8 Lugs from Empire Motors ??????

[SCIARKL]

:) Has anyone bought 8-lug drums from Empire Motors in El Paso,Texas? Any opinions regarding their product would be appreciated. Thanks

[tom s]

JMO,the owner is a crook.Tom

[Jack Gifford]

Try looking at the drums produced by Arrowhead Components Inc. The proprieter's screen name here is 'Ponchopio' (John Piotrowski).

[Stuart]

If I got the story correctly, John had Empire do some of the development work on his reproduction 8 lug drums, but then they took the design and started selling them on their own.

Aren't they also selling a knockoff aluminium four barrel intake manifold as well?

(edited to correct a typo.)

[63 Pontiac]

John is Arrowhead Components.

Empire is the ripoff.

[65N66Drkside]

I will also recommend John Piotrowski. I saw his stuff at Norwalk. Very nice. Also a classy, honest guy.

[Heybuck]

I just received my set of drums from John. Have to say that if they perform as good as they look, I'll be one happy boy.

The whole deal from John has been professional and forthright. Lots of communication and nothing seemed to stress him.

I've dealt with eBay sellers who collapse in a fit of farts at the thought of having to post interntionally something that will fit in the palm of your hand. John followed my instructions to the letter. Good on you John.

When I get them on the car, I'll post a picture

[clydester]

How much are the repro's??? I've got a set of originals I bought in 1976 for $35. I knew that soemwhere along the line I'd buy a big car that could use them. All the cars I bought, though, already had them on. With the repro's out ( a great venture by the way), I'm afraid it'll kick the price legs out from under any used ones out there or here in my garage.

[wheelspin]

Arrowhead's nice 8 lug drums are sold by our host: Performance Years for around $285 ea. (bare, no studs/bearings/hubcaps/trim rings) for the fronts. Before you get freaked by the price; nice USED oem show quality sets of 4 drums/5 wheels/trim rings/hubcaps can fetch over $4000, and I "stole" my used set for $900 in 2005 @ the POCI Nats. in Greenfield.

Les

[60man]

Arrowhead's nice 8 lug drums are sold by our host: Performance Years for around $285 ea. (bare, no studs/bearings/hubcaps/trim rings) for the fronts. Before you get freaked by the price; nice USED oem show quality sets of 4 drums/5 wheels/trim rings/hubcaps can fetch over $4000, and I "stole" my used set for $900 in 2005 @ the POCI Nats. in Greenfield.

Les

Guess I need to take inventory as I'm getting out of 8 lugs..
can't stop my race car with them...:) I have stashed a few sets...

[clydester]

Nice to see my OEM's still have more value than as door stops. I've really not followed there value since selling my 66 2+2 six years ago. Back in the real early 60's, my Dad bought a couple used sets for a 59 wagon and 61 Bonneville convertible. I don't remeber what he paid then but to by them piece by piece over the GM counter was about $500 per set. We lived within a few miles of Royal Pontiac back then and of course, Dad gave them the Royal "treatment" with color matched drums, polished fins and knockoffs inserted in the center caps. Ever since, I've thought of a big Pontiac without eight lugs as a 421 without tripower.

[Wade Congdon]

If I got the story correctly, John had Empire do some of the development work on his reproduction 8 lug drums, but then they took the design and started selling them on their own.

(edited to correct a typo.)

This is what we understand to be the case as well. We also did some work with this gentlemen before he changed his name from MFT to Empire Motors and agree with Tom S's character analysis. It also sounds alot like several other "Characters" playing in our sandbox these days.