OK decided to start a new thread since this is a project..
Bit of History:
Since 1967, an ongoing tradition of research and racing involvement has given Simmons matchless qualifications in the design and manufacture of 3-piece modular wheels for road and race. Simmons optimise the 3-piece modular concept to ensure that every fitment is accurate, and wheel, tyre and car are ideally matched to each other.
Wherever applicable, Simmons Wheels are machined for hub centred location to ensure that the wheel run true to the hub, avoiding potential balancing problems.
Each Simmons Wheel is identified with its own serial number on the front face of the wheel centre. This number is recorded and enables positive identification of wheels if stolen or when needing repairs.
So that's that.
UPDATE 1:
10-01-2008
The wheels I bought are Simmons V4's, These wheels are the 4 lug version of the more common V5. Both of which are no longer in production. The wheels are true three piece and period correct.
They are 15x7, 4x100, with a CB of 57.1 Offset is ideal for e30 fitment.
I found them on Australian eBay With very old but unused Michelin tires.
PRICE: $760 AU / $580 US
Pictures from the ad:
The wheels had been garaged for around 5 years and were in average shape, and I soon found out the tires did not hold air due to their age.
I was refunded $260 AU / $200 US
They had been repainted (poorly) in the original gold color, and had a few chips an runs in the paint. The lips were slightly dull and needed re polishing. Two had very small bends in them, and the other two have small amounts of rash.
UPDATE 2:
11-26-2008
I initially planned to have the centers powder coated. So I sent them to ADS Powder Coating for media blasting.
PRICE: $130 AU / $100 US
The media blasting revealed several small scratches in the center sections, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. Inbetween most of the spokes, the metal was unsmooth and neded attention. You can also see a pronounced ridge the circles the center lug section, this had to go.
I soon found out the negatives of powder coat. For example Farady Cages.. This is the phenomenon that powder will not stick between the narrow spokes because they repell against each other when they are charged. There are ways to overcome this, but not without risk, and I wanted to get it right the 1st time.
I decided against Powdercoat.
UPDATE 3:
12-03-2008
I sold my BBS style wheels for $500 AU / $385 US to help fund this project. And I was back rocking the Black Bottle caps.
I measure the wheels up and decided I wanted 15x7f and 15x8r. So I was now on the hunt for some 4" wide rear outer rims.
I also decided on the colour. I originally wanted Nogaro centers, but as soon as I sat the wheels next to the car, I decided on silver. It just looks so fresh and clean ..well until the brake dust comes :-x But that's just the labor of love :)
Pics of the BBS style wheels and the bottle caps just for fun:
UPDATE 4:
12-15-2008
I got lucky on eBay and found a set of 4 x 4" deep Outer rims (3.5" to the tire bead).
PRICE: $680 AU / $520 US
They had no scratches of gutter rash, no bends, they just needed a re-polish. They were also the exact width that I needed ..or so i thought.
Turns out I measured the standard outer rims wrong, and the new ones were a 1/2 inch too wide. I could have done it with seriously rolled fenders and super stretched tires, but I had wanted some wider tires and didn't think the stretched look would work on my car.
I decided to keep them for a while before I decided what to do with them.
Here are some pictures to keep you happy:
UPDATE 5:
01-13-2009
I had the tires removed and decided I was determined to sell the 4" rims. So i did for [COLOR=Green]$600 AU / $460 US[COLOR=Black]. I'll miss them but it's for the best.
Then I was set on 3.5" outer rims making 15x7f, and 15x8r.
Final pictures before selling the 4" outers:
I gave one of them a polish just to see how it would look and oh man am I going to miss them.. :puppy: BUT, it's what I wanted and that's what counts.
I started with 600grit and worked up to 1200, then machine polished with drill attachments and rubbing compound. Came out OK but not perfect. Still waaay better than before as you can see.
UPDATE 6:
01-19-2009
Got bored of my bottle cap rims, and waiting for more money for the Simmons, and decided to spice them up a bit.
PRICE: <$15 AU
Continued \/
Bit of History:
Since 1967, an ongoing tradition of research and racing involvement has given Simmons matchless qualifications in the design and manufacture of 3-piece modular wheels for road and race. Simmons optimise the 3-piece modular concept to ensure that every fitment is accurate, and wheel, tyre and car are ideally matched to each other.
