New look of Hurst, brakes for classics
Hurst Camaro Credit: Wheelbase Media
Hurst is a shifter company, yes, but at one time, highly stylized cars were built with a complete Hurst theme and that included custom wheels. And where better to bolt a set of modern Hurst wheels (based on the original theme) than a new retro-styled Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro or Ford Mustang.
These “lightweight, pressure cast wheels” (about 31 pounds each) are sold in 20x9-inch and 20x10-inch sizes (front/rear) with the correct offset and bolt pattern for your modern ride. A set of four will cost you close to $3,000 (although you can buy them individually), but they’re gorgeous with polished edges, matte-gray inserts and Hurst caps.
You’ll likely be the only one on the block with them. You can buy them straight from Hurst at www.hurst-shifters.com (click the “new” button on the far right).
Retrofitting disc brakes to an old classic that never came with disc brakes is a great idea to enhance performance and safety, but there’s just one problem. The conversions don’t always fit within the confines of an original small-diameter factory wheel. If you’ve upgraded to a bigger wheel, then you have plenty of selection from a variety of companies with Wilwood being one of the most popular.
To fit within a small wheel, however, Wilwood has an 11-inch-diameter-disc package with a low-profile caliper and a drum-style emergency brake housed within the rotor. According to Wilwood, you can still comfortably fit a 14-inch-diameter-wheel over top.
Be sure to check fitment and pricing of part number 140-11389 with Wilwood at www.wilwood.com or by calling 805-388-1188 (Camarillo, Calif.).
Burried below that shiny paint job could be the hidden sins of undisclosed bodywork and rust repair, but how can you tell for sure before you buy the vehicle? Even a body mechanic can’t tell how good or bad it is without a thorough inspection or even by tearing through the repair with a grinder to find out.
The Filler Detective, which sells for about $100, is a handheld meter that lights up and makes sounds when body filler is detected. It even tells you the depth in increments of 1/16 of an inch. (Beyond 1/4 of an inch, there is no exact measurement.) Although it fits in your shirt pocket, there is a belt clip and there’s also a protective microfiber pad to prevent paint scrapes from use.
The device even works on some metal fillers. For complete details or to order, head over to www.fillerdetective.com or call 310-832-8336.
Coker Tire is in business to sell new tires for vehicles that are no longer supported . . . by anyone. If you want original redline tires for your 1960s musclecar or something to fit a Model A or maybe a military vehicle, you don’t have to look any further than Coker.
But an interesting part of the business is recreating old-style bias-ply tires with modern radial technology to help you look good and play safe. The Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial is built in 20 sizes to fit wheel diameters of 16- 21 inches.
Prices begin at about $205, which is reasonable, but they do require innertubes that cost about $42 each. These tires have giant sidewalls, just like the original sizes with an overall height past 35 inches, depending on the fitment.
