Cragar S/S wheels & racing

[65hemi]

I am looking at getting Cragar S/S wheels (15x12 and 15x4.5) for the '65 hemi Belvedere. These wheels give me the size selection that I want as well as a nostalgic look. The wheels are a composite construction with a steel centre and an aluminum rim. The car will see street and some track use. A local racer told me that the Cragar S/S wheels are not suitable for racing due to the welded construction. The concern is welds breaking. Anyone else hear of welds breaking?

I asked Cragar about strength and durability under race conditions. Cragar says the wheels are used on lots of nostalgic race cars but depends on HP. Kind of a vague answer I thought.

Andrew

 

[cam383]

What HP are you pushing?These wheels have to DOT requirements anyways.

 

[smitty]

Cragar wheels have been in racing for years and I have never heard of any problems. Lots of early Pro Stockers and AWB Funny cars had Cragar Wheels and I personally have owned several set. As a matter of fact, I am about to order a new set for my 65 Belvedere II Hard top. My last project had 14" wide Cragars with Hoosiers being turned by 1000 HP Blown Big Block. See......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHiHf21AHMY
I love them things.............

 

[65hemi]

dyno sheet says 660hp & 620ft#

 

[smitty]

Cragar has been on many a race car since the sixties and I have never heard of a broken wheel. I'm about to order a set for my 65 Belvedere II. I have owned many sets and never had a problem.

 

[smitty]

I forgot to mention......see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHiHf21AHMY and see Cradars on 1000 HP.

 

[Patrick]

You have this reversed, "a steel centre and an aluminum rim." Keystone Classics are of the same construction and I never had a problem with them ay 800+ HP.

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

been around for 40 = years. guys going low 10's in the 60's with them. i see no problem using them but they are heavier than most new racing wheels out there but they do look way cool.
i raced with them on my 70 cuda and duster going 11.90's back in the day.

 

[696pack]

Just for clarification are you talking about a new repo set of wheels or an old original set of wheels? I would probably trust the old ones over the new ones that are likely made/welded together by an 8 year old in China.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I have a vintage Keystone picture ad on my wall showing the S&M 68 RR lifting the front wheel and Beswick's Yak in action. Just to be 100% clear, the Keystone and Cragar SS wheels have a cast aluminum center with a steel rim. The aluminum centers have steel inserts cast into them, which allow welding to the steel rim. My Keystones have a 1998 date on them and they look like the old ones that I have seen, so I doubt the manufacturing process changed much.

 

[moparker]

I have a set of new spinner centers for crager s/s if your interested. Got these for a birthday present for my Duster but, they don't fit small bolt cragers. I will make you a hell of a deal. Don't mean to hijack just seem like you are going for a retro look so I thought I would throw it out there.

 

[Budnicks]

Crager did at 1 time have issues with the centers blowing out of the S/S style wheels way back in the late 60's-early 70's, due to the old style cast centers & steel outer construction... I know a couple of guys that had problems with them but it was a long time ago... I once had a Crager Supertrick (Centerline look alike) split half way around the outer wheel ring after pulling into the drive way a little too fast, & heard a really load "P_O_P" (I know there not the same style)... I don't think they have issues any longer, I use to run them on everything back in the day, they were pretty heavy wheels though... Good luck... :iamwithstupid:

 

[Southernman]

Smitty, that MG is insane ! Looks like something right out of George Barris' book of gassers !

Southernman