- Wheel centres are cast or forged in prime aluminium alloy and heat treated to full hard, T6 specification to significantly improve tensile strength and fatigue life.
- Rim sections are manufactured from heat treated alloy 6061-T6 and are formed on a CNC spinning lathe, designed and built in our factory to achieve industry-best consistency and accuracy.
- Finished wheels are individually tested for dimensional accuracy and trueness in running.
Wherever applicable, Simmons Wheels are machined for hub centred location to ensure that the wheel run true to the hub, avoiding potential balancing problems.
Each Simmons Wheel is identified with its own serial number on the front face of the wheel centre. This number is recorded and enables positive identification of wheels if stolen or when needing repairs.
So that's that.
UPDATE 1:
10-01-2008
The wheels I bought are Simmons V4's, These wheels are the 4 lug version of the more common V5. Both of which are no longer in production. The wheels are true three piece and period correct.
They are 15x7, 4x100, with a CB of 57.1 Offset is ideal for e30 fitment.
I found them on Australian eBay With very old but unused Michelin tires.
PRICE: $760 AU / $580 US
Pictures from the ad:
The wheels had been garaged for around 5 years and were in average shape, and I soon found out the tires did not hold air due to their age.
I was refunded $260 AU / $200 US
They had been repainted (poorly) in the original gold color, and had a few chips an runs in the paint. The lips were slightly dull and needed re polishing. Two had very small bends in them, and the other two have small amounts of rash.
UPDATE 2:
11-26-2008
I initially planned to have the centers powder coated. So I sent them to ADS Powder Coating for media blasting.
PRICE: $130 AU / $100 US
The media blasting revealed several small scratches in the center sections, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. Inbetween most of the spokes, the metal was unsmooth and neded attention. You can also see a pronounced ridge the circles the center lug section, this had to go.
I soon found out the negatives of powder coat. For example Farady Cages.. This is the phenomenon that powder will not stick between the narrow spokes because they repell against each other when they are charged. There are ways to overcome this, but not without risk, and I wanted to get it right the 1st time.
I decided against Powdercoat.
UPDATE 3:
12-03-2008
I sold my BBS style wheels for $500 AU / $385 US to help fund this project. And I was back rocking the Black Bottle caps.
I measure the wheels up and decided I wanted 15x7f and 15x8r. So I was now on the hunt for some 4" wide rear outer rims.
I also decided on the colour. I originally wanted Nogaro centers, but as soon as I sat the wheels next to the car, I decided on silver. It just looks so fresh and clean ..well until the brake dust comes :-x But that's just the labor of love :)
Pics of the BBS style wheels and the bottle caps just for fun:
UPDATE 4:
12-15-2008
I got lucky on eBay and found a set of 4 x 4" deep Outer rims (3.5" to the tire bead).
PRICE: $680 AU / $520 US
They had no scratches of gutter rash, no bends, they just needed a re-polish. They were also the exact width that I needed ..or so i thought.
Turns out I measured the standard outer rims wrong, and the new ones were a 1/2 inch too wide. I could have done it with seriously rolled fenders and super stretched tires, but I had wanted some wider tires and didn't think the stretched look would work on my car.
I decided to keep them for a while before I decided what to do with them.
Here are some pictures to keep you happy:
UPDATE 5:
01-13-2009
I had the tires removed and decided I was determined to sell the 4" rims. So i did for [COLOR=Green]$600 AU / $460 US[COLOR=Black]. I'll miss them but it's for the best.
Then I was set on 3.5" outer rims making 15x7f, and 15x8r.
Final pictures before selling the 4" outers:
I gave one of them a polish just to see how it would look and oh man am I going to miss them.. :puppy: BUT, it's what I wanted and that's what counts.
I started with 600grit and worked up to 1200, then machine polished with drill attachments and rubbing compound. Came out OK but not perfect. Still waaay better than before as you can see.
UPDATE 6:
01-19-2009
Got bored of my bottle cap rims, and waiting for more money for the Simmons, and decided to spice them up a bit.
PRICE: <$15 AU
Continued \/
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