Banded steel wheels

[felixlighter]

I need to get some chrome rostyle wheels widend by 3 1/2 inches and banding wheels I'm sure was outlawed in the 70's, so finding a company to get some done now is kinda difficult. Does any one know of a company in the South that can do this type of work that can verify there welding skills? or is there another method to widen them?
Thanks

[na]

I'm not sure it's outlawed unless you mean for racing

there was discussion on this on MG BBS if I can sort through the Archive there (not the easiest thing to do) I'll return with info

ETA: just thought 3 1/2" is lot but I don't think there's a limit on the banding as such

[Phil5343]

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=d...

This guy gets a lot of positive comments, and having seen his work i can vouch for its quality. There are plenty of pictures on there for you to have a look at. Don't know how close he is to you though...

Hope this helps.

[na]

this is what I found http://www.bandedsteels.com/

someone put that they're using the correct method

I know nothing of them or the subject more than is on this thread

[4rephill]

I don't think it was a case of banded steel wheels being outlawed as such, but there was a lot of concern about people widening their own wheels and making a bit of a hash of the job, making the wheels dangerous.

Shortly afterwards, alloy wheels became the latest thing to have and suddenly having banded steels meant you were well behind the times.

[felixlighter]

4rephill said:

I don't think it was a case of banded steel wheels being outlawed as such, but there was a lot of concern about people widening their own wheels and making a bit of a hash of the job, making the wheels dangerous.

Shortly afterwards, alloy wheels became the latest thing to have and suddenly having banded steels meant you were well behind the times.

Well, what goes around etc.

[4rephill]

felixlighter said:

Well, what goes around etc.

That's the thing, banded steels are quite rare these days and are retro cool whereas alloys are as common as ditch water.

There's also a much better selection of quality wheel specialists who can do a very professional, quality job of widening steel wheels these days.

Back in the day it tended to be left to "back street Bob" in his lock up with his angle grinder and oxy-acete kit for a fiver a wheel (or even more worrying, the owner of the wheels giving it a go themselves and hoping for the best! )

[NHK244V]

felixlighter said:

Well, what goes around etc.

Groan....

[mat777]

definietly not illegal as Ive very recently seen a customised Defender running on very deeply dished range rover rostyles. As said though - get a proper pro to do it so they dont come off at speed!

[alolympic]

You could also get the wheels re rimmed, which has got the safer reputation to be honest.
This involves removing the centre from the current rim, and welding onto another wider 1 piece rim.

[felixlighter]

alolympic said:

You could also get the wheels re rimmed, which has got the safer reputation to be honest.
This involves removing the centre from the current rim, and welding onto another wider 1 piece rim.

Yes that's correct, just found this company, not bad prices either
http://www.mach5wheels.co.uk/