Cragar ss 15 X 4 5-4.75 direct bolt pattern on Ebay

[bbbentley]

Originally Posted by NorCam

Aluminum cores are pressed into outer steel hoop then welded in with (5 ea) 2" beads between 2 dissimilar metals as seen here on the back side of this NOS rim. Welds need to be broken to separate the hoop and then both pieces would need chemical stripping before being re-plated in this process. Expensive and I was told there are only a couple who will do this work now days. I was also told that if the aluminum core break or cracks when being removed from the outer hoop, the wheel is garbage.

Click the image for high res shot.

Are you trying to say that this is how the wheels were made? I mean, plating 2 parts separate and, then, putting them together? I find that hard to believe? I am pretty sure they were chromed in one step as a complete wheel?

[PxTx]

Nope, two separate parts. Still made that way today. Call them and ask.

[whitetop]

Originally Posted by bbbentley

Are you trying to say that this is how the wheels were made? I mean, plating 2 parts separate and, then, putting them together? I find that hard to believe? I am pretty sure they were chromed in one step as a complete wheel?

See my comment above regarding steel tabs. Yep plated then weled together.

[DW31S]

I'll vouch for Graeme's stuff....NOS 8" are tough to find....as are MINT 4". No driver quality here.... these are for "when only the best will do". I've heard horror stories about rechroming old Cragars, and I've heard stories that ended well. To do it right, they need to be separated. If not, all bets are off.....the seam where the spider and hoop meet will definitely chip/peel if you (can find a shop that will) rechrome the wheel as one unit.

[big gear head]

Thanks guys for the explanation of how they were put together. It doesn't seem like they would be very strong like that, but they obviously are. I guess I'll just leave mine like they are and not try to get them re chromed.

I saw these on craigslist a few days ago. Cragars with 3 bar spinners. I don't know if they are worth anything, and it doesn't say what size they are. Looks like they might be the early style wheels with direct bolt pattern. https://evansville.craigslist.org/wt...586624817.html

[bbbentley]

:scho lar:Thanks for the education all 3 or 4 of yous! That is why I love this “online car club”. I learn new things everyday, here.

[NorCam]

Never knew about the steel tab cast into the centers but that makes better sense to me now. Thanks for the lesson Whitetop. I'm no welder but always thought steel and aluminum could be Tig welded together?

I guess there is a new rod called Aluma Steel that allows that to be done now but that's still above my pay grade. I can barely Mig 2 pieces of steel together myself.

[big gear head]

I've been a TIG welder for more than 30 years. I was DOD aircraft certified for about 10 years and I've welded most materials that can be welded. I was wondering how the Cragar wheels were welded together, and now I know. Steel and aluminum still can not be welded together. There is a guy who has been working on a process to do this, I think in Australia, but as far as I know it's still not perfected, and it's very expensive. He's trying to develop it for the auto manufacturers where it would be very useful. As far as I can tell the Alumi Steel rod is just a brazing rod that allows steel to be TIG brazed to aluminum. Welding is where the parent metal is melted along with the filler and both flow together. From what I can see with the Alumi Steel rod only the rod is being melted and it flows onto the surface of the parent metal, which is brazing.

[whitetop]

The other major probem with rechroming old Cragars is finding the right color chrome. Due to EPA the old Cragar white hexavelant chrome is getting hard to find..

Most of the chrome today has a blue or brown cast and the wheels come out looking horrible.

[Bernhard]

Originally Posted by whitetop

Can't be done ... center section is aluminum and outer rim is steel of course.

A member on this board had a set done and they turned out very nice.
There is no guarantee because the chrome cannot fully plate in the seam.
I do not have a issue with this as I rather not cut the rims apart, and I plan on treating the area so that it will not rust or start pealing.

The shop has done many sets so yes it can be done its just not ideal.









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