I realize that many times this swap goes the other way. Many guys love the classic look of wire wheels on our B's (and I do too), but for my B, I really wanted a set of rostyles on it. The conversion took me a little over a month to complete working on it a few hours during the week and then putting in longer afternoons on Saturdays. I did the conversion correctly, sourcing the wider rear axle, front and rear hubs, new bearings front and rear, and installing new shock links. I also took the time to strip the rear axle and hubs and paint them all with POR-15. At this point, my entire suspension has been completely restored with poly bushings. I also had new tires installed (185/70/14s) and the local tire dealer did a spectacular job balancing them and making sure not to chip the new paint. I'm very pleased with the result and the car rides better than it ever has. Oh, and as I learned last night, the collar spacer on the rear axle shafts (between the oil seal and rear hubs) is extremely important. Without them, the rear wheels lock and the car won't roll. Ask me how I know! :D
Best of all, its just in time for the Polar Bear run on Sunday.
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Finished wires to rostyle conversion
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Looks good,...I guess I'm part of the minority but I much prefer the look of the rostyles.
The rostyles look good. Much more sporty. I think the newer cars for some reason, meaning 1970 and on look better with rostyles. The earlier cars look better with wires.
I think much of this has to do with the lack of side marker lights and the original chrome grill on the earlier cars.
Couldn't wait to get chrome wires on my car - BUT, if my Rostyles looked as good as yours it may have been a different decision.
Tom,
Looks to me like you have a good model (year) there. May you have many happy miles of motoring whichever wheels you run on.
Andy B-)
Did you have to change the rear end like you do going the other way?
Just wondering.
Looks pretty good.
My preference is ROstyle on rubber bumper and wires on chrome bumper.
I really liked my ROstyles but no one here could balance them. Every shop had thrown out the balancing machine's appropriate spacer/adapter for thin bodied, stud centric wheels. The wankers.
Did you have to change the rear end like you do going the other way?
Just wondering.
"
It's a must for going from rostyles to wires. The wire wheel axle is narrower (a few inches) to accommodate for the longer rear hubs. However, I could have kept the wire axle and added wheel spacers but I wasn't sold on that idea. Otherwise, if you would bolt the rostyles or any bolt on wheel, the rear track would be narrower then the front.
The rostyles look good. Much more sporty. I think the newer cars for some reason, meaning 1970 and on look better with rostyles. The earlier cars look better with wires."
x2 !
X3 Have Rostyles on my 72 GT and love them. Been a fan since I had them on my year old 70 Ford Cortina 1600E. Real pleased when my B came with them as standard as never been a fan of wires - always thought them a PITA to clean. Rather drive the car than spend hours cleaning them.
The rostyles look good. Much more sporty. I think the newer cars for some reason, meaning 1970 and on look better with rostyles. The earlier cars look better with wires.
I think much of this has to do with the lack of side marker lights and the original chrome grill on the earlier cars.
"
Certainly true for me having grown up through the various incarnations of the B. As the new style emerged with marker lights, different grilles, larger tail lamps, padded dashboards, headrests, etc. they looked "right" with new style wheels. The problem for some of us was that the Rostyles and similar styled-steel wheels became kind of a cliche in the 70s. The disappointment for me, at the time, was that there was no alloy wheels offered by the factory. I think that's why the traditional 8 spoke alloys (minilites if you will) have become so popular as they are the wheel that could have been (or should have been) the factory alloy. And, maybe because of all that, nothing looks better on a Mark I than wires.
Nice job.
The Rostyles look better on your car - and certainly easier to look after.
Paul
I'm planning to go from Wire to Bolt-on, but not w/ Rostyle, instead I'll go with 280ZX Snow Flakes for my 67BGT.
I'll go with rear wheel spacers instead of the wider Rear Axle..
Tom,
Looks great! My B looks exactly like yours, but I plan the other way. I am just waiting for Moss to have their sale on their wire conversion kit.
The reason is my first and second B had wires, and I want that look back.
[quote=P.DAVID,1980866,1981455]
Did you have to change the rear end like you do going the other way?
Just wondering.
"
It's a must for going from rostyles to wires. The wire wheel axle is narrower (a few inches) to accommodate for the longer rear hubs. However, I could have kept the wire axle and added wheel spacers but I wasn't sold on that idea. Otherwise, if you would bolt the rostyles or any bolt on wheel, the rear track would be narrower then the front.
[/quote]
If you want to run RO styles it is a must, however, you can use your narrower wire wheel axle with bolt on wheel hubs if you are going to run a wider than stock wheel. You just have to watch the offset so they don't scrub on the inner fenders. This is a picture of "The Duchess of Abingdon" with 14x6 T-slots off of a 1972 TVR 2500M. The Duchess has a wire wheel differential and the wheels did not require spacers. No adjustments were needed.
PS Your RO style wheels look AWESOME!
I'm planning to go from Wire to Bolt-on, but not w/ Rostyle, instead I'll go with 280ZX Snow Flakes for my 67BGT.
I'll go with rear wheel spacers instead of the wider Rear Axle..
"
With the ZX wheels, you may find you don't need the spacers.
Wow!! thats great to know.. Anyone went from Wires to ZX-snow-flakes?
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