Real GTA wheels should have strengthening ribs which radiate out from the centre of the inside of the wheel. Their surface finish will be rough as they were not die-cast. Search the BB, as someone will have posted information as to their weight.

As a very rough guide to wheel condition, tie a length of hemp rope through the centre of the wheel and suspend it from a beam in your garage (etc). Strike it gently on a flat area of the wheel with a plastic hammer. If it rings harmoniously, the chances are that it's ok. If it 'clunks' and doesn't sustain the tone there's a distinct possibility that there is a stress fracture in the metal.

Good paint might not necessarily be the good sign you think it is ...

Cheers,

Alex.

 

FYI
A Technomagnesio wheel is NOT an original GTA wheel. these are '90's copies, albeit in magnesium. Original GTA wheels are also magnesium but are from campagnolo.
The Techno's are deemed OK, because they are good copies and weigh the same. They too, are usually very expensive. Available, as far as I know in 6x14 and 7x14.
I have the folder somewhere. Original Campi's are too old and fragile to run on a GTA, as Magnesium is a porous metal. Even the Techno's now will be 20 years old, so always have them checked before use.
Good luck!

 

Technos are double hump design and legal to be run w/o tubes. Campagnolos are tube type rims. Technos have a more machined less rough look.

 

A picture says more than .....



Hello Zowie,

Because a picture says more than a thousand words, some pictures of rims that were published earlier by fellow alfabb members here on the board:

First up: GTAm rims (Campagnolo?)
Second up: GTA Campagnolo's
Third up: GTAm rims (Campagnolo?)
Fourth up: Campagnolo's (GTAm or GTA?)
Fifth up: GTA Technomagnesio versus Campagnolo

As I am not an expert: who could explain for certain what is what?
Rik or Alex, can you shed a light on these rims??

Ciao, Olaf

 

Ok, thanks for all the replies.

I picked up the Tecnomagnesio wheels today. They are in a very good shape, but I'm a bit disappointed to read they are not real GTA wheels. I've paid good money for these wheels and now I'm thinking maybe I've paid too much. What are these wheels worth, knowing they are not the real deal? I know it's more important to enjoy them (and I do), but I don't like the feeling the seller cheated me.

Another thing, except the word 'Tecnomagnesio' written on the outside, there are no other signs on the wheels. Is this normal for the Tecno wheels?

Zowie

 

What are these wheels worth?



Hello Zowie,

I wouldn't worry about the Tecno's. In my opinion, they are the next best thing if you can't find a decent set of Campagnolo's. And Tecno's were very expensive even when new! So use them for what they were intended for. And if you want to know, ask Alfaholics, they had a set for sale which is now sold. See the picture from Alfaholics.

Ciao, Olaf

 

i didnt know tecnos came in 6x14s... if they were 7x14 i would be interested to take em off your hands.

cheers

db

 

well, I had a set of 6x14 Techno's that I sold off a Giulia, for €1500,-
I have a set of 7x14 Techno's that I will not sell for less than €2000,-
does that say enough for you?

You really can't fit a 40 year old set of Campagnolo's AND safely drive the car. Let alone risk it on a real GTA.
Also, yes, the Techno's can , as Ulrich says, be used without an inner tube. So they are for me far the better wheel. I found a set of Campagnolo's for sale here in Holland two weeks ago. Didn't buy. About 2000,- for a set of wheels that I'd only risk for show. Somebody else bought them. No problem having these wheels for FIA approved stuff.
Same goes for the Technomagnesio TZ wheels. I know of two sets for sale, set of four and set of five. Set of four over at Furiani.de, and set of five at a friends. 2500,- , including one new unused wheel.
Do these prices give you peace of mind?

 

tecno's 7x14 were about $275 usd each new in the mid 90's... well thats how much i could have bought them for

 

yep, that's back in about '93 or so. 17 years ago. And out of production for how long?

Only now you can buy some alternatives. Check out Alfaholics mag GTA wheel, AND the price...

 

Perhaps my experience might be helpful. Back in the early '80s I sent a series of macro photos of the hub section of my GTA wheels to Campognolo, asking whether or not the cracks radiating out from some of the lug holes could be welded. Campy answered by saying that they found the original moulds and could make me a set of new wheels.

When the new wheels arrived, from Technomagnesio, they were better than the original, rough sand cast rims in every way. While they retained the appearance outside and the ribbed reinforcement inside, they were finished to a smooth modern standard. Most importantly, instead of just having lug holes cast and rough machined, these wheels had steel sleeve inserts as part of the lug holes and the machined lands were smooth and correct.

So I would relax about the Techno wheels. They are an improvement over the originals, they were made with the original moulds by the original company. You cant get better provenance than that.

I would also think that Campagnolo is part of Technomagnesio, as my experience would suggest.

 

I have for my GTA a set of original perfect 6 x 14 Campagnolo rims which MWS in the UK X-rayed and sealed for me. The distinguishing features of the original GTA wheels, I am told, is the fact the holes either side of the valve are slightly "D" shaped, presumably for balance. I haven't seen this on any of the photographs posted!

 

Slight D-shape




Hello Stuart,

Have a look at the last picture in post nr. 5.

Ciao, Olaf

 

FWIW, there seem to be two castings from Campagnolo, one of them w/ D-shaped holes which may be the later casting. Also my Campys all have steel sleeves.

