Cragar SS Wheels, is it true the rims are just pot metal

[Gustgo]

Was thinking of buying a set of used Cragar SS wheels, 16 inch which are no longer made it seems. These are 6 years old and have goodyear tires on them with low mileage. Both were brought new from goodyear in 2001 I am told. Have not seen them yet but when I asked about any pitting at all, the guy said yeah-just a tiny bit from brake dust he did not clean off. These were to been used in summer time only.

I did some looking at other forums and seen some say Cragar SS wheels are cheap pot metal and pit and even crack in back if you are running a strong 454 motor. These are not cheap wheels when new, like $150 a piece I feel aren't cheap. The guy wants $500 for all four wheels and tires all ready mounted, caps and lug nuts-I just bolt them on and go.

I always hear Centerline is better but thought Cragar was still a name-good brand. I'm up in the rustbelt and do store my ride in the winter but if the street are clean and dry, it goes out for a short drive, come mid March I like to get it going since the daytimes can be ok....should I look for a different brand or what. These happen to be with in driving distance to pick up so just a tank of gas it cost to go get them.

[tri5man]

I'm running old style Cragar S/S wheels on my '56. No pitting what so ever, they look as new. It's never been in a salt environment though. I've never heard of Pot Metal wheels.
Gary

[Gustgo]

Hes had them a Ford Crown Vic--newer model, so likely they been in the salt :( Its too bad, he sounds like a cool guy but I'm likely better off finding rims for it--and getting brand new tires, cost a little more but maybe thats not where to get cheap.

Heck I seen snow falling last night, melted as it hit the ground but winter is coming back to Michigan once again :(:(

[NickP]

Was thinking of buying a set of used Cragar SS wheels, 16 inch which are no longer made it seems. These are 6 years old and have goodyear tires on them with low mileage. Both were brought new from goodyear in 2001 I am told. Have not seen them yet but when I asked about any pitting at all, the guy said yeah-just a tiny bit from brake dust he did not clean off. These were to been used in summer time only.

I did some looking at other forums and seen some say Cragar SS wheels are cheap pot metal and pit and even crack in back if you are running a strong 454 motor. These are not cheap wheels when new, like $150 a piece I feel aren't cheap. The guy wants $500 for all four wheels and tires all ready mounted, caps and lug nuts-I just bolt them on and go.

I always hear Centerline is better but thought Cragar was still a name-good brand. I'm up in the rustbelt and do store my ride in the winter but if the street are clean and dry, it goes out for a short drive, come mid March I like to get it going since the daytimes can be ok....should I look for a different brand or what. These happen to be with in driving distance to pick up so just a tank of gas it cost to go get them.

I am always amazed at what influence a few comments can impose upon the public. "Pot Metal" - is a slang term that refers to alloys that consist of inexpensive, low-melting point metals used to make fast, inexpensive castings. There is no scientific metallurgical standard for pot metal; common metals in pot metal include zinc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc), lead (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead), copper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper), tin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin), magnesium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium), aluminium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium), iron (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron), and cadmium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium). The primary advantage of pot metal is that it is quick and easy to cast. Due to its low melting temperature no sophisticated foundry equipment is needed and specialized molds aren't necessary either. It is sometimes used to experiment with molds and ideas before using metals of higher quality. It is sometime referred to as white metal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_metal), die cast zinc, or monkey metal.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_metal#cite_note-wisegeek-0) Examples of items created from pot metal include toys, furniture fittings, tool parts, electronics components, and automotive parts.[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]
Pot metal can be prone to instability over time, as it has a tendency to bend, distort, crack, shatter, and pit with age.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_metal#cite_note-wisegeek-0) The low boiling point of zinc and the fast cooling of the newly-cast part often allow air bubbles to remain within the cast part, weakening the metal.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_metal#cite_note-wisegeek-0) Many of the components of pot metal are susceptible to corrosion from airborne acids and other contaminants, and the internal corrosion of the metal often causes the decorative plating to flake off.[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)] Pot metal is not easily glued, soldered (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldering) or welded (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welding).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_metal#cite_note-wisegeek-0)
Pot metal used to refer to a copper alloy that was primarily alloyed with lead. 67% Cu, 29% Pb & 4% Sb and 80 Cu, 20% Pb were common formulations.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_metal#cite_note-1)
The primary component of pot metal is zinc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc), but often the caster adds other metals to the mix to strengthen the cast part, improve the flow of the molten metal, or to reduce cost.[dubious (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disputed_statement) – discuss (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Pot_metal#Dubious)] With a low melting point of 419 °C (786 °F), zinc is often alloyed with other metals including lead, tin, aluminium and copper.

I am pretty certain no Cragar Wheels fall within this type of material.

[chevman57]

The original wheels are made of some type of cast looking metal, but i doubt that it is pot metal.
Terry

[bigdave R.I.P.]

I ran Cragar SS on three different Camaros Iv'e owned. The shine was never a problem with me. I pulled the wheels off for the winter. The problem I had was they never ran good. I used to work at JC Penny when they had there own auto centers and kept balancing them. The problem was the unilug design. They never were tue to the center and always a little unbalanced.
I bought torque thrust II for our Chevelle and got the same look with a better ride.
MY .02

[Rick_L]

The rims on Cragar SS are steel.

The rest is an aluminum/zinc alloy (casting). Pot metal to some. Probably a higher grade of "pot metal" than your hood bird. Still susceptible to pitting. Keep in mind that many aluminum casting alloys have a fairly high zinc content, and the zinc content pits more than other alloys.

I believe that back in the day they pioneered a manufacturing process to attach the cast alloy spokes to a steel rim, without having it work loose or leak air.

I think the term "pot metal" came from using recycled aluminum and zinc. Whatever was available - probably goes back to the depression days, and probably more zinc than you see these days.

I think the zinc makes the alloy flow better into a die cast mold, with smooth surface and sharp corners.

[mickeywestsr]

I've run Crager Wheels for about 12 yr.s or so on my Chevelle and now on my 55. Never a minutes trouble here ib Chatt-town.