"Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

I have an "old" 1970 Olds 442 Super Stock Car that I've owned for over 30 Years and am just getting it back to the track. I have always ran Cragar Super Trick Wheels on the Car and want to stay with them, as they are somewhat "nostalgic."..........

Here's my problem.... In the "old days," I always ran "tubes" in my front Tires with these Wheels, however, to be current with NHRA rules, I have to go to a steel Valve Stem....i.e., get rid of running Tubes...... and now go "Tubeless" on the front Tires.......meaning I'll need to "seal" the halves of the Wheels, so they will be able to hold air pressure.

I've done my best to "search the net," call Tire and Wheel Mfr's. to get their "recommendations" on the proper way to "seal" my Wheels, but can't get any good answers...... I'm sure many long time Super Stock Racers have dealt with this situation (either now, or in the past) and I was hoping someone would share some info. with me on the "best" way to seal the Wheels..........Lots of bad info. on the net and I want to do it right....
Can someone tell me the correct chemical/brand of Sealer to use and also the Method/Steps (cleaning, abrasion, preppuing, etc.) to go through to make sure I get a good result?.....Sure don't want to do this more than once....

I'd really appreciate any help.

Thanks in advance.

Harold

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

Buy an "Implement" tube the proper size at your local Farm/Coop store.
A lot of them have bolt in valve stems for those type tubes.
Some have steel valve stems.
That is what we did back in the day!!

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

SuperTricks have a sealing "O" ring between the halves that can be troublesome if any corrosion is present between the halves.
I use 3M brown surface conditioner pads to clean the surface between the wheels and also the area where they butt together to give the sealer better adhesion.
Replace the 'O" ring and leave dry and reassemble the wheel , bolt torque is 23-25 #
I've had excellent results using LORD Fusor 803EZ urethane sealer/adheasive .
I tape on either side of the seam ,leaving about 1" open and run a heavy bead around the rim .
I then use a narrow spreader to flatten the urethane .
after about 15-20 min peel the tape and you have a nice professional looking and durable seal.

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

You like quote marks, don't you, Harold?

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

Hi,

Get brake clean, a tube of 100% silicone sealer that fits a calking gun and a roll of "QUALITY" (3M) electrical tape......

Don't split the wheel, clean the area that 2 halves come together with brake clean and a scotch brite pad. Apply the silicone in the valley at the split after you have a bead applied take your finger and run it along the sealer to force it down into the valley. Let it set up for a week and run a pass of electrical take over the silicone to protect it.....

Years ago we took the tubes out of our tube type tires front & rear, wiped the inside with liquid dish washing soap and ran them.

After the soap bubbles disappeared from coming through the sidewall they stayed leak and trouble free.

We ran Monocoque Wheels with the same problems that the Super Tricks and Centerline had and this was a permanent fix.

Bob

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

Adger / Tom / Bob,

Thanks for the info!....... I really appreciate your help and guidance.

.....I knew I'd get good answers on this site!:D:D:D

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

LOCTITE 5900 Black Calk all the way around the seam. A nice thick, finger smoothed bead. You will have to melt the wheels off of the calk if you ever want to take the halves apart. The baddest bonding, sealing stuff every made. You will not be sorry if you do it this way. I promise!

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

Thanks for the info. Chris. Sounds like mean stuff.

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

You are very welcome

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

Hi all,

They didn't have that stuff in the 70's........

I only recommended what I used and I know that it works.....

I might have to look into Loctite 5900 as a sealer??????????

Thanx,
Bob

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

I used Tom's suggestion and decided to go with some of the Lords Fusor Sealant Adhesive....... I think it worked out great!...... 5 days after completing the job, and my Super Trick Wheels are still holding air (without Tubes) and not leaking at all! I know the real test will be putting load onto the Tires and "going down the track," but for now, I'm really happy with the way my Wheels turned out.

As this Sealant appears to have done such a good job on my Wheels, I thought I'd "pass along" some info., as it might be helpful to other Racers out there. It sure helped me...... Maybe it can help someone else too?

After Tom's recommendation, I called the manufacturer to ask a few questions and learn a little more about the product. They told me the "part number" had actually changed to 800DTM. They said it still has the same qualities as the 803EZ that Tom had recommended; 800DTM [/B] is just the "current" product number. 800DTM is Beige in color. (This product is also available in Black as part # 803DTM.) It comes in a Std. size Tube that will fit into Std. Caulking Guns.

I had also told Lords (the Mfr.) that I wanted to hold approx. 45 psi, or so, of Air in my Tires and are there any concerns about "air pressure" causing any bonding problems?.......... They told me not to worry at all.....They said that they have actually done a 500 psi Shear Test on this stuff!....WOW!...... It really does "stick" to the Aluminum. This stuff stays rubbery, but very firm (like a hard rubber) and you can pull on it, try to push it off, etc. and it sure stays stuck!
Lords also told me that this Sealant is actually used as an Adhesive to hold automotive body panels together!.......... It's pretty amazing!
As a test, I went ahead and put a bead of this Sealant onto some 2" x 3" pieces of 10Ga. scrap aluminum I had in the Shop and pushed them together. A few days later, I tried to pull them apart by hand.....I couldn't do it! ..........Tough stuff!!

Again, THANKS to everyone that responded to my post. I really do appreciate the help........ Hopefully, this info. will also help someone else.

Harold:D:D:D:D:D

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

Glad to hear it worked for you.
I use it for all sorts of applications , it really works great for sealing wheel tubs to quarter panels .

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

One of the most interesting mixes of quotation marks, bold, underline, all caps, and italics I've ever seen!

Re: "Sealing" Cragar Super Trick Front Wheels
 

Just an "update"........ 6 months later and my tires are still holding air. Looks like the Lord's FUSOR Sealant worked out great! Maybe this stuff can help someone else out!

Harold:D