Hey all. I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on some nice, sensible rims for my first car. It's a standard 1975 Holden LH Torana (SL). At the moment, it’s just sitting on the standard wheels and hub caps which it was originally manufactured with, but I’m looking for something a little less retro and something that adds some sparkle. What I’m looking for is something with 5-6 spokes nothing too bulky or too big. I'm not too familiar with brand names or price vs. quality, so I’m hoping you guys might know a fair bit more than I do. (btw the car is a yellowish gold colour with a few but minor imperfections)


Is sort of what I'm looking at or something like
in a silver polish

All comments will be appreciated
Cheers

first set have been entirely overdone and barely look average on jap cars.
second set would be your best bet (imo, that is)

mate you should get a picture of your car up and then select some wheels you like and some of the nerds will photochop it for you so you can get an idea how it would look

Stick with your older school styled choices in my opinion.... the modern, spindly looking, bigger diameter wheels just dont work.

Yeah, some big, modern rims look sweet on Toranas, but id much prefer a set of Simmons B45's, or V5's (like mine ). Simmons new range
Or even some of the Dragway stuff. Dragway range

Both are Aussie owned and produced wheels, so Aussie wheels for an Aussie machine!

Or chase up some cheap Weld or Cragars if its only a first car.... they wont break the bank and still look sweet!

And welcome to Boost!! Just dont be put off by all the turds in the Off Topic section!

Thanks for the advice. Now that you have brought up the point of jap rims looking shit on the older style of cars i have to agree, not to mention with the gaps in the rim you would see the old drum brakes.

thanks for the links too,
so after your words of wisdom i guess im inclided to head towards something like

or


by the way, here is a picture of my car (it was only taken tonight so its not so flash)
[attachmentid=550466]


Cheers guys, and thanks for your advice

5 Spoke Dragways are the obvious choice.

Is that ice on the grass?

Where do you live, Antarctica?

as wattsylx said dragways are the way to go

i like dragway indys on a lh/lx torrie

Something like Dragway Draglite's maybe......i had them on a LX Sedan years ago and i thought they suited the car well.

The dragways would definitely suit a LX though if you weren't going that way then these ones you posted a pic of would look (IMO) good on it....

No those above wheels would look shithouse.

Dragways, Convo Pros or Hubcaps.

My Ex / now best friend Claire has the same car as you.. LH Sedan.. Piss Yellow with Shit Brown interior.. stocko wheels and hubcaps.. She is gettin wheels soon for her birthday but as with hers.. yours will still look shit with just wheels as its a crappy paint colour.

Id agree and say the dragway Indys.

mmmmm... I dont know. Im not after a classic, retro look. I need something to jazz the car up alittle. Those dragway rims would be the ones i'd get if the other set doesn't work out. It seems everyone goes for those drag way rims and i dont want my car to just be part of the crowd. As for the paint, it as quite a few imperfections, I would have loved an LH (SL) 1975 torana in BLUE, but i couldnt have affored to be that picky. Once i get some cash together ill be changing a few things, one of them could be the paint if i eventually work up the cash. I'm yet to see anything other than the standard wheels and hub caps on my car. So i gotta check out whats avaliable and practical, affordable and a bit flashy. But thanks for your thoughts guys, and if all else fails ill be going with those dragway rims.

Cheers

Maybe you could go in a totally different direction.

Maybe fit up some earlier steel Holden hubcaps if you can, maybe something off an EH or HR if they fit (im not quite sure). Polished up they look unreal, I actually polished a few up and used them for centrepieces at my wedding!

Use them with some whitewall tyres, lower the car as low as legally possible and aim for the cruiser look!

mm, the wheels off a HR would fit, but they wouldn't 'fit' with the rest of of the car. My dad recently restored his HR and ive swaped the wheels and orginial hub caps with them and it just didnt work. I guess ill keep looking around untill i find something that fits.

My first car was an LH Torana and I still think they can be one the nicest looking muscle cars on the road.

I agree that putting a set of good wheels on a car can make a big difference.

some of the choices and my opinions

Dragways - 5 spoke - these have been overdone on Toranas - not my favourite. I had a set on my Charger and took them off to update the look.

Dragway Indy's _ I have seem a very similar set on aTorana and they came up looking pretty good actually - not a bad choice.

Hotwires - these were actually almost standard fitment for anybody puting wheels on - I did it on mine - i saw somebody with a set of 16"hotwires and they looked so much better than the old 13 or 14 inch that we used to run. - Still suit the Torana down to the ground.

[attachmentid=559963]

Simmons - either b45 or F90's always look on any old car - always looked the goods on toranas but aren't cheap.

here's one from left field - what about some of the American racing wheels - these are designed specifically for old school cars that want to dress them up.

