Help me pick wheels

[CJeep]

Ok, so I know this is all personal choice, but I'd love to hear some thoughts. I'm planning on changing out my current unknown brand white wagon wheels, as the current spare has holes that are a bit buggered, and they are getting kind of rusty, dented, and stained. They are 15x8 and I would like to drop down to 15x7.

I recently scored a CJ white wagon wheel local to me for $18 (woot).

I could maybe get 4 (legitimate) Renegade II aluminum slots that are also local to me, and, while not cheap, are actually reasonably priced. They are not damaged, but will need quite a bit of work to clean up. All of this assumes they fit over my 1982 calipers, as of course, there were only drums at that time. Anyone know?

Things I really want and associated problems:

5 matching wheels. I just can't stand having a non-matching spare - getting a 5th slot that is exactly the same seems very unlikely, but with some work, I could probably find one that is "close enough for government work" but MUST also be 15x7 like the Renegade slots.

I may be be able to find 4 original white wagon CJ rims, but seems like the prices for any actual CJ rims are insane, and who knowns when I could find them.

I have always thought I wanted slots, oddly, until I