How about the Corvette Magnesium wheels?
- Thread starter baphoon
- Start date
Black Knight
I Glow Therefore I am
Re: How about the Corvette Magnesium wheels?
When I get some wheels I was going to really look into mag. wheels. I read this long tech. article on mag. wheels the other day and it was quite interesting. They were stating that mag. weighs approx 30% less then alum. and is almost 1.5 times stronger. That's amazing to me that if mag. has those kinds of benifits that the industry would have stopped using it back in the day ( 80's ) I would guess. So I asked a older guy who knows alot about wheels and he informed me that alum. became much more readily available so the industry switched over, now with the rise in metal prices people are switching back. Just thought I would share this.
When I get some wheels I was going to really look into mag. wheels. I read this long tech. article on mag. wheels the other day and it was quite interesting. They were stating that mag. weighs approx 30% less then alum. and is almost 1.5 times stronger. That's amazing to me that if mag. has those kinds of benifits that the industry would have stopped using it back in the day ( 80's ) I would guess. So I asked a older guy who knows alot about wheels and he informed me that alum. became much more readily available so the industry switched over, now with the rise in metal prices people are switching back. Just thought I would share this.
cameronsclone
New member
Re: How about the Corvette Magnesium wheels?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Corv...ryZ43958QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Only set of 4 in good cond. for sale on Egay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Corv...ryZ43958QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Only set of 4 in good cond. for sale on Egay.
Re: How about the Corvette Magnesium wheels?
The problem with buying a "set" is that you get 17" fronts and 18" rears and I would like to stay with the same sizes all around. Does anyone know if the 18's would fit all around without any rubbing issues? Are spacers needed? If so, what size? Also, what tire sizes could I use with the 18's? Thanks again!
The problem with buying a "set" is that you get 17" fronts and 18" rears and I would like to stay with the same sizes all around. Does anyone know if the 18's would fit all around without any rubbing issues? Are spacers needed? If so, what size? Also, what tire sizes could I use with the 18's? Thanks again!
James Thomas
"NO CLASS"
Re: How about the Corvette Magnesium wheels?
Magnesium wheels are lighter and stronger (the good). They are also more expensive to manufacture (the bad). They are also far more brittle, will not survive an impact that would just slightly bend an alum. wheel are very difficult to repair, if it can be repaired at all and if so the cost is all most as much as a new wheel (the ugly) .... ever see anyone try to weld Magnesium and didn't know it was Magnesium till the fire started? :rotf: ). Now this was the case a few years ago so if metalurgy and production costs have changed, I stand corrected.
_______________
James
Magnesium wheels are lighter and stronger (the good). They are also more expensive to manufacture (the bad). They are also far more brittle, will not survive an impact that would just slightly bend an alum. wheel are very difficult to repair, if it can be repaired at all and if so the cost is all most as much as a new wheel (the ugly) .... ever see anyone try to weld Magnesium and didn't know it was Magnesium till the fire started? :rotf: ). Now this was the case a few years ago so if metalurgy and production costs have changed, I stand corrected.
_______________
James
windowlicker
nihil
Re: How about the Corvette Magnesium wheels?
I've always liked those wheels and tried to find a set for my firebird, but as far as I know they are only made by GM and go for a fair amount of money on Ebay when sets come up for sale. Good looking wheels though.
I've always liked those wheels and tried to find a set for my firebird, but as far as I know they are only made by GM and go for a fair amount of money on Ebay when sets come up for sale. Good looking wheels though.
'JustDreamin'
Dream: 6LV8 Turbo Bravada
Re: How about the Corvette Magnesium wheels?
I thought they were really cool looking and did some digging a year or so ago.
Here's what I found:
1.) They're really expensive. They were a $3k option on vettes, so there weren't that many sets produced, and the vette guys know it. And breakage has taken its toll, too.
2.) They don't hold their finish well. The clearcoat flakes off, because its difficult to get it to stick to magnesium properly. And be careful buying refinished wheels, because magnesium turns black when exposed to air (so if you've got a clearcoat that isn't air-tight, they'll turn black under the clear).
