Who has 14x7 Applance slots or Konig Rewinds on a 240Z?

[Arne]

Are there any 240Zs here with Appliance brand 14x7 slot mags on them? Not the more common 6" wide, but 14X7s?

Here's the deal - I found a full set of four Appliance Dish Mags (aka slots) in 14x7. Normally I wouldn't consider 7" wide due to the lack of tire choices. But this set of wheels is NOS. Never had tires mounted, never bolted on a car. The thought of NOS appeals to me a lot.

But - my recollection from selling those wheels back in the late 70's and early '80s is that the 7" Appliances frequently had clearance issues, because (as I seem to recall) they were not zero offset, but more like -10 or so. Rather deep dish. So my concern is clearance when turning at the front valance.

I figure I'll run 215/60-14 on them if I get them. That's both shorter and wider than the 195/70-14s I now have on my 14x6s.

So my question is: Are there any 240Zs (approximately stock height) with these particular wheels on them? If so, what size tires are you running, and do you have any tire clearance issues?

[kinfish]

Arne,

I bought the Appliance Aluminum mags 14" x 7" wide in Orlando,Fl about June, 1972. Believe I paid $150 for the set of four.

I installed Goodyear ER70-14 tires on them and did encounter clearance issues on my Series I 240Z. When making hard right or left turn the tire would rub the valence piece on each side. My fix was to provide some additional clearance by rolling the lip of the valence.

I am currently running Falken 195/65/14 tires coupled with Tokico spring/shock kit which lowers car about 1 inch. I have not experienced any additional problems with this combo. The extra stiffness of the shocks also probably helps. I have not measured with the actual clearance with the valence at extreme conditions but will do so at next opportunity.

[ktm]

Arne, while mine are not Appliance Slots, I am running 14x7 Western 16-spoke Turbines with 225/60s. I had clearance issues on the lower valence, the right moreso than the left.

[Arne]

Unfortunately, rolling the lip is no longer an option with the BRE Spook installed. But your results are still encouraging, Ron, in that your 195/65-14 should be about the same diameter as the 215/60-14s that I would like to use. The fact that they don't rub even on a lowered car is a good sign, as my car is at stock height with slightly stiffer Euro Stage 1 springs from Courtesy. The old ER70-14s were a full size taller than stock, so I'm not surprised that they rubbed a bit.

[LanceM]

I have appliance wire look mags in 14 X 7 that I run 235-60's on with no rubbing

[Arne]

Lance, does your car have any suspension mods? Gas shocks, perhaps? And do you still have the stock valance parts on it?

[LanceM]

I have a fiberglass front air dam, otherwise all stock, been running it that way since '79 or so. I'm not sure what the off set is but could measure them if you want as I have the wheels off the car right now.

[DougN]

Arne, I am pretty sure Mike W runs these wheels on his Z, I don't recall him having any problems with them and IIRC his car is lowered a little -- If I talk to him I'll ask him to check this thread and chime in!

Cheers!

Doug

[MikeW]

Sorry, I missed this thread earlier. My slot mags, which I believe were dealer-installed, are stamped "US Indy Mag" on the back side and are 14X7. I'm currently running 205/60-14 with the Tokico performance springs sold by MSA with no clearance problems. In fact, the original springs that I replaced sagged so much that the lowering springs actually raised the car a bit.

[Arne]

I have a fiberglass front air dam, otherwise all stock, been running it that way since '79 or so. I'm not sure what the off set is but could measure them if you want as I have the wheels off the car right now.

Sorry, I missed this thread earlier. My slot mags, which I believe were dealer-installed, are stamped "US Indy Mag" on the back side and are 14X7. I'm currently running 205/60-14 with the Tokico performance springs sold by MSA with no clearance problems. In fact, the original springs that I replaced sagged so much that the lowering springs actually raised the car a bit.

Thanks for the info, guys.

LanceM - the airdam on your car probably has more clearance up front than the stock valance corners on my car. However, your results are still encouraging as I believe the wire mags you run have the same offset as the slots, and you are running larger tires than I would.

MikeW - I'm not sure if your results help much, as I seem to recall that the US Indy's did have a more typical zero offset, not the -10 or so of the Appliances. I was also hoping to avoid having to go that small on the tire size. And again, your airdam (as shown in your avatar) probably has more clearance than my valances.

I dunno. Still waffling. Neither the size (14x7) nor the style (slots) are my first choice for replacement wheels. Not that I hate slots, I don't. But still not my first choice. But I'm still attracted to the thought of NOS.

[MikeW]

MikeW - I'm not sure if your results help much, as I seem to recall that the US Indy's did have a more typical zero offset, not the -10 or so of the Appliances. I was also hoping to avoid having to go that small on the tire size. And again, your airdam (as shown in your avatar) probably has more clearance than my valances.

