MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Steel Rims or Dayton WW & Hubs

I am thinking of replacing my old 48 spoke wire wheels. They are constantly out of balance and breaking spokes. My preferential choice would be new Dayton 60spoke WW but I do not want to invest that much money on new rims and put them on old hubs. Therefore it would require replacing the four hubs.

My second option is to convert to steel rims or MiniLites. This would definately increase the safety factor (steel vs WW rims) but what sort of cost is involved with this type of conversion. It would also make balancing the rims easier.

I prefer the wire wheel look, but need to look at the financial cost,security issues,and investment value.

Any thoughts or advise is appreciated. Gordon
Gordon Harrison

Gordon,
When I restored my cars (MGA's,mgtf,AH 3000)I found out that all the WW hubs were questionable and I did not want them with new chrome WW so I replaced all hubs. To change to steel wheels you will have to change all the hubs, axels, differential housing (longer for steel wheels) and get the wheels. You will have to check your existing axels and count the splines at the diff end as there were 3 different axels for the MGA (10,26,25 splines I believe). I have converted my A's to wire wheels so I have all the parts if you need them. The price would be cheap as shipping will be high! Hope this helps and have a good day!

John
John Progess

Clean the splins on the hubs and inspect them for wear. There is a lot of info on what to look for such as sharp edges, bent or hooked splines, etc. Hubs that have been kept properly greased and wheels properly tightened have a very long life. We run 72 spokes on our A which are fairly stiff or you could go for the MiniLites that fit the splined hub if you want even more strength.
J Heisenfeldt

Back in the 50's wire wheels were dropped as an option for the TD. MG thought that wires were a thing of the past at that point for all the reasons you state. Bottom line is people still want them and will always pay more for a car with them. I just finished my 62 MK11, in doing so I converted it to wires. I used the 60 spoke chrome Daytons. I would not use 48 spoke wheels on a daily drive only on a concourse "Trailer Queen". I used 60 spoke wheel on a restoration I did in 87. I kept that car for over 10 years and 25,000 miles. I never needed to rebalanced the wheels. 60 spoke wheels are much stronger and more stable than 48. They are also available in 72 spoke. Many consider the 72 spoke wheels overkill for strength.
I prefer the look of wires and for me 60 spoke is the way to go. That said I am currently doing a 58 coupe that will have disc wheels. The wheels in the picture were powder coated and have a flat clear on top of the silver.


R J Brown

Mine are silver with flat top but are more silvery than R.J.s but it does make a good job. Di you also powder coat the balance weight R.J.?
Also isn't the red dot on the tyre supposed to be mounted next to the valve to aid balancing?
Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

As you are into considerable fuss and expense to swap over to steel wheels, why not just bite the bullet and buy new front and rear hubs for the wire wheels - if you take care of them, they will last as long as you own the car.

I would not consider using 48 spoke wires, but I have had excellent results with both 60 spoke (closer to the original look) and 72 spoke wheels. If you look at used wire wheels, don't consider anything but almost perfect splines, lest you wear your new hubs prematurely.

The Dayton wheels are an excellent product (I run them on my Jamaican) and should last exceptionally well.
Bill Spohn

Same wheel but shot with a flash. The color does seem a little grayer than original now that the flat clear coat is on. Without the flat clear on top they were too silver. The weights are clear coated (shake and shoot) on normal lead weights. My understanding of the dot was that the dot on the wheel and the dot on the tire are to line up. To use the dot on a tire you would have to find the light spot on a wheel and mark it, then mount the tire dot (heavy ? spot) next to it. I just know that new Datsuns 25 years ago had a dot on the tire and on the wheel for that purpose.
Any one with tire knowledge out there know for sure?


R J Brown

RJ, you are right, the red dot on the tyre should match the (yellow, when I worked at Nissan) dot on the rim that was marked at the point of max (if I remember correctly) radial run out, before mounting the tyre. This is to minimise the amount of balance weights used. FWIW Michelins needed less weight on average than Dunlops and Continental tyres at that time.

Neil
Neil McGurk

I was told that you must scrape the red dot off to see whether you had won a donut shop motel or a gas station.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

I had 25 trouble free years with beautiful chrome Moss Made-in-India 48 spoke wheels until the chrome finally failed. Now I am just as happy with the Moss center-lock "Sport Wheels". New look, and I can run 195s. I did have to roll-in the fender lips for sufficient clearance. If I was doing it again I would go with the newer Super Light knock-offs at:
http://www.acmespeedshop.com/wheels.html
Steve
Steve Meline

RJ,
I note that your car is Mineral Blue in colour & assuming this to be the original colour it must be a coupe. The 1500 Coupe & the TC "1500" style coupe were the only models to be finished in this particular colour and each had the choice of grey of black upholstery. I'm looking for a trim sample of the original grey leather & vinyl.
Please let me know if you help me with this request.
R Fisher

Car was originally pale green (HMT43 48150). Could not bear to reuse the greenbut love the look of the blue. But in our defence at least we saved it from being just another red/orange MG. (see picture)
Interior will be black. Carpet black also. All color choices were made with my son. I do have the original green dash vinyl. All other original interior trim parts were gone before we got it.


R J Brown

Pale green, (Island Green /As Green) is a perfect colour. I should know I have it all over my 57 Coupe. Women love the look and the lighter colour seems to balance the car better. Just my opinion. Gordon LOL
Gordon Harrison

Gordon,
Island Green/Ash Green Coupes also originally had the option of grey upholstery. Can you help me out with original samples of vinyl & leather?
R Fisher

R Fisher,
the best lead I can give you is that Woolies Trim in england has a carpet type that is a near perfect gray colour. Contact them for samples of the carpet and vynils. My carpets were grey but in terrible condition. I am the second owner of the car and bought it when it was nine years old. It spent those nine years + 3 more driving every day here In Canada. The winters took there toll on the car and when I took it off the road for the rebuild it was basically an MGA shape made of rust. Carpets were trash. Gordon
Gordon Harrison

Gordon, if you inspect your hubs carefully and they are within acceptable wear then installing new wheels shouldn't be a problem. Barney Gaylord has a section on wire wheel hub splines that is quite good on his web site. http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/wheels/wl104.htm
and I found this chart which gives the dimensions on the hub when worn as well http://www.wirewheels.co.uk/wornhub.htm
The MGA uses a Rudge type 42 spline.
Bill Young

R Fisher
Are you asking for a sample of the green vinyl off the dash. The PO painted the front black when it was reupholstered. As you can see in the picture the end and edges are still green. You are welcome to a sample.


R J Brown

Come to think of it I have a full green vynil dash cover that is origional. any help to you? Gordon
Gordon Harrison

RJ/ Gordon,
Thanks for the offers but it is a sample of the original grey leather & vinyl trim that I am after. My apologies if my second posting was a little misleading.
R Fisher

This thread was discussed between 05/05/2008 and 08/05/2008

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.