SD1 Alloys another option.

S

steveg1664

New Member
There is another possible option with SD1 wheels, although they may be quite rare now. Following the introduction of the SD1 many Police forces chose to use them as pursuit vehicles, including the Metropolitan Police. Unfortunately the Met opted for the 2600 with auto trans with steel wheels. They were c**p! Underpowered and overweight they were totaly unsuited to urban police use, but worse still they suffered from incredible brake fade. I once had one loose all brakes after about two miles around Hampstead! The solution the Met came up with was to fit Minilite Alloys to improve rear brake cooling and which did work. These were 14" items which I think used standard steel wheel nuts. The Met had a lot of these cars between 1977 and 1985 when thank god they phased in the Sierra! So they're could be a few about.
 
I've got a set of ex-police genuine Minilites fitted to my 3500S. They are the best available and inferior copies should be avoided. I fitted the SD1 alloy wheel studs and nuts to suit and have had no problems. They are 14". The ex police ones did used to suffer a lot of kerb damage but they take it well. I was lucky when I got mine I knew someone who bought and dismantled a lot of them, and he sorted me out an undamaged set of 5.
 
Paprika said:
could you post a picture?
Click to expand...
If that question was directed to me, sorry not a chance, I'm working at the limits of my computer skills just posting this!
Plus I don't posess a digital camera.
All I can say is they do look good!
 
If someone's looking for unusual wheels we currently have four original Cosmics for a P6, shortly going on eBay.
These bolt straight on to any P6 apparently, no adjustment nescessary.

Cheers
Nick
 
Got the Cosmic wheels from Nick the other day. I had forgoten what an excellent product these wheels were, strong, light and nicely made. They also have a very nice touch to them in that they have tapered steel wheel nut inserts so you can use the original steel wheel nuts if you like. As I want these for competition use I shall do just that as I don't want the extra weight or flash of chromed and domed nuts. Still need eight more 5.5J x 14 wheels, ideally alloys but steel will do, if anyone has any they don't want! One other point, I have read the thread about Superlight Wheels UK, I can't comment as I've never used one of their wheels. But if anyone looks at secondhand wheels that look like them don't just walk away. In addition to Minilites, GB Alloys, Supalight (the original Australian company) and more recently Compomotive have all made similar style wheels and all have excellent reputations.
 
Cosmic alloys are great. I have a mate who has them fitted to an MGB GT V8.
He uses MG RO-style wheelnuts to attach them to his car.
As you are using them for competition, might be worth seeing if the MG thread is the same as they are a heck of alot smaller! But I guess we are only talking a few grams so proberbly not worth the bother.
 
I will post some pics, but it will be a while yet as the roll cage, fire system, Halda and other interior bits come first. Also I won't be doing them up for shows, no polishing, centres or anything like that. Just tanked, blasted and sprayed metallic charcoal or similar.
 
gosh I think I got those. I never new they come with centre caps. Do I need SD studs and wheel nuts now?
 
I've got the first two Cosmics finished and ready for tyres, I tanked the wheels for an hour each, pressure washed them and gave them a light brushing when dry. I used grey etching primer followed by two coats of Ford Anthracite Grey metallic base coat with two coats of clear laquer to follow. On the first wheel I followed normal proceedure and rubbed down all the parts that had been polished originally but after the laquer went on the whole wheel looked like it was made of glass. Next wheel I just lightly keyed the base coat and it still looks great. I'm using aluminium bolt in valves in "titanium" finish, they are very light and strong, but they're a bugger to see on the grey wheels! Hope to get the others done this week and then of to find some 185/70 Vredsteins as these seem to be the choice of the historic rally brigade.
 
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