American Racing Torq Thrust II's are a great looking wheel that will really suit the Torana and are pretty unique as well.
[attachmentid=559961]

[attachmentid=559962]

I actually think the colour of the Torana is quite nice - i remember it well - it used to polish up pretty good.

To make her look better I would get rid of the granny mud flaps, go 17" wheels (no bigger and definately no modern looking chrome bling things) and drop her a couple of inches or maybe 1 1/2".
Take your time to get the sizing and the backspace on the wheels perfect - the Torana has deceptively big wheel arches so you need to make sure the wheels come out to the edge by making sure the backspace is correct. The back go as wide as you can now and still keep them under the guards.

Try the street wheels website based in melbourne and adelaide.... dealing in mostly old school with new rims.

cheers RobMonster
"Dont ban high performance cars Ban low performance drivers"

sunburst gold is the colour you have comes up ok i had a genuine l34 that colour many moons ago with the black outs and body kit that came on l34s that colour looked ok i did however paint the car black a couple of years later but that was after a fairly extensive crash if that didnt happen i probably would have left it the original colour After that accident i also sold all the genuine l34 running gear for next to nothing to fit a chev/muncie and 10 bolt rear end totally destroying what is now an extremely rare and very collectable car was young and foolish at the time [30yrs ago]however the chev did make the car go quicker and it was a pretty full on 308 for the era that i pulled out and i had no idea of what these cars would be worth one day to make things even more stupid now i look back is that i now have 2 lx hatchbacks one a 12sec streeter and the other a high 8sec drag car and both are holden powered maybe you live and learn hey

centreline convo pro

Ding ding ding

sexy, i wanna get some for my ek

Yep, wouldnt mind some for the WB

Since half of you think Dragway 5 spokes have been overdone.. come on.. every fuckin street machine car has Convo Pros on it.

Also don't go Torq Thrusts.. they don't suit at all.

Charger 360 - Hotwires are the shittest wheels.. i can't imagine them looking good on anything.

torq's look awesome on toranas, but usually on flared toranas.

Weld draglites look good and tough on unflared sedans.

Because convo pros are awesome

Eh. I think their over-rated.

Guess there just isn't many people in Aus who have any sense of true oldschool style anymore..

Mate, I dont mean to offend you or anything, but you're a bit pretentious aren't ya?

Who made you the judge of all things old skool?

I actually like a lot of your ideas, and I applaude what you are doing with your various projects, but you should never forget - each to their own. ...and just because someone puts wheels that you dont like onto their old car, doesn't mean it aint still old skool. I agree, I dont like modern looking wheels on old cars either, but if his car makes him happy, where's the harm?

I just bought my HJ and did a very quick job on it because I have taken my HZ off the road for a full rebuild and didn't want to be stuck driving my wife's VS Commondore. (what do you drive as your daily driver?) I've painted it satin black, and actually took off the Dragway Indys to put some old skool rims with chrome trims and baby moons cause I wanted the old skool look, but to someone like you, '74 probably isn't old enough! Then again, I dont really care!

Also, my HZ has Torq Thrusts, and I love 'em, as does everyone who sees it, but I guess you wouldn't be one of those people.

Like I said, I dont want to offend, (please look at this post as constructive advice) but I really think maybe you need to pull your head in just a tad and concentrate on geting one of your projects on the road so we can all admire it. I tell you, I will be the first to say "well done."

phill

Have you seen a Torana with Torq thrusts?

probably not - I have and they suited it perfectly according to the people who who saw it. Same basic look as Dragways so I have no idea what the f**k your talking about.

Hotwires aren't my choice for a wheel but there are plenty of tuff Toranas that still run them by choice - if you can actually remember back to the 70's these were what dealers were putting on the Toranas that had the A9X flairs instead of the steelies.

Hey Phil,

Not affended at all mate. Possibly a little too tired to be either

I'm not the judge of what is and isn't oldschool.. but the point i'm tryin to make is why follow the crowd? I've seen probably a thousand Toranas this year alone with Convo Pros.. yeah they look tough and i'll admit that.. but i mean.. come on.. whens someone else besides myself gona have the balls to pull off something different? And by different i don't mean shit.. i mean somethin that looks fuckin unreal and that hassn't been done before.

I saw a Kingswood at Munchies last Friday that was flat black, red wheels and standard caps or moon caps or somethin.. it was rollin and i didn't see it sittin still.. with trim rings. Don't think it had whitewalls.. but it looked pretty cool.

I infact dug out my old hubcaps the other day.. was thinkin of runnin em for a while for shits and giggles.

