going out on a limb

[DadsCuda]

i'm located on cape cod (MA)...i took a general auto repair class at a tech school here, a few years ago, in hopes that i could gain a little experience and calm my car repair anxiety. ...what an experience! so much fun!!
but, i had high hopes of saving my original 14" rims. i cleaned and painted them. bought brand new tires. brought it all to class to mount and balance them. only, after putting about 3oz of weights on the first wheel...the next needed nearly 6 oz! and they just got worse, with each rim. i abandoned hope and just took it all back home with me, after class.
my question, and why i feel like its a long shot, is:
is anyone here located in my area who might know of a place to either 'fix' my rims or ...can anyone else point me in the right direction for 14" rims? i'm not fussy about how the car looks, but i'd really like to keep original sizes (plus, now i alreay have 14" tires)
thanks... for whatever help i can find, here.

[brads70]

If your trying to minimize the balance weights. Try moving the tire around on the rims till you find the best spot. Some tires are worse than others to balance.   

[lulurocks]

Search wheel straightening , wheel repair , they might be able to  help you but it may be  more then new wheels:



Found this near (i think) you:



http://www.awrswheelrepair.com/middlesex-ma/content/show/121814

[lulurocks]

Summit sells 14" wheels  :

http://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/wheel-vintiques/part-type/wheels/wheel-diameter/14-in

[DadsCuda]

great! thanks for the help. i'll look into those!

[BIGSHCLUNK]

If your trying to minimize the balance weights. Try moving the tire around on the rims till you find the best spot. Some tires are worse than others to balance.

This is so true.... understand tires are not balanced before there mounted.  I remounted many ............

[roadman5312]

          From back in my tire mounting days I believe there is a colored dot that you line up with the valve stem.   

 

[jimynick]

Something sounds a wee bit out of kilter here. 6 oz is a lot of weight to need to add to a tire/wheel combo. You went and made sure ALL the old weights were removed, right? If so, then try "clocking" the tires at 90' movements on the rim and see if it helps. I'd also speak to the tire vendor and ask what the allowable spec is for that tire. He may offer to replace them or balance them if they're that far out of wack. You could also spin the wheel only and see if that's the weight issue. Just my 

[dougs bs23]

          From back in my tire mounting days I believe there is a colored dot that you line up with the valve stem.   

 

I think that would be the red dot on the sidewall,  also after you spin it and bring it up to zero try moving the weight either behind or ahead of the zero mark,  you may be surprised that just moving the weight like that will bring it into balance.   had an old timer show me that trick and it works

[DadsCuda]

this helps a lot.i was trying to get it done while i had access to balancing equipment during my class and 'get some small things out of the way'...but, i guess, once again, i just need to be patient and have the tires mounted and balanced when it's actually time to put them on the car. the rims may not be a lost cause after all. which would really make me happy!

[HP2]

Something sounds a wee bit out of kilter here. 6 oz is a lot of weight to need to add to a tire/wheel combo. You went and made sure ALL the old weights were removed, right? If so, then try "clocking" the tires at 90' movements on the rim and see if it helps. I'd also speak to the tire vendor and ask what the allowable spec is for that tire. He may offer to replace them or balance them if they're that far out of wack. You could also spin the wheel only and see if that's the weight issue. Just my 

x2 on these. Verify all weights are off, check rims without tires, rotate tires 90*, and failing that, contact the tire vendor about replacements.

[DadsCuda]

yes. all weights were off. i imagine my problem was simply that i wanted the new tires i bought to go on those rims before the car was ready to drive. it is a task i think i will save for the end.
but while y'all are here...i have another question. i'm sure loads of people go from the original 14" to a 15" or bigger. but my reason for keeping the 14" rims was so that i could use the original hub caps that are all still in fine condition. they fit on there very snug, but i'm wondering if going to a 15", could i still save the caps?
more importantly, has anyone had an issue with 15" fitting into the wheel well (i'm working on a 67 cuda)? because now i'm considering just going up to a 15" rim/tire because finding a brake conversion kit with rotors that fit into a 14" set up is proving to be super difficult.  can i measure the wheel well to be sure a 15" set up will work?

[EbodyMod]

  I have an original set of  rallye 14s with a full size spare and most of the trim pieces and center caps.  They are yours if you want to pay for shipping or come get them. the tires are trash but they were holding air until the valve cores dry rotted. let me know if your interested and I will post some pics for you.

[jimynick]

I have an original set of  rallye 14s with a full size spare and most of the trim pieces and center caps.  They are yours if you want to pay for shipping or come get them. the tires are trash but they were holding air until the valve cores dry rotted. let me know if your interested and I will post some pics for you.

Handsomely offered! Good on YOU! Always nice to see someone help another out. 

[EbodyMod]

 :wavingflag:I would rather give them away to a good home rather than see them sit here and rust away. Parts ate so hard and expensive to find. I will never use them so let them have life again .