Messin today..

[Kilroy]

Yup - its nearly mid-winter, but today was just one out of the box.
Made a guy happy to be outside where the cars are..

So here's the latest vehicle in the fleet - looking stock and demure..






As I have sent two of my latest wheels off to be widened, I could only trial fit two - so here's the butch side..








It was a bit difficult to get the camera to a good vantage point - due to the number of boats and cars in the yard today..










I'm thinking that these will be suitable for one of the cars - not sure which yet - so I tried one on the estate..










Think it looks better with the black caps than the chrome nuts - will have a set of nuts turned down so they fit hard against the rim.

Bonus.
I drove the red car with the two new rims on the front - and the nasty steering problem disappeared..!
Couldn't believe it.
I have fitted two different pairs of tyres to the front to check whether it was tyres or suspension - and both sets pulled to the right. Never assume anything..! I put the standard wheels back on after trialling these wheels - but swapped left for right - and the problem has gone. I have inspected the tyres carefully, but I'll be damned if I can see a single thing wrong with them.
Never mind - I'm so pleased to know that the suspension is ok after all.

Cheers people.

[Marinanut]

Are the tyres directional? I have this aggro with the Ital at the mo because some daft muppet fitted one of the tyre back-to-front on the rim; muggins here didn't notice at first but it lurches off to the right when you brake now - the dodgy tyre is on the left. (And before any other clever dicks write in, yes my brakes are OK!)

[Kilroy]

No - the tyres are not directional - except that hopefully they will go in the direction I want them to...

Happy happy joy joy..
Today - whilst rushing off to have a new tailpipe fitted, I spotted my friendly Triumph mechanic driving his 2.5 pickup - so while waiting for my car, I wandered around to his workshop.
Immediately I spotted a GT6 with centre caps in its original wheels.
Don't suppose you have any spare centres like those..?
Yes - here's a set for $20..!
Cool. They are just what I needed to finish these wheels off - but I hadn't known what I was looking for.
Even better - the original Marina wheel nuts hold them on perfectly.





Marina Spitfire anyone..?





Apparently - the other two rims will be finished tomorrow - so as soon as I can afford another pair of tyres - these will hit the road.

Lovin this.

Kilroy

[JIM73]

That looks really smart Kilroy !! I'll put some pics up later of my new acquisitions later ... i think you'll like !!

[Kilroy]

Cheers Jim - I am so keen to see PHOTOS..!

I love the pics of all your cars on show...
.. and the pics of them being worked on - especially Frank - who really gets into it..
But I even love the photos of guys in their workshops.
I know its sad - but I glean a lot of information from all of them.
I see stuff that I want to copy, or methods of doing things that are clever, and thus we should all copy.

Bring 'em on I say..!

Otherwise - the only Marinas I see are my own.

Hangin out over here...

Kilroy

[Uncle Frank]

8) Hi Kilroy...looking nice mate!..love those fat GT6 rims 8) , and Damask red always looks cool

[JIM73]

My new wolfies !! booted up with 185/70/13 michelins ....nice !!

[ado28]

Very nice Jimbo, the Marina really suits Wolfies

[JIM73]

Cheers Sean !! Wasnt too sure to start with but i'm happy with em now !! Got the centre caps tonight (from Ben) so i'll try and get em on tomorrow !!

[ClaytonSpeed]

I told you they would grow on you! Get them caps on! ! =)

PS

Nice wheels Kilroy! I found a company over here that can band steel wheels (about £300 per set) so might save up to get some 5.5j TC wheels made into 8j!

[Kilroy]

Great photos Jim - and the wheels are excellent.
Funny how much they change the entire appearance of the car.
A wider track gives the whole car a more aggressive look.

Ben - just picked up my other two rims today.
Cost me NZ$100 to have 2 rims widened by 1.5". I doubt that an extra inch would have made much difference to the price - its not the steel that costs..!
I have ordered 8 13"x7" steel rims (they come from USA) so that I can do two more sets at a later date by replacing the entire rims rather than widening.
I would have preferred to do that this time - but the rims are 8 weeks away - and I'm far too impatient to wait that long.
My weekend task will now involve painting these rims so that I can get tyres next week.
Canna wait laddie..!

Cheers all,
Kilroy

[ClaytonSpeed]

$100 NZ!? I'm being ripped off! This is the site I found: Wide Wheels

What have you brought from the states then?

[Kilroy]

Not that it will help much - but this is the crowd who widened (banded..) my wheels;

http://www.elitewheelcompany.co.nz/index.html

What I've ordered that is made in the USA are the actual steel rims at 13" x 7". These can be fitted to any 13" centres I may have, at any offset that takes my fancy, for a cost of $45 each.
This process has the advantage that there are no balance problems - but I would also feel safer that the rims have not been cut or welded in any way.
Mind you - I guess they do that to manufacture them anyway..?
I am still to discover whether their welding is good enough to enable the use of tubeless tyres - I'm thinking it should, but the acid test will provide the proof.

Just begun painting them today.

At these temps it will probably take a week for them to dry.

Kilroy

[JIM73]

Here's the Montego wheels painted and fitted to the Ital !!!