64 Wood Wheel - How its Made
 

Check back periodically, I will be showing you how its made....


http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/u...lSpokes001.jpg

Cruel torture. Is anyone now making the center horn plastic emblem? I had originally bought one from Ames years ago, tried to glue it on, and the glue i used dissolved the paint on the back side!
It's great to hear that you are doing this. It takes some risk to put the money out there upfront. I am currently doing a similar thing, trying to reproduce a non automotive antique tool that is even a bit more involved in some respects. It will be on a limited run basis.

Step one: make the bends
 

I designed the tooling for this process. It actually leaves marks on the back side in the same place as the original. Initial bend radius and spring back allowance (ie bend angle) were the most difficult aspects of designing the tooling. It turned out great, though. I can take this piece and lay it on top of an original and the angles and radii line up perfectly.

Yes, I am! (as well as Ames) Mine will have all matching letters in P O N T I A C, The "T" won't be too short. And the lines of the "V" shaped arrow head will be well defined and not too thick. It should look exactly like the original if all goes well.

Yours does look like original , i have my original and the better of the 2 repo. medallions on the market . Top notch part , looks great ! It would be nice if most of the other repo. parts were as nice as yours .

Step two: Finish spokes
 

Next step is to apply a finish to the spokes. Brushed on the front, chamfered edges.

http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/u...0Wheel/101.jpg

Is this CHad.. If so, Hi, it's Bill Ryder! How is the wheel coming?

So far so good! I am excited to get this on the market!

You're at the right place. A lot of GTO people reside here. I only signed up a couple days ago and I've chatted with friends I haven't seen in 15-20 years. Your wheel does look GOOD, I wasn't kidding!!

Coming from one who owns a NOS 64 wood wheel, that is very valuable feedback. Thank you.

Remember, it was "out of the box" 20+ years ago!!

I've been following this thread with great interest, and behaving myself - until now!

(lol)

I was going through some parts my friend left me, and found one I thought you all might be interested in...

This is the "wood wheel" that was installed when he purchased his 1960 MG "A" -

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_0060.jpg

:focus:

I'll have some questions later, and I'm anxiously waiting to see how the rim portion is created and attached.

K

That is interesting. Looks like it had inspiration from the aviation realm.

As does the Pontiac wheel. I noticed when I look at the collar, spokes, and horn button from the side, they remind me of a propeller and nose cone on an aircraft. No doubt there are some aviation influences in the design.

The 64 Wood wheel in my opinion was the finest early wheel offered on the GTOs. Chuck Roberts put on on his 65 GTO and it looked great.

Watching the progress of the build of a wheel with great interest even though I have a original Wood Wheel on my car from 1 1964 2+2 Catalina. My 64 GTO Wood Wheel was stolen years ago.

Keep up the great work.

Tom Vaught

Thanks, Tom. I'm getting closer!

http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/u...-up-of-pro.jpg

http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/u...IMG_9616-1.jpg

Ever wonder what the mold looks like to make the emblem?
 

Step 3 and 4:

Roll a ring out of steel rod and weld it to the spokes.

http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/u...G_1811-1-1.jpg