My whole hate for modern wheels on old cars.. stems back to the whole saying of "You can't build a traditional car.. if you don't know shit about the history" and thats pretty much what i see in the large mass of old Holdens.. a paintjob and whatever wheels.. convo pros, dragways, modern wheels whatever.. It shows no real imagination or expression of the builder..

Convos and Dragways are fine, but modern wheels i cannot stand. To me.. if someones gona put modern wheels on an old car.. then they are either a street rodder type (which i don't like..) or they don't know shit about the history of their car.. Not sayin you don't know about the history of em.. but generally speaking. I meet a lot of old car people who just throw on a set of off the shelf new wheels and have no idea.. and certianly no sense of style.. Again.. not aimed at you but just a general comment.

Granted my first point applies more to 30s -> early 60's moreso than Muscle cars.. and as 360 Charger has said the factory put Hotwires on Torrys from Factory.. but that doesn't mean it looks good. Hotwires are shit ugly wheels.. and anyone who believes otherwise needs to take a good look at them and then take them off.

HAHA, that was ME you saw mate! She's a bit different to the average Kingswood dont you think? Next time, chase me down and say g'day - I'd love to meet you.

I agree with everything you just said. One of my pet hates is modern, large diameter rims on otherwise cool old cars. I also dont like hotwires, but my point is that, yes we are all allowed to have our opinion, but by the same token, we are all allowed to build and drive whatever we want.

Look forward to meeting you,
Phill

P.S. Glad you weren't offended by what I posted. A lot of people on here are too imature or whatever to take some constructive advice in the spirit it's given.

Aha i thought it was you when you mentioned how you'd "done it up"

I'll be at Harrys Diner this friday night with my HJ.. you should cruise over that way.

I have infact seen another that was flat black and red wheels once before.. down at Nerang i think.

I agree with everyone having their own opinion and driving what they want and having it how they want.. but my point was that there is a HUGE lacking of style with most old cars these days.. especially those done up by younger people.

Have a look on carsales for example.. How many of the old Holdens on there have any style or class? Not very many.

Sorry but you blokes baggin hotwires have odd taste, that could be why you have HJ's and not toranas :-) Just kiddin each to their own... 14x10 Hotwires all round only way to go on a torana. I've got one without bolt ons with 14x9 1/4 on rear and 14x8 front.

Fuck yes, id prefer those over Convo Pros on any Torrie

Eh. I still don't like them.. and thats coming from a HJ / HR / EK / '40 Chev owner.. who also happens to own a set of Hotwires

I agree they aren't the wheels for any of your cars (with exception to the HJ which would look nuts on its guts with flared guards and highly polished 10" Hotwires) :thumbsup: so seeings how you hate them so much, you should throw em out, in my direction of course :P unless they are 13x7 or 14x7 in which case I know why you hate em. gotta be shiny as shit and at least 14x8. 14x10 or 15x10 rock which is why people pay nearly a grand a rim for as new examples. here's some pics of my Quad webered 308 SS hatch if you're interested. more pics in gallery.[attachmentid=594488][attachmentid=594490][attachmentid=594489]

I found exactly what I’m looking, something my dad would consider 2 tough for a 1st car, but this what I’m aiming to achieve (exterior wise) within 3 years (link posted bellow). I won't be heading down a path anything like what this bloke has done. My intention is to give it a fair bit more grunt but keeping it *old school* with a manifold and all those pre-80's sort of parts. At the moment it’s just a pip-dream but one I’m keen to live up to.
A mate took me for a ride in his Subaru (only 2 years old and with that new car smell) and I was mighty impressed. That’s the sort of grunt I’d love for my Tory to produce (or at least make it look like it could produce that kind of power).
If anyone has any hints or tips please send us an E-mail, it would be might appreciated.
Cheers guys.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/753513


E-mail is
A_B_L_E@hotmail.com

Nothin wrong with using period speed parts mate.

My EK's tough 186 is going to be running an X2 manifold.. or three Single Strombergs on a Triple SU manifold.

Another mate off the FB EK Forum has an FB with a 138 (Grey Motor) running triple carbies on a custom manifold with a home made copper fuel rail.

Goes to show.. don't have to use store bought parts mate.

Parts from that period would be nice, not ideal though. I helped do up my Dad's Hr keeping everything standard and we had a few issues in regards to quality and reliability.
I want to do the work myself and i'd like to use more modern or new parts if i could. I'm doing it up with the asperation of sticking with it for life.

