Re: Question on 69 wheel weights
Terry------
Yes, the wheel/tire assemblies were only STATIC-BALANCED at St. Louis so there was really no need to place weights on both sides of the wheel.
So, if one wishes to duplicate a factory balance, all one needs to do is to obtain a relatively inexpensive static balancer ("bubble" balancer) and do the balancing oneself. I doubt that most tire shops would even do a static balance these days.
Some observations and opinions of mine.
If you are having wheels and tires balanced for road use -- the state-of-the-art balancer is made by Hunter Engineering, a St Louis Company. FWIW: I once saw that the ST Louis NCRS Chapter got to tour their facilities years ago. I regret missing that.
Anyway, Hunter has A web site which allows you to enter your Postal Zip Code and find a shop using their equipment. The latest balancer is called Elite Road Force Balancer. Enter that choice to find a location that has that. Go and watch their work to be sure the operator looks proficient at the use of this high-tech machine. Hunter used to offer training for operators when the equipment was purchased new. There was an extra charge and giver the turn-over in these shops it is not easy to find operators who know all the features of the machine. Properly operated, it will allow the choice of weights only on the back and will tell the operator to rotate the wheel and tire for minimal weight addition. For road use one can put stick-on weights under trim rings to satisfy the desire to balance the wheel and tire assembly more accuratly. My experience is that dealerships are less cooperative in unusual requests like are required for our desires. I found near me Discount Tire is the best, but other stores that specialize in nothing, but tires are the most skilled. With the new Corvettes I willingly go 100 miles to the Tire Rack warehouse for tires, but that is not an option for most of us. I am most impressed by shops that use hand tools on the lug nuts and real torque wrenches to tighten the lug nuts -- no torque sticks allowed. That is what we taught in school, but in the real-world time is money and quality suffers as a result. One has to be willing to pay for quality work. I use these same standards for my Daily Driver cars as for the judged cars. I don't think I need to go off on the safety aspects of wheels and tires.
For wheels and tires used for show
The amount of OEM or reproduction weights used in the back is not critical due to the limited use of the tires. It should be remembered that not all wheel and tire assemblies needed balance weights and the OEM balance at St Louis was done with what was essentially a bubble balancer. That machine sprayed a colored wax dot on the tire where the weight was to be installed. The color told the operator the size weight to use.
With respect to judging inappropriate installation of wheel weights or the road wheels IMO does not merit a 20% deduction, but if all four road wheels are not TFP for just the wheel weights I might be talked into it. Especially because it is so easy to "fake it." If one has to use the same wheels and tires for PV and judging, see the Road wheels story above.
If you are having wheels and tires balanced for road use -- the state-of-the-art balancer is made by Hunter Engineering, a St Louis Company. FWIW: I once saw that the ST Louis NCRS Chapter got to tour their facilities years ago. I regret missing that.
Anyway, Hunter has A web site which allows you to enter your Postal Zip Code and find a shop using their equipment. The latest balancer is called Elite Road Force Balancer. Enter that choice to find a location that has that. Go and watch their work to be sure the operator looks proficient at the use of this high-tech machine. Hunter used to offer training for operators when the equipment was purchased new. There was an extra charge and giver the turn-over in these shops it is not easy to find operators who know all the features of the machine. Properly operated, it will allow the choice of weights only on the back and will tell the operator to rotate the wheel and tire for minimal weight addition. For road use one can put stick-on weights under trim rings to satisfy the desire to balance the wheel and tire assembly more accuratly. My experience is that dealerships are less cooperative in unusual requests like are required for our desires. I found near me Discount Tire is the best, but other stores that specialize in nothing, but tires are the most skilled. With the new Corvettes I willingly go 100 miles to the Tire Rack warehouse for tires, but that is not an option for most of us. I am most impressed by shops that use hand tools on the lug nuts and real torque wrenches to tighten the lug nuts -- no torque sticks allowed. That is what we taught in school, but in the real-world time is money and quality suffers as a result. One has to be willing to pay for quality work. I use these same standards for my Daily Driver cars as for the judged cars. I don't think I need to go off on the safety aspects of wheels and tires.
For wheels and tires used for show
The amount of OEM or reproduction weights used in the back is not critical due to the limited use of the tires. It should be remembered that not all wheel and tire assemblies needed balance weights and the OEM balance at St Louis was done with what was essentially a bubble balancer. That machine sprayed a colored wax dot on the tire where the weight was to be installed. The color told the operator the size weight to use.
With respect to judging inappropriate installation of wheel weights or the road wheels IMO does not merit a 20% deduction, but if all four road wheels are not TFP for just the wheel weights I might be talked into it. Especially because it is so easy to "fake it." If one has to use the same wheels and tires for PV and judging, see the Road wheels story above.
Yes, the wheel/tire assemblies were only STATIC-BALANCED at St. Louis so there was really no need to place weights on both sides of the wheel.
So, if one wishes to duplicate a factory balance, all one needs to do is to obtain a relatively inexpensive static balancer ("bubble" balancer) and do the balancing oneself. I doubt that most tire shops would even do a static balance these days.
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