I don't know what my offset is but I'd be happy to attempt to measure it if that will help you. My wheels do have a deeper dish than similar wheels I've seen but that's purely from visual inspection. However, the fact that they're not Appliance wheels might not make a good comparison.

My instinct says that if you really don't care for them then you shouldn't use them on your car. They certainly do have a certain value being NOS so if you have a place to store them and can get them at a reasonable price I see no reason not to grab them in case you change your mind later.

[Arne]

Mike, your deeper dish could be from offset, but is more likely simply due to them being 7" wide, as opposed to the more typical 6" width.

Don't get me wrong, I do like slots. I'm just not certain I like them quite as much as a few other styles. Especially on the red car, we've gotten used to it with fairly flashy rims on it (first the chrome wire wheels it came with, now the fully polished wire mags). Plus I'd need to buy a new set of tires for them, the current tires aren't really wide enough for 7" rims. I have considered just buying the new rims anyway, but I don't really have a good place to store them, I don't think my wife would be amused at me putting even more Datsun parts in the spare bedroom...

[ktm]

205s will most definitely and 215s should clear on 7" wide wheels with a 0 offset. I only hit the valence at when turning sharp with my 225s.

I agree about the look of slots on a Z. I had 14x5.5 Shelby slots on my car when I first bought it, but I really liked the look of the 16 spoke Western turbines.

[Arne]

Any new input on this from anyone?

I still haven't moved on this, but I'm leaning toward doing it.

[mars23z]

Hey Arne those appliance wheels were on my early 260 when I bought it and I didnt have any issues with them(see my gallary) I think the tire size was 195/60/14. I still have the wheels in my garage with the tires still on them. Chris

[mikewags]

Arne, you're current rims are SWEET. Let me know if you decide to sell em.

[Arne]

I edited the title, since it occurred to me that 14x7 Konig Rewinds have much the same offset as the Appliance do. So comments from Rewind owners would be relevant as well.

Hey Arne those appliance wheels were on my early 260 when I bought it and I didnt have any issues with them(see my gallary) I think the tire size was 195/60/14. I still have the wheels in my garage with the tires still on them. Chris

Thanks, Chris. I'm hoping I won't have to go that small on tires, I prefer to see more rubber under my car than that. But it's good info.

Arne, you're current rims are SWEET. Let me know if you decide to sell em.

If I take them off, I'll let you know. But two of them don't look nearly as nice in person as they do in pictures. They're fine from 10 feet, but up close -- not so much. Which is exactly my problem. I like the look, but the wheels themselves are not good enough for the rest of the car.

[ktm]

If I take them off, I'll let you know. But two of them don't look nearly as nice in person as they do in pictures. They're fine from 10 feet, but up close -- not so much. Which is exactly my problem. I like the look, but the wheels themselves are not good enough for the rest of the car.

Why not refinish them then?

[conedodger]

I have a set of the slotted dish wheels in the shed. I am not sure the width though. I have Kosei K1 wheels on the car and have no problems with them but that is not relevent to your question. I intend to clean up the dish wheels and sell them to someone into period correct wheelage... In fact the Kosei K1's will be going too in favor of some Panosports.

[Arne]

Why not refinish them then?

That's an option, but they will need some serious work, re-machining in some cases. The cost to make a set of the wire mags (I have a total of 8 of them) look as good as I want will be more than what I'd have to pay for the NOS wheels. So if I can get tires that I'm satisfied with on the NOS, that may still be the way to go.

[mikewags]

8 of them? Are the other 4 the same as you have on your car now?

[Arne]

8 of them? Are the other 4 the same as you have on your car now?

Yeah, but worse condition. They need a fair amount of help.

[eurokevin]

not to bring back a dead thread, but the 77 280z i purchased last jan has 14x9 shelby slotted mags all around. the previous owner had them on his car since he bought in 1986 and putt stock-size fiberglass fenders and gnose. the offset is stamped -1 3/4. no engine when i bought it, but he said there was no rubbing when he drove it.tires were 235-60-14.

[rdefabri]

Arne,

I have these rims on my car (the Appliance 14x7). I am running a 205/60-14 tire (Dunlops).

I don't know if I could be much help though - I bought the car from the PO this way, so I have no idea of any offset or suspension changes. I do think my car sits a little lower, but then that could be due to the need for replacement struts.

Let me know if there's something you need me to check.

*** EDIT - I see this is an old thread, so perhaps your decision was already made. Offer still stands though - any help, let me know.

Edited February 3, 2009 by rdefabri

[Arne]

Yeah, I ended up passing on the NOS wheels I was looking at, I think they're gone now. Decided that I didn't want to go to a shorter tire, which it looked like I would have had to do.

Instead I'm refurbing yet another set of 14x6 Appliance Wire mags - this set will have fewer flaws in the polished lip, and will have the center area around the lug nuts painted the same gray color as the tail trim. Getting close on these now.