to be good-quality Torq-Thrust copies."
From an article on Classic Racing Wheels.
"Appliance wheels were popular in the Seventies. Their five-spoked wheels can be identified by the word "Japan" stamped on the inside, and also by their large, recessed holes for the lug nut washers to seat in. As long as you don't mind the deep holes for the lug nut washers, Appliance five-spoked wheels are considered to be good-quality Torq-Thrust copies."
My first slotted aluminum wheels on my '69 were Appliance brand. And, the headers I currently have on the car are from Appliance, too.
I'll have to take another shot at finding their website.
Thanks for the info.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
[QUOTE=trw;1574711723]Love the minilites.
I went with the Appliance wheels they have the same rear mounting plate to clear the calipers. The "D's" do not as seen on the right.
Can you still buy these appliance wheels? I looked and can't find any place.
I went with the Appliance wheels they have the same rear mounting plate to clear the calipers. The "D's" do not as seen on the right.
Can you still buy these appliance wheels? I looked and can't find any place.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
the Minilites are on the car
pics later today because my camera died yesterday and have to buy one
I'm satisfied by Minilites but not 100%
good things:
-yes they clear the brake calipers
-they weight 6.6 lbs less than rally wheels without trim (Minilites are 17.6 lbs , rallies are 24 lbs).
i hope to "feel" the reduced weight ...in terms of reduced moving mass...
bad things:
-aestetic : i would have preferred the polished aluminum outer ring option...
- I have been forced to cut away the parking brake support and move the cable!the L shaped plate touches the rim , the cable touches the tire (245/60/15)
-the tires stick into the fenders more than with rallies.not nice appearance and i have lost 1" of useful track width...no good!
- the hole in the center of the wheel is bigger than the Vette hub, so the centering of the wheel is made by nuts (self aligning?) only and possibly a kind of centering spacer needed. btw i drove the car till 60mph and no evident vibration on the steering wheel, but need to check better
to people wanting to buy Minilites , I would suggest to go for wider models , not the 8" , but 8.5 or 9 to have the tires correctly aligned to the fender lip.
mine are 15x8 code MA1580HT
pics later today because my camera died yesterday and have to buy one
I'm satisfied by Minilites but not 100%
good things:
-yes they clear the brake calipers
-they weight 6.6 lbs less than rally wheels without trim (Minilites are 17.6 lbs , rallies are 24 lbs).
i hope to "feel" the reduced weight ...in terms of reduced moving mass...
bad things:
-aestetic : i would have preferred the polished aluminum outer ring option...
- I have been forced to cut away the parking brake support and move the cable!the L shaped plate touches the rim , the cable touches the tire (245/60/15)
-the tires stick into the fenders more than with rallies.not nice appearance and i have lost 1" of useful track width...no good!
- the hole in the center of the wheel is bigger than the Vette hub, so the centering of the wheel is made by nuts (self aligning?) only and possibly a kind of centering spacer needed. btw i drove the car till 60mph and no evident vibration on the steering wheel, but need to check better
to people wanting to buy Minilites , I would suggest to go for wider models , not the 8" , but 8.5 or 9 to have the tires correctly aligned to the fender lip.
mine are 15x8 code MA1580HT
Last edited by elle88; Jul 17, 2010 at 01:55 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 9
From: Crescent City, CA
Love the Mini's. The silver look great on that black vet. It is not that much work to polish the lips on the wheels.
I had to do it to my wheels. Use light sandpaper getting smoother and then an aluminum polish. Look at the polish on the Appliances above. I had them turned at a machine shop to take a rash off the lips and polished them after.
Not to highjack the thread. But to answer questions.
Appliance Wheels have not been made since the 70's.
Used is the only option. They were made in 7" and 8.5" width, with 3.5 back spacing.
I had to do it to my wheels. Use light sandpaper getting smoother and then an aluminum polish. Look at the polish on the Appliances above. I had them turned at a machine shop to take a rash off the lips and polished them after.
Not to highjack the thread. But to answer questions.
Appliance Wheels have not been made since the 70's.
Used is the only option. They were made in 7" and 8.5" width, with 3.5 back spacing.
Last edited by trw; Jul 17, 2010 at 09:47 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,972
Likes: 3,362
From: NYC NY
Just something to think about........the trademark appearence of Minilites is the silver paint. If you polish the lips they will look like the reproductions made by Vintage Wheel Works, Team III, and PST. That's not a bad thing as I have Team IIIs but you have the real ones. By the way for what it's worth I think your car looks great as is.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
I too like the looks of the Minilites on your car...
I had a set of Mini's on a black Porsche 914 (V8) and everyone took note (might have been the sound though..
..)..
Messing around one day I painted the spokes gold on them and was nicely surprised just how good it looked against the black car.
I had a set of Mini's on a black Porsche 914 (V8) and everyone took note (might have been the sound though..
..).. Messing around one day I painted the spokes gold on them and was nicely surprised just how good it looked against the black car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
an american copy, not mine , you see them once in awhile but not very often, western wheel also made a version
http://stockton.craigslist.org/pts/3316253289.html
http://stockton.craigslist.org/pts/3316253289.html
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 294
Likes: 1
From: Racine Wisconsin
....
- I have been forced to cut away the parking brake support and move the cable!the L shaped plate touches the rim , the cable touches the tire (245/60/15)
-the tires stick into the fenders more than with rallies.not nice appearance and i have lost 1" of useful track width...no good!
I would suggest to go for wider models , not the 8" , but 8.5 or 9 to have the tires correctly aligned to the fender lip. mine are 15x8 code MA1580HT...
- I have been forced to cut away the parking brake support and move the cable!the L shaped plate touches the rim , the cable touches the tire (245/60/15)
-the tires stick into the fenders more than with rallies.not nice appearance and i have lost 1" of useful track width...no good!
I would suggest to go for wider models , not the 8" , but 8.5 or 9 to have the tires correctly aligned to the fender lip. mine are 15x8 code MA1580HT...