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  1. #1
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    Default Identifying various makes of steel wheels

    Note: I'm taking the liberty of editing this original post to include info we've agreed on through discussion later in the thread.

    ---



    How many different steel wheel makes and models have been used on Formula Fords?

    Can you tell them apart? I certainly can't, but perhaps working together we can start building an online identification guide. I'll post some photos and notes below. If you guys can tell anything from the snapshots - or especially if you have other photos/notes - I hope you'll add them below. Thanks!


    1 - Dick Leehr's Lotus 51c
    Diamond Racing Wheels (specifically their lighter spun-rim version.)


    2 - Jeff Snook's Alexis Mk14
    Diamond Racing Wheels (specifically their heavier rolled-rim version.)
    Note that these have a visible weld seam 180 degrees from the stem.


    3 - Howard Freeman's Merlyn Eleven
    Weller Racing wheels


    4 - Bernard Bradpiece's Merlyn 11A
    Bernard said these are "early Weller" wheels, but we think they're actually Dunlops.


    5 - Dave Fairchild's 11A
    Weller Racing wheels.


    6 - Kyle Kaulback's Lotus 61MX
    Ford passenger car wheels (possibly from a Cortina)


    7 - Scott Fairchild's Royale RP3-A
    Weller Racing wheels


    One more little thing: how many of you run narrower wheels on the front?
    Last edited by BritishV8; 05.16.11 at 2:44 PM.

  2. #2
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    The wheels on Kyle's Lotus look like Lotus Cortina wheels. They could be a copy, but it is the appropriate design. The only way to be sure is to look for the part number on the inside. I have a set and can go get the number in the shop if anybody needs it.

  3. #3
    Senior Member David Clubine's Avatar
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    The wheel in picture #4 is the original Dunlop wheel, not a weller.

  4. #4
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    Default Wheel ID?

    The Leehr Lotus 51 is wearing Diamond Racing Wheels.

    Kyle Kaulback's Lotus 61 is sitting on Ford rims.

  5. #5
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    Formula Ford wheels should all be 5 1/2 in width, by rule.
    Roland Johnson
    San Diego, Ca

  6. #6
    Contributing Member provamo's Avatar
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    Default black round thing holders....

    numbers 4 and 6 look "original"

    i recall that "mags" were ok'd around 1974 on

    early "Lotus " wheels had weird "triangular" slots

    most of mine were bent LOL

  7. #7
    Contributing Member Frank C's Avatar
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    Default Lotus 51 w/Elan Wheels

    There is a nice picture of a Lotus 51 with those wheels, like the ones which were on my '64 Elan, on the Race Car Sales Site:
    http://www.race-cars.com/carsold/lot...50439183ld.htm

    The sold car is very pretty in the iconic Lotus green & yellow. I have wondered whether Roland is correct - did the very earliest FF's all have 5.5 inch wheels on both ends?
    - Frank C
    Edit - Thanks Roland (below). I wasn't sure the Elan wheels were 5.5, and I also wondered whether the wheels identified as Dunlop above were Spitfire.
    Last edited by Frank C; 05.12.11 at 1:02 PM.

  8. #8
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    The 1969 GCR, the year that FFord was recognized as a class, specifies that the wheels must be steel, of "standard manufacture" (but offset was free), 13in diameter, and a max width of 5 /12 in. I suppose that someone could have used less than 5 1/2 width on the cars. Triumph Spitfire wheels were 4 1/2 in, fit the front hubs of most cars, and were available. We have a set of wheels that came with Vern Jaques Lotus 51. They were 5 1/2 in all the way around, with the two different bolt patterns. The very first F Fords had wet sump oiling, and I don't think they had the crossflow engine either. Both of those items went away before the cars came to the U.S.
    Roland Johnson
    San Diego, Ca

  9. #9
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    re: Diamond wheels in pic 1 and 2? Diamond does/did make wheels available with either a spun shell or rolled shell. Pic 2 is clearly a rolled shell (weld) while pic 1 may be a spun shell.

    Hope that helps.

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    Any Idea on this wheel. Later rim ?? Did my own short survey at 40th

    Hope the picture attached up not that familiar with this ??

  11. #11
    Contributing Member provamo's Avatar
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    Default wheelz

    Quote Originally Posted by DPLarsen View Post
    Any Idea on this wheel. Later rim ?? Did my own short survey at 40th

    Hope the picture attached up not that familiar with this ??
    a Triumph center

  12. #12
    Contributing Member Jerry B.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DPLarsen View Post
    Any Idea on this wheel. Later rim ?? Did my own short survey at 40th

    Hope the picture attached up not that familiar with this ??
    ...and the hubcap "nubs" in the spider (wheel center) indicate it would have come from a passenger car with hubcaps. This wheel looks homebuilt with a Trumph spider and an aftermarket outer (rim) and will have welments and welds spider to outer and set to the backspacing that is/was wanted and welded. Typical aftermarket rolled outers have an 11.25'"inside diameter and is common in dimension with British spiders.

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    Default

    Incidentally... I was curious about wheel weight.

    Diamond's website was helpful. They're claimed weights are as follows:
    spun-rim: 10.5#
    rolled-rim: 15#

    The Weller & Motorsport Events websites don't list weight, so I emailed them.
    Weller: 5.7kg (~12.6#)

    I bet OEM (street car) wheels are a lot heavier.

  14. #14
    Member Dick Leehr's Avatar
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    Default Steel Wheels

    British V8

    Thanks for including my car in your review.
    Now that I have bent one of the wheels beyond repair, I am looking for a pair of the 5.5 inch Diamond spun wheels. All suggestions welcome. I will try Diamond direct but willing to go with a used pair as well.

    Dick Leehr

  15. #15
    Contributing Member Jerry B.'s Avatar
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    Default Diamond wheels

    Dick..........sent you a pm

    JB

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    Now for something a bit different...

    Can one of you please identify these alloy wheels (make and model)?



    Thanks!

  17. #17
    Senior Member gord leach's Avatar
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    I believe American Racing "silverstone"
    later Gord
    BTW...only toilets need doors
    www.blurredvisionracing.com

  18. #18
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    This FF board seems quiet until someone asks a question... but then answers come so quick. Thanks Gord!

  19. #19
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    Default Spun vs Rolled

    Spun vs rolled. Any opinions for formula ford?

  20. #20
    Contributing Member provamo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by roosta View Post
    Spun vs rolled. Any opinions for formula ford?
    obviously the car is better off spun than rolled

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  22. #21
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    [QUOTE=BritishV8;353779]Now for something a bit different...

    Can one of you please identify these alloy wheels (make and model)?

    Last edited by Motorsport Services; 09.14.16 at 4:14 PM.

  23. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by provamo View Post
    obviously the car is better off spun than rolled
    Good one

    Dave Coughlin

  24. #23
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    That is Andy Antipas Mk6 and they are indeed American Racing "Silverstone's as mentioned above. Todd

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