3.) They're not all that much lighter. They're about 1.5 to 2 lbs lighter than the same size GM alum wheels (like the Y2K vette wheel). They're about 3 to 4 lbs lighter than the '97 to '99 Wagon Wheels. The Z06 wheels for the C5 are about the same weight at the Y2k wheel and are an inch wider (but only the factory wheels which were either spuncast or forged, the reproductions are like 8 lbs heavier than stock). If you want really light wheels, look for aftermarket lightweight ones.
4.) As mentioned above, the vette sizes are 17" x 8.5" fronts and 18" x 9.5" rears, Z06's are 1" wider (front and rear). Which means you've got to mix and match tire sizes accordingly. And getting a full set of 17's or 18's is a bit more difficult.
5.) Aluminum and Magnesium are fairly comparable strength-wise as a generalization. Certain magnesium alloys may be stronger than some alum alloys, but by and large, its a wash. There are alum alloys (like 2024 or better yet 7075) that would be significantly stronger than any magnesium available, but they're not likely to be available as anything but billet or forged alum wheels (and still unlikely). Magnesium is about 2/3rds the weight of aluminum. Last note, magnesiums compressive strength is markedly lower than its tensile strength (in almost any wrought alloy) which means high strength magnesium forgings don't get you nearly as far as alum or steel forgings (where compressive and tensile strengths are nearly equal for a given alloy).
Basically, they look nice, but in my opinion they're not really worth the money folks want for them. They're tough to keep good looking (because the clearcoat pops off) and they're not that much lighter than stock wheels. If you want lightweight, look for lightweight aftermarket wheels (like BBS's and such) and expect to pay for that lightness. If you're just looking for a look, they're more trouble than the cost is worth.
'JustDreamin'
I thought they were really cool looking and did some digging a year or so ago.
Here's what I found:
1.) They're really expensive. They were a $3k option on vettes, so there weren't that many sets produced, and the vette guys know it. And breakage has taken its toll, too.
2.) They don't hold their finish well. The clearcoat flakes off, because its difficult to get it to stick to magnesium properly. And be careful buying refinished wheels, because magnesium turns black when exposed to air (so if you've got a clearcoat that isn't air-tight, they'll turn black under the clear).
3.) They're not all that much lighter. They're about 1.5 to 2 lbs lighter than the same size GM alum wheels (like the Y2K vette wheel). They're about 3 to 4 lbs lighter than the '97 to '99 Wagon Wheels. The Z06 wheels for the C5 are about the same weight at the Y2k wheel and are an inch wider (but only the factory wheels which were either spuncast or forged, the reproductions are like 8 lbs heavier than stock). If you want really light wheels, look for aftermarket lightweight ones.
4.) As mentioned above, the vette sizes are 17" x 8.5" fronts and 18" x 9.5" rears, Z06's are 1" wider (front and rear). Which means you've got to mix and match tire sizes accordingly. And getting a full set of 17's or 18's is a bit more difficult.
5.) Aluminum and Magnesium are fairly comparable strength-wise as a generalization. Certain magnesium alloys may be stronger than some alum alloys, but by and large, its a wash. There are alum alloys (like 2024 or better yet 7075) that would be significantly stronger than any magnesium available, but they're not likely to be available as anything but billet or forged alum wheels (and still unlikely). Magnesium is about 2/3rds the weight of aluminum. Last note, magnesiums compressive strength is markedly lower than its tensile strength (in almost any wrought alloy) which means high strength magnesium forgings don't get you nearly as far as alum or steel forgings (where compressive and tensile strengths are nearly equal for a given alloy).
Basically, they look nice, but in my opinion they're not really worth the money folks want for them. They're tough to keep good looking (because the clearcoat pops off) and they're not that much lighter than stock wheels. If you want lightweight, look for lightweight aftermarket wheels (like BBS's and such) and expect to pay for that lightness. If you're just looking for a look, they're more trouble than the cost is worth.
'JustDreamin'
dgoodhue
BuSTeD 4.3
Re: How about the Corvette Magnesium wheels?
Correct
Later in production (in 2000) they were $2000 options. I also heard form Corvette owners with them thet are super easy to ding or dent. I remember on Corvette owner complaining how easily he dented his with his lug wrench.
JustDreamin said:
Correct
Later in production (in 2000) they were $2000 options. I also heard form Corvette owners with them thet are super easy to ding or dent. I remember on Corvette owner complaining how easily he dented his with his lug wrench.