Cromodora 14x5.5 Beta rim weigth ?

[bobkelso]

Hi,
somebody has weighted with some precision the 14 x 5,5 original beta alloy rims?
For example not sure if for the 8 spokes it is beetwen 14 and 16 pounds  (6,3 - 7,2 kg)..

Addendum:
It will be interesting for me to know the weight of some of this beta rims,
to put some order in the discussion I have numbered them  :

n1 -  the classic 8 spoke version alloy 14 X 5,5   (ET 34) , built by FPS or CROMODORA

n2 - the old design 16 short spokes alloy 14 X 5,5 (used on normal beta and coupe beta)

(n2 light - the old design 16 short spokes 14 X 5,5 in "electon" alloy (magnesium + alluminium)  )
 
n3 - this more rare one with 20 thin spokes

I put pictures of n1 n2 and n3 .. Thanks to all.

[rossocorsa]

I haven't but do you mean coupé or berlina style? some early berlina/hpe wheels appear to be magnesium alloys very light

[VXdeMayo]

Dear Bob,
Welcome to the forum!
If the wheel you are refering to is the "classic 8 spoke Cromodora", I have one of these wheels sitting in my garage doing nothing, without tyre, weights or valve, and I have weighed it for you on some ex Post office scales! It weighs in at 5.5kg exactly.
I believe that later on the same style wheel was made by some one else, and it is rumoured to have been lighter still. It remains to be seen how light the other earlier model  magnesium wheels were? I would love to know.

Answers on a postcard please!
best,
Chas,
(VXdeMAYO).

[MattNoVAT]

I will weigh the standard 8 spoke FPS version of the alloy wheel later when I get home for you.  Just in case they are different, (no weights tyres or valves)

[rossocorsa]

I am sure that the early berlina/HPE alloy wheel in its lighter version is by far the lightest Beta wheel, if i remember correctly the light version has a very slightly different centre design and lacks the cast in 'originale lancia' of the heavier version. the difference when picking up the wheels is very obvious you don't need to weigh them!

[bobkelso]

I modified my first answer and added pictures!  Thanks to all.

For VXdeMayo:

5,5 kg for the 8 spokes will be almost a record for a rim in the measure
of 14 X5,5 and the alloy of some years ago! but also 6 kg will be extremely good.

ps.: the light version was done in an alloy of magnesium and aluminium,
I seam to me that it was called 'electron' alloy, used also by alfa romeo for
the light version of the rims "millerighe"; if it is scratched it has a green colour
and it is not as inflammable as more pure magnesium alloys..very light
but some danger about resistance when rim is been already used long time..



 



 

[MattNoVAT]

The FPS version of the 8 spoke alloy weighs in at 6kg.  No tyre no valve & no weights.

[rossocorsa]

It remains to be seen how light the other earlier model  magnesium wheels were? I would love to know.

Answers on a postcard please!
best,
Chas,
(VXdeMAYO).

well as I said they were very light indeed you could really feel the difference, but the alloy is bad in old age and once the outer skin has deteriorated doesn't refinish well  I had some powder coated years ago and it all crazed and fell off I suspect these wheels are not much use now they are nearly 40 years old

[VXdeMayo]

Dear Bob and all,
I am surprised that the "bog standard Cromodora 8 spoke" came up so light, as I was informed by another member recently that the FPS version of that wheel was probably lighter still!
I must stress that it was measured on good accurate level Post Office scales, so I don't think it's a fluke. (However I have recently cleaned all the years accumulated crud out from the back, so that the Shotblaster has an easy time of it when he refinishes it)!
These for reference are the same type and manufacturer of wheel that I recently posted some pics of after painting. See forum under "Wheels".
Keep those results coming!
Best,
Chas.
(VXdeMAYO).

[bobkelso]

Ok, thanks.

At 6 kg or something less (may be different years construction have small weight differences
or the balances need small calibrations) the 8 spokes FPS seam definitely a good rim for confort on rood,
expecially if used with a "soft" tyre with an high shoulder like the 185/65 14.
Probably at 6 kg it is a little lighter than the iron rim (that is not as beatifull to see).  
 
Usually is said that suspended mass must be multiplied for 5-8 times and compared
to the weight of the car to see their effect on confort (suspension response on bumpy road).
 
Indeed for accelerating performance the rotating mass in the wheel must be multiplied "only"
for 1,5-1,8 times (Inerzia laws), so having 6 kg instead of 7-8 kg for 14 rims does'nt change pratically nothing..
  
