MadaboutKitcars

under 300?? where??

e-bay.

I've seen sets of four MGB wires sell for under a tenner. OK, so they need blasting and painting, but if you've already got the kit, which I did, it's just the cost of the primer and paint, around a fiver a wheel.

I paid £270 for new splined adaptors with two-eared spinners and a hammer, so £300 is just about acheivable.

Having said that, I paid £90 for five wires, then spent around a fiver a wheel on primer and paint so my total outlay (excluding three days hard work!) would be about £385 for the five, or £77 per wheel.

And I don't think they look too shabby, even if the tramp demonstrating the driving position does...

For G46 I think a set of cleaned up Wolfrace alloys would look very good and wont cost a huge amount.

http://www.scimitarweb.co.uk/sgwrs/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=16362

A bit seventies beach buggy for my taste, but one man's meat is another man's poison I suppose.

Oxford1360 - Your car is really going to stand out in that colour.

Although I think the over spray has knocked £s off the value of your pallet.



Jokes aside, I'm really looking forward to seeing this coming together.

Cheers, Paul.

One little change I'm making to the original spec is to replace the 3/8" wheel lugs with the M12 variety that were used on TR7s. It's a straight swap and can be had from Canley for ~£24 for 16. There is quite a difference, but wheels and rear drums fit without any modifications. It pains me to have a metric part on the car but I can live with that......just about.

TR7, MGF, Freelander, there are a bunch of options in different lengths to suit steels/alloys, taper/sleeve nuts etc.

Talk to MWS if you want use them with wire wheel adapters though.

I'm going for a set of these and 15" steel wheels.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230620025009?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Intersting adaptors, will give you lots more choice.

What steels are you aiming to fit? I've done a little trawling and found these possibilities -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steel-Wheels-4x100-BMW-/200827709399?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item2ec243a7d7

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15-Fiat-Grande-Punto-4x100-et43-winter-steel-wheels-Brand-New-Set-4-/150902900646?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item23228387a6

It'll be interesting to see what you end up with so good luck getting the look you want.

We've done the same homework. I bought a set of the BMW Mini with two good Michelin tyres for..........£7.50 last week. I also bought the Dunlop stickers. I may also be getting a set of spinners (they are a bit theatrical, so I need to think longer).

Wheels - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330800847469?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Dunlop stickers - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400047971827?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Spinners - http://www.spinnercenter.com/bolton-spinners-bolton-spinner-sets-c-1_2.html

The plan is to take a Dremel to the wheels and smooth off any rough edges so that they are "hand finished" and then build up the paint to a very smooth finish. I may go silver, I may go green.

Aim is to end-up something like this



or this



Not sure whether to go for two or three eared spinner.

It seems that Mini owners take their new cars straight to an after sales wheel pimper and put on 17" alloys. This means that there are stacks of new sets with unused tyres up for grabs for ~£100.

That seems quite expensive for a set of stud adaptors, but maybe I'm out of touch.

If you can find a freindly local machine shop, or model engineer, you might be able to get a set for a lot less.

I used to have a set that went from Triumph to Ford stud pattern for my Rochdale GT. I had an Anglia 105E back axle and Herrald front (narrowed by 6 1/2") with 15" Hillman Minx wheels. They came off a friend's Lotus 6 when he put it back into road trim.

I like those mini wheels, very Dunlopable imho.

As for spinners, if you can put up with three ears you could do worse than a set of these -

https://www.europaspares.com/product/0/14090/Dummy_Wheel_Spinners__set_Of_4____cpds_.html

Should save you a few bucks and an age of inernational shipping time too...

They would do the job. Thanks for that. I am tending towards three ears, so that would help to make the decision.

Had a quick dash across the Cotswolds this morning to collect my £7.50 wheels. Couldn't resist slipping down to The Glade and offering them up to the chassis.



I was planning to spray them green, but the silver looks tempting. And, I wanted to see my bushes in place. I like the contrast.

They all sell out in the end...

I'm very curious how it looks with the bolt on spinners!

It really does have a dunlop ish look.

These look a good quality manufactured item. Did you dismiss the cheaper Mike Satur ones?
http://www.mikesatur.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Wheel_Adapters_5.html#aAW3902

or these http://www.carnoisseurdirect.com/hr-pcd-hub-conversion-wheel-spacers-mgf-49525-to-vauxhall-4100-25mm-per-side-36584-p.asp

They look great value for money at around £120 a set. They're more versatile than the American ones too - the slotted stud holes allow fitment of just about any wheel so long as it's 4 stud and a maximum of 114mm pcd it'll fit. Good spot.

B*ll*cks. That's what happens when you get fixated and don't step back. I saw the US ones and my mind was off. I didn't think to step back and take a breath. I have just cost myself £40 and a long wait. The money could have been spent on something useful. Doh! I shall see it as public service. I shall report back on the US items and I can compare when somebody takes the obvious route!

I can see that the first link items are hubcentric, but the sliding bolts make me feel uneasy (for no known reason).

Just noticed, the second link is for a PAIR so they are twice as much as the first option and the US version. That makes me feel slightly better.

I think the US ones look a superior quality so don't beat yourself up! Must admit the sliding bolts idea did the same for me which is why I mentioned them. Look forward to your report when they arrive.
Unfortunately I have been forced to step back until the DIY is finished so I have to just look at my untouched Vitesse or read the threads to keep me going.

Keep up the good work.

Thinking time is good. Remember, lots of staring at parts. It pays dividends.

Staring at parts, sucking teeth, writing lists of jobs, crossing them out and re-ordering them, browsing eBay.

Yep, that is my day pretty much wrapped up.

Sleeping on it is good too. You'll find that solutions to problems will work themselves out in your head while you're dreaming.

Crazy value! FOUR brand new wheels and Michelin tyres - £125

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-new-michelin-175-65-15-energy-tyres-mini-rims-/170921882573?_trksid=p4340.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D2761613931409093795%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D160889104008%26

And for the larger car http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-Wire-Wheels-Four-Painted-/221140442120?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item337cff5c08&_uhb=1