I have a 1991 Formula tpi 5spd hardtop ws6. I want to be able to rotate the tires without de-mounting the tires from the wheels, so I bought a set of front wheels at a swap meet. I am wondering if there were different generations of Formula wheels, because one of the two that I got does not match the wheels on my car, or the other wheel from the swap meet.
The main difference is in the spokes and the barrel. The oddball has a grey paint or epoxy in the spoke area, and feels smooth, where all the others feel rough cast aluminim like sandpaper. The barrel is also much more shiney, like a michined part vs the cast barrel of the other one. It also has a "3" under the size, where the other one has a "2", but the same part number.

I dont think these are something an owner did at some point, but it is possible.

I would like to know how to replicate the painting in the spokes as this would make it much easier to clean.

 

Where's Okfoz?

 

From what I've heard, the one marked Western Wheel is an aftermarket wheel. It was made by the same company that made the GM wheel. Western Wheel was the aftermarket arm of Kelsey Hayes.

 

I guess I've never paid close attention to Formula wheels before, but this is the first time that I've noticed they have faux 2-piece wheel hex bolts.

 

They are actually both marked Western Wheel Corp, followed by a "K-H", which I assume is Kelsey Hayes.
The one with the ring around the barrel is the oddball.

 

Interesting, I'm going to have to go look at my wheels..

Any idea what year are the wheels really are? I have seen some of them rough and some smooth.
I think its just one of those things, like, how the wheel was cast or how the worker felt that was spraying the paint that day.
I'm fairly sure the wheel spokes where painted, wheel machined then clear coated.
Never played with those silly allen screws, always wanted to remove them and weld the holes shut to see how it looked.

 

I dont know what years they came off of, he just gave me his "best two".

Are you saying that all wheels throughout the years were painted in the spoke gap area like the oddball?

 

Yes they were all painted there. If I had to guess, the ones with "thicker" smooth paint have most likely been refinished at some point. All the ones I've seen, the "factory finish is very thin and light in color.

 

Hmm, it doesnt seem like any of the other ones I have are painted, but they could have deteriorated by now I guess.
It would make sense that the oddball was refinished, but I dont know about the timeline. It is pretty crappy to have been refinished once in its life already, but anything is possible.