They are nice! I've got the same style on mine (westerns) but a slightly different style. They had been painted an orange which was pealing off all over the place so I ended up taking a wire wheel to them to get the old paint off, getting them sandblasting then painted them with PPG. I'd check Craigslist and check Ebay as they are on there every so often.

Great choice of wheels! ...

....now, if I could only decide the size and brand of the new tires....

215/60/R14 :laugh:

76Datsun280z, Nice center caps there Bro.

~Z~

Darbji: I knew I saw a set of these for sale somewhere recently... unfortunately a bit late on the draw here, but here's the URL:

http://www.zparts.com/ads/wheels/wheels_fs.html

76Datsun280Z: Yep! Nice wheels! I didn't realize that that style was "Western" also. I like those center caps, too! I'll be needing a set of those for my Western's! Any clue where to go shopping? I did some web searches and could only come up with 'newer' stuff.

Are "Western" brand still made? Couldn't find much on that topic, either - the web searches come back with a million or so results, none of which seem to help me. (No, honestly, I did not look at them all.) Then when I 'refine the search to specifics, I don't get much at all.

And WingZrO, do the 215/60/R14 that you suggested give a fairly accurate speedometer reading - that is one of my concerns. Once I get 'size' set in my mind I will begin narrowing down brand and style - will likely be looking for a summer high-performance - at least not 'all-weather'.... I just don't drive my '72 in bad weather. I don't care that much about tread life either, as it won't be taking regular long trips anywhere.

Those center caps look like the ones 'reddat' sells on eBay.

I have a set...freshly beadblasted...look good no curb rash as I remember..$100 for the set...I can get $25 per wheel from the aluminum scrapper, but would rather see them go to a Z owner... I'm in Fox lake, IL and email is buyaz2@hotmail.com. I can do a pic to you after the Z car convention...

Another 'kinda nice' variant of these rims would be the turbine-style rims that came on the Datsun 200SX (80-83).

14x5.5, I think, and there were variants with 16 spokes and 32 spokes.....

And WingZrO, do the 215/60/R14 that you suggested give a fairly accurate speedometer reading - that is one of my concerns. Once I get 'size' set in my mind I will begin narrowing down brand and style - will likely be looking for a summer high-performance - at least not 'all-weather'.... I just don't drive my '72 in bad weather. I don't care that much about tread life either, as it won't be taking regular long trips anywhere.

I suppose so.

Everytime I go by one of those MPH Rader signs in a School Zone, which shows how fast your going, the Rader speed and the Speedo seam to match up

215/60/R14's are hard to find in H rated speed which is good up to 138MPH

but you can find them in S and T rated easy though.

Seems like 225/60/14 is more popular which is the size I going to use on the rears.

Here Is what Goodyear 215/60/14 looks like on the front of my Z which are no longer made by them.

The rears are 215/70/14 and look horrible, tall and flat walled :sick:

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u280/Wingzr0/WingZr0s%20Ride/100_2273.1.jpg?t=1184279500

~Z~

76Datsun280Z: Yep! Nice wheels! I didn't realize that that style was "Western" also. I like those center caps, too! I'll be needing a set of those for my Western's! Any clue where to go shopping? I did some web searches and could only come up with 'newer' stuff.

Are "Western" brand still made? Couldn't find much on that topic, either - the web searches come back with a million or so results, none of which seem to help me. (No, honestly, I did not look at them all.) Then when I 'refine the search to specifics, I don't get much at all.

Thanks, I think the brand of these wheels were Western as that's what the original center caps said on them and they aren't made any more. It's pretty easy (and fun) to restore these old wheels and make them look new again. Ebay and Craigslist are again probably the best places to look along with posting your question on other sites and you might be surprised to find a set in your area. I bought the center caps along with the "Z" logo from MSA. Just make sure you get the right size caps! I've also seen this same set listed on Ebay before. http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/WCC

American Racing also sells this same style in their "vintage collection" of old style wheels which is pretty cool. The picture on their site shows them in a 5 lug, but would imagine they sell them in 4 too. http://americanracing.com/wheels/details.asp?wheelid=225&name=Vector%20SE&style=47&desc=1-piece%20painted/machined%20alloy%20wheel&section=V

Thanks, WingZrO, your input and picture are valuable to me (I assume that the 5.5" width is okay with the 215/60/R14 tire?). The picture does speak a thousand words. Now it's pretty much down to a brand and style/rating I guess.

Stephen, thanks for the tip on 'reddat' on eBay. I will check him out. I appreciate the tip.

76Datsun280z - Thanks for pointing out what should have been the obvious to me! I thought I was familiar with the catalog, but there they were the whole time! (I must say that the CD version of the catalog takes away the joy of picking up a paper catalog and paging through it - I'm 'old school', huh?) Now there is actually a "choice" available to me.

This site is great for that. The willingness to share information has in just two days likely set Darbji up with a set of wheels, and found me some center caps for mine (not to mention the tire discussion). I think I will soon start another thread on suggestions for restoring or refreshing a set of these. Several of us can now probably benefit from your suggestions on cleaning, polishing and detailing! I'll try to post something soon on that (new thread).

Darbi,

If no-one closer has a set send me a P.M. and I'll snap a few pics

of the set on my '71. I'm affraid shipping from 96067 might be pretty steep.

P.O.'s had put in some in-correct washers, however they are serviceable and in need of good media blasting.

Tuck \o/

What, these ones? :cheeky:

I have never seen them for sale anywhere. Best beat might to find an old Z for a few hundred and just buy that and swap the wheels. Could have a parts car, another project car, or maybe make it look a little nice and turn around and sell it.

Friar-Tuck- Check DHL freight. I just had a set of steel rims shipped to me by them for a fraction of what USPS or UPS was demanding... From NJ to PA. Also had them carry an E-88 head to me from Michigan for $35.00.... most cost effective shipper that I've found, especially if you 'have an account' with them.