 

Sorry, I am being a little unobservent....what am I looking for in the last picture?

 

What to look for



Hello Stuart,

Sorry! I thought that the last picture in post nr. 5 shows the Tecno on the left and the Campagnolo on the right although it doesn't carry the name. Or are they both Tecno's? I am not sure. What do you think?

Ciao, Olaf

 

Olaf, I am not at all sure...I think that one needs to see the inside of the rim to be certain.
But in any case here are images of my GTA wheels with the "D" holes and the view inside to the Campagnolo casting name.

 

Yes, but where do my "D" holes fit into all this. I was told that they were factory original to the GTA......but who knows? What do you think?

 

All my 6" Campys have the D-shape. I think that the ones without may be an early casting before they figured out that this may be a weak spot.

 

That's a good thought.

 

Well, there have been a lot of replies to this thread. I saw some pictures of GTA wheels and I thought I'd add some more.

The first 3 pictures are 6x 14" Tecnomagnesio's, the second 3 are 7x14" Campagnolo and the last 3 are 7x15" Alfaholics replica's.

 

And the other 4 pictures.

 

my Technomagnesios have the lettering inside the rim...


We're missing a pic of the HB GTA wheels here, the 6.5x14s

 

hello all

im trying to gauge if there is any interest here to purchase new 14x7 techomagesio wheels on the bb. today i paid a visit to the old north american technomagesio distributor to see if he can get more of the 14x7. he said they are unavailable for some time and but he knew were the molds were in italy and it may be possible get a batch re-casted. he mention it would be fairly high cost due to the poor exchange rates and high shipping cost compared to past. he guestemated it would 550-700usd per wheel. most likely we would have to order a minimum of 10 sets to make it worth while for the guys in italy. they will be like the orginal tecnho's (cant remember the ET off hand) only without the techno licensed trademark. if there is interest i'll start a new group buy thread.

heres a little campy/techno history ive posted from another thread. http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfetta-gtv6-1975-1986/150182-looking-hens-teeth-campagnolo-wheels.html
please keep in mind this what i vaguely recalled back in the early 90's please free to correct or contribute any further information that pertains the techo/campy saga.

happy new years

db

 

hello all

im trying to gauge if there is any interest here to purchase new 14x7 techomagesio wheels on the bb.

Dave, don't do that. I was just getting ready to put my set on eBay!

Erik Wood

 

im sure someone will snatch it up before this recast thing will happen or if it ever will...

cheers

db

 

In 1993 I bought 5 Tecno's from Alfa Ricambi since I worked for a alfa shop and bought 5 I paid $440.00 a piece for them regular price was about $550.00 to $575.00 each. There still in the box that alfa ricambi sent them in. Still haven't finished the restoration yet. There size 14x6.

 

Sorry this is a bit late, but catching up on AlfaBB...

Original Campagnolos:
There were, I think, two different nave patterns, one with D holes, one with all round holes. I THINK the ones with D holes were used for certain rim sizes, presumably where the section between the rim and the nave, into which the valve hole is machined, was at a shallower angle, to give a little more clearance around the valve. I am assuming here that the casting is made with the rim very roughly formed, and it is then machined down accurately to the correct size. Campagnolo made 6", 7" and 8" versions, and I suspect that the D holes were used for the 7" and 8", and the round holes for 7" and 6". That would be why the 7" versions come in both formats. Campagolos are for decorative purposes only these days, in my opinion. I've seen plenty of cracked ones, and they're all going to be too old for use these days. Sure, buy them for the sake of completeness, but don't use them

Technomagnesio:
I bought my Technos in 1986, and they were exactly the same as those in the pictures on Zowie's posting above - 'Technomagnesio' machined into the nave between the bolts, and a smooth interior - no ribs. They're great copies, but heavy. In fact, I think they're aluminium, not magnesium, because they don't suffer pitting like magnesium wheels do when they get scratched and wet. (Water pits magnesium FAST). They're great wheels though, and mine are in excellent condition despite 20-odd years of use

Others:
As I say, original GTA Campagnolos are extremely dodgy for use - I would never fit them to my beloved little GTA. Were I buying today I'd go shopping at Alfaholics or Classicalfa websites: There have been some real advances in technology, and the wheels currently on offer from both these sources are strong, safe and look superb, as well as being light. There may be other sources: the two I mention are both organisations I use and trust completely. Use their websites - they're a mine of useful, expert information

Classic Alfa Romeo cars
Alfa Romeo Bulletin Board & Forums

Best wishes, Will

 

Technomagnesio:
I bought my Technos in 1986, and they were exactly the same as those in the pictures on Zowie's posting above - 'Technomagnesio' machined into the nave between the bolts, and a smooth interior - no ribs. They're great copies, but heavy.

In that case, there must have been more than one version of the Tecnos. Mine were anything but heavy at between 11 and 12 pounds for a 14x7.

 

Will,
As a matter of interest my 6" Campagnolos have "D" shaped holes either side of the valve. I was told that this was done to balance the weight of the wheel after the metal removal for the valve stem....!!!!

 

Hi Stuart,
I could well have got it the wrong way round - I am just thinking out loud, and offer my thoughts for the sake of discussion rather than fact.
Cheers, Will

 

My 6x14 Tecnomagnesio GTA wheels weigh 4.45KG, so definitely magnesium