Still pleased of the good stuff lancia used for rims in 1980!
Alloy rims of series cars in the '90 for the measure 14 x 5,5 were at least 7,2 - 7,8 kg (the lighter ones).
 

Anyone weighting the 16 or the 20 spokes?
 
 

[Thotos]

I have a set of the Cromodora CD51 (or 16 spoke as referred to here) wheels fitted to my Fiat 131 (most Fiat 131 'aficionados' hate them but I quite like them  ). I still have the fifth (spare) wheel without a tyre so I can weigh it this evening. But bathroom scales accuracy is the best I can offer.

[VXdeMayo]

Dear Theo,
thanks for posting the pics of those lovely wheels and that gorgeous Fiat Mirafiori Sport you have. I had one of these in the late 80's, same colour, same orange interior, same everything. I have owned a fair amount of Fiats, Alfa's and now Lancias, (and at the risk of upsetting some of our Lancisti out there) but pound for pound I firmly believe that the Fiat 131 Mirafiori Sport, although  underated and largely ignored was one of the best drivers cars of the time. Dare I say like a RS2000, only better, much better!
I drove mine till the floor finally fell out, and the crankshaft seized. Wonderful. It embarrased many an XR3i owner, and even scalped some BMW 3 Series on occasion. That perfect blend of Italian Twin Cam and rear wheel drive was fantastic!
I think the secret was it  made you feel you were a much better driver than you actually were. (And isn't that what drivers cars are all about??) Once our HPE VX
is finished soon I look forward to comparing the two!
Lucky guy,
Vive la Twin Cam,
Chas,
(VXdeMAYO).

[Thotos]

I can weigh it this evening.

I did and according to my bathroom scales it's 6.9Kg

[Thotos]

Thanks for your very kind complements Chas 
And of course I agree with everything you said about the 131. If you want to be reminded what it's like to drive a 131 Sport, have a look at the videos:

Fiat 131 Mirafiori Sport

A drive in a Fiat 131 Sport

[hf_dave]

Great Sound Theo, It reminds me of my youth when I coulden't afford a Lancia so I bought a 131 instead. Oh memories !!

[swedgamma]

Hello,everybody!!

I´m Urban from Sweden,I´ve been following this site for years but not been heard much!I have a couple of Lancias,among those a Beta Spider 1979 which I have been driving mostly summertimes for,I can´t believe it,ten years!Its originally silver with black interior but during the eighties repainted in red.
However,I have some different wheels,also a set of the "elektron" version of  Cromodora.I recently (actually today)bought some decent equipment to check the weights,so as follows;
Cromodora 14x 5,5 (16 spokes) 6,8 kg
Cromodora 14x5.5  (16 spokes) "elektron" 4,9 kg( Actually,the forging looks less nice than "normal ones",some wrinkles on the inside)
FPS 14x5,5 (8 spokes) 5,7 kg
For references;
Cromodora Dino 6,5x14 5,6 kg
Campagnolo Dino 7,5x14 6,3 kg
Greetings from Sweden/Urban( 4 inches of snow,-12 C)

[lukasdeopalenica]

Hi Urban,
What do you mean by "elektron"? CD51, CD53, CD160 or any other? The weight suggests they are magnesium rather than aluminium.

[swedgamma]

Hello,again!

Campagnolo uses the name "elektron" for the mix of metals they used for their rims,magnesium,aluminium and something more i cant remember,Zink maybe.
As far as I know Cromodora mostly made aluminium forgings,but in some cases,for example the early Testarossa with centerlock wheels are very light but also marked Magnesio.These Cromodora 14X5,5 Beta rims,I only have four of them,are marked "Lancia",look like the normal ones,close to 2 kg lighter, but no special markings added.Cromodora may have used some other mix of metals than Campagnolo,I dont know.Why these rims are lightweight is guesswork,
for competition purposes or maybe leftover metal from some other project?
Sorry, I dont know the numbers of the different Cromodoraforgings,CD 51 for instance,is there anyone that have any info on that,or a "Catalogo"??

Greetings from Sweden(today five degrees warmer, or maybe less chilly!)

Urban(Swedgamma)

[lukasdeopalenica]

voila
I have magnesium CD53, they look similar to CD51 that were used in early HPEs and berlinas.

[swedgamma]

Very interesting,I will have a closer look at my Cromodora  "lightweighters"!

Urban(Swedgamma)