Wheels/Tyres: BBS Exec Aloy Refurb

[400-ascona]

Originally Posted by hancym

Do they need and thread lock?

I was going to thread lock mine. You can buy anaerobic thread lock to stop excessive corrosion between dissimilar metals (use it in boats a lot). Use of this would reduce corrosion around the stainless bolts.
The torque won't be too high as its fine thread into an alloy.

[hancym]

Originally Posted by 400-ascona

I was going to thread lock mine. You can buy anaerobic thread lock to stop excessive corrosion between dissimilar metals (use it in boats a lot). Use of this would reduce corrosion around the stainless bolts.
The torque won't be too high as its fine thread into an alloy.

Did you complete the wheels? Any chance you could post some photos please and any explanation on how you overcame the possibility of power build-up stopping the rims going back together. Also how did you overcome any problem with the spline bolts cracking the coating beneath the head as they were tightened?

I’ve now got mine off the car and I'm considering getting them done but I'm very cautious about the cost and getting them to go back together for the reasons above.

[400-ascona]

Not done them yet due to time. Planning on getting them blasted, masking the contact area's then powder coating. I will then reasemble, and seal the mating faces with laquer when I bolt them together. Job number 4 on the list!
All I need now is a 5 day weekend and a 2 day working week.

[400-ascona]

My plans changed for the wheels. I decided to put a new driveshaft on the car as I didn’t want to kill another gearbox. So after spending £350 on a shaft, and then a chunk of money rebuilding the brakes on the Lotus Carlton, I decided to paint the rims myself without taking any more wheels apart. Hopefully they will last the summer and I will try to get my act together next winter!
So for £25 I bought some etch primer, primer and silver wheel paint (I did it on a Sunday, and so was forced to buy from Halfrauds, and so got the only silver colour they have left, which I like to think of as a contrast rather than a match!) Initially I scraped all the loose paint off, masked the wheel with 2 layers of masking tape and then I sanded by hand, scrubbing a nice sore patch into my thumb! 1 coat of etch, 2 coats of primer and 4 coats of silver saw the job done. A few days left out in the sun hardening, and the tyres didn’t damage the paint when they were fitted.





Before reminder:



So apologies, it’s not the exciting result I had planned!

Rob

[JimG]

They look good Rob.

Surprised you're on Continentals. Do you not get the uneven wear people complain of?

[400-ascona]

Will let you know when I have put some miles on them. I had Pirelli Scorpions on last summer, and then Dunlop winters on some Atlantis alloys during the colder months. The Conti's were on the Atlantis alloys (the ones I have now put the winters on) when I bought them, and have between 6mm and 7mm of tread on them, and look to be pretty evenly worn.
I did have the volvo tracked a couple of weeks ago (all 4 corners). I have had the subframe off it when I did the gearbox, and then replaced both track rod ends so figured it needed it. It was within tolerance on all 4 corners, but they tweaked it to nominal, and its amazing how different it feels. Will see how the tyres wear (I will rotate as well when I switch to winters and back again), but so far it feels like it was worth the £50.
Rob