If you were impressed by your mates Subaru, your gonna make a sticky mess in your pants when you feel the 'jammed back in the seat' torque of a healthy carbed V8 Torana!

mmm, something i dream about. a V8 would be the ultimate but i gotta keep in mind if i put in a V8 i couldnt drive it for 4 years and i want to drive it now. So i think i V6 or straight 6 is good comprimise?

go one hundread spokes dude they look shit hot on old cars

http://www.cragarwheel.com/wheels/?id=32&a...rst=0&fid=9

http://www.streetperformance.com/brand/wel...els-100797.html

I hate to stir the pot further in Abl3's thread as we should cut the crap and focus on the original topic, but the above quotes from the same reply kind of cancel each other out. Regardless of your opinion of Hotwire mags on Torana's, wouldn't they be classed as period for LH, LX models?

I personally am not a fan like many, however many who know their Torana history would agree they belong on those models. Ever stopped to think these guys are not fans of hotwires themselves and more to the point are trying to retain the history of their vehicle of choice. I know a lot of people with Show cars and daily drivers who switch wheels depending on the look they are trying to achieve that day.

On a separate note, red steel wheels and flat black paint jobs on mid 70 model cars is way after the period that style derived from. Personally i think flat black or the rat rod look on any car regardless of it's age is hiding the fact it's is either a piece of shit, full of rust, bog, both or the owner could never maintain the effort to keep a straight car with an immaculate paint job tidy. I guess again it comes down to opinion, but i would never tell someone there car looks like shit or they need their head examined as they have built it to suit their own interests, not yours......

DeadSled and racerphill, this is not intended as a personal attack. Bear in mind car enthusiasts come in all shapes and sizes. Just because you think an idea looks like shit, it doesn't necessarily mean the next guy does.

wide hotwires FTW

Sounds like a personal attack to me, but guess what? I dont care!

For your information, my flat black car with red steel wheels gets plenty of admiring looks and comments. It's not in awesome condition by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a BUDGET job. I've got another nice shiny one, but I also wanted something cheap and DIFFERENT (now there's an unusual idea!)to drive around daily - something I can leave parked in a shopping centre, without worrying about. Do you have an immaculate car that you use as your daily? If so, good on ya, but not everyone can.

Your final comment about everyone having different ideas etc is what I've always said, but that doesnt seem to worry you too much i guess.

I build my cars for me - not anyone else. If others like em, good, but if they dont, I dont care one bit...and whatever anyone else wants to build is fine with me. If someone wants to say my car is shit, but then claim it's not a personal attack, I dont care about that either, but I for one, have NEVER said anyone else's car was shit. Just because you say it on an internet forum, but would never say it to their face, doesnt make you any better than any of the other clowns who cant accept that not everyone has the same taste.

...but that's not a personal attack or anything.

phill

racerphill,

It's obvious from your heated response that I have hit a nerve. I think the point i was trying to make has been lost in translation.

I am yet to see your flat black car with red steel wheels on the road. I must admit if i did see it, I too would be one to admire it for being a little out of left field or different. As i have said previously, if that is the look you are going for, that's fine. I won't be the one to tell you my feelings towards your car as it is purely my opinion. My grudge is against the keyboard warriors that log onto boost every night and have a go because they are a die hard import fan and think old school is shit or they think hotwire rims look shit on Torana's.

My wife and myself have had various older cars over the years. I too know how frustrating it is to wash the car on Sunday morning only to find some deadshit has lent a trolley against the paint work in the car park. Therefore, i understand your reasoning behind a low budget vehicle as your daily driver. I just can't help but think the same effort masking up a car and spraying it flat back could be concentrated on repairing minor bodywork and re-spraying a factory or metallic colour. Yet again, it comes back to personal opinion.

no offence but that slr you liked too wasnt that great..., to me anyway, rims ruin it for me, im 16 n have a wb (i wanted earlier but right price at the right time) panelvan and wouldn even consider those wheels. seriously get yourself something wide and 80s> with big writing on the tyres and it'll look tough as a ducks nuts, wish my car was old enough to get away with flat paint and steels not sure what to do with it

Billsevent3,

That was not meant to be a heated response, if it came accross that way, I apologise. It's just that I also
cant stand all the keyboard warriors who proliferate this forum, and when someone gets on and says the things you did about any car (not just mine) and then thinks it's ok, just because they type at the end that it's not a personal attack, well, it just doesn't make sense.

Like I said, I dont really give a rats about what people think about my cars. I build them to what I like, and my budget allows. I've never, to my memory, bagged out other people's vehicles and I dont like it when the keyboard warriors do it either.

I know my car isn't a show car (FAR from it!), but like I said, I can park it anywhere and not worry...plus I've always loved the flat black look, so who really cares what anyone else thinks? I have a nice shiny one in the shed as well, which will be my fun/weekend/club car once I finish paying off the new engine for it.

phill

i happen to like 100 spokes on old cars but thats just me . not every ones cup of tea but i think they look shit hot .

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Hey guys, I just bought these rims today, please let us know what you think, but no matter what you say, these are still the best rims i have seem on an Lh torana so far...

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