Why no caps on torq thrust wheels?

Just the old style racing look, I guess

whitey

 

I guess it gives the old school racer look.

 

Caps don't come with the wheels when you buy them. Today, one can spend over $100 for a set (c. $25/cap) so why bother and as 1175 pointed out, it's 'the look'. I happen to like the no cap look, too.

 

Torque Thrusts were the wheels used by real racecars. In racing if something does not make you go faster ...then it makes you go slower. I think caps on
torque thrust d wheels look just fine on chevys...
jimbo

 

Have you ever really looked "REAL ClOSE" at an Original ( magnesium )
R-Model Wheel? There are NO threaded holes to secure a cap.
Obviously, a cap is not needed in a racing enviroment. When the reproduction R-Model wheels came on the scene, the threaded holes
appeared. Most fans of the R-Model look, choose to leave the caps off to
copy the competition look from the past. The caps do look kind of dorky
in my opinion. By the way, don't mistake a TorkTthrust-D being sold
today for a R-Model wheel. It's not even close. Lots of differences!
shlby66

 

Not even close...... ???
That depends on what you mean by lots... I have had 2 sets of original (magnesium) wheels one was chev pattern.. I traded them straight across for a set of the new ones. I sold the ford pattern ones .. Two were from Jerry Titus' 67 Trans am car and two were original 65 wheels (Like aged. cheese plenty of holes on the inside) subtle differences in all of them but still close enough...
jimbo

 

What I meant in my last statement was the differences between the
Tork Thrust D wheel being sold by most venders and the R-Model wheel
that was available from Craig Connley at Paradise Wheels until a few
years ago. Some differences are: Different radius/curvature of the spokes,
Different size center section (hub area) as well as being not as thick.
This means you cannot properly back space Tork Thrust D's for track use.
Add in the fact the hub is machined with tapered seats ( no more
straight/shouldered holes with hardened washers under the lug nut)
and you end up with something less than the R-Model wheel. I do
agree the majority of folks would not see any differences from 10 feet
away and they probably work fine on a street driven car.
Regards, shlby66

 

I saw these on a shelby, can't remember if 65 or 66
sorry

 

67GT350, Nice picture of a vintage aftermarket aluminum wheel. I would
guess ( 1st guess ) this is one made by ANSEN in the late 60's. Notice the
slight ridge that runs the length of the spokes. Also, see how the rim has
a 90 degree edge before it goes down to the bead area. There are radiuses blending into the spokes from the center section. Really neat stuff. This set looks to be in really nice condition. Lucky owner!
shlby66

 

Buying from Mustangs Unlimited, their Torque D's do come with caps. The problem is, the damn plastic cap blocks access to the lug nuts. The caps have to be removed to tightne/loosen lugs, which is a pain at an open track event. That's why I run flat plate style that Branda sells, but we machined our own for a better custom fit. Looks way better than the plastic caps, but I also like the no cap look, too.

 

PS Engineering

Check out PS Engineering Phil Schmidt's wheels. He has no web site. He is word-of-mouth. The only advertising he does is in the Shelby Automobile Club of America magazine. Most of Cobraphiles may know Phil. Basically he owns a two-man company producing vintage racing wheels. Click the link to see him at work at his Torrance, California (Los Angeles) facility:

Birth of PSE Wheels

He's known for supplying the Nicholas Cage movie Eleanor cars with his wheels, and building/producing various "authentic-repro" Cobra pin mounted Halibrand wheels and other famous vintage road race wheels. His catalog is fairly extensive with historical background for each wheel he produces. Here's his intro to his catalog page, the Cobra page, and the Lola/McLaren/Chevron page:





Here are the pages showing his reproduction of the early racing American Racing wheels in exact vintage one-piece or a modern two-piece configuration. He calls his rendition the "Trans Am" wheel. And note, just like the originals, Phil does not drill holes for mounting center caps:




With modern demands in the resto-mod market, utilizing large diameter and low profile tires, he does offer his vintage wheels in large diameters, just like Eleanor. For the larger diameter "Trans Am" wheels, he does drill center cap mounting holes or offers push-on caps, see below.



He's producing for me a set of his one-piece "Trans Am" wheels, 15x8 with the PERFECT offset (he should know, he has a set on his own GT350), to replace my 15x7 Torque Thrust D wheels on my red 65 GT350 re-creation. Since I'm from the Los Angeles area, I'll be fortunate enough to witness my wheels being produced:



It usually takes 4 to 5 weeks to produce these wheels, from casting to machining. And, he has the capability to powder coat inhouse. I'm going for the magnesium patina look, a charcoal-grey center. He uses the well known Buddy Bar foundary to cast the wheels for him. He then machines them to exacting tolerances. Yes, the same Buddy Bar foundary who originally cast the Shelby engine components in the '60s! ---These PS Engineering Trans Am wheels are favorite among a number of GT350R (originals and clones) racers.



Here are the PS Engineering Trans Am wheels, second pic, (which replaced the original American Racing Wheels, first pic) mounted on the famous Smokey Yunick Trans Am Camaro, which is now owned by Vic Edelbrock and raced by his daughter Camee:




More vintage Trans Am race cars using Phil's Trans Am wheels:

 

Great knowledge, Thanks for sharing!

 

I've always preferred the Torque Thrust D's without center caps. I put a set on my KR a few months ago.

 

Original American Racing Torque Thrusters Photo

I found this photo of a derelict well known historical GT350R at the Shelby museum in Colorado waiting to be restored. Take a close look at the wheel. . .this Shelby is still wearing its original magnesium American Racing Torque Thrusters. I'd say PS Engineering's Trans Am wheels are dead ringers of the original wheels.

 

Wheel caps?????????? ......

 

...and here's another "version" of the torq-thrust look (I couldn't resist after seeing all the juicy photos of other torq-thrust rides!), particularily the Vintage Wheel Works 40 in 16x8"...

 

Heres my latest picture with the Torque Thrust D's and the R-model centers. After lowering the upper A arms 1" and 1 1/2 degrees neg. camber. Tires are 235/60 up front with 245/60's in the rear. I wouldn't advise 235's up front with the Torque Thrusts D's unless your a glutton for punishment.

 

KensKR, Just wondering about your statement concerning the use of
235x60's on the front of one's Shelby; "glutton for punishment"? Please
explain. I have run 235x60's mounted front and rear on my '66 Shelby for nearly 20 years now. NO problems. Normal ride heigth and no rolled fenders. Just wondering whats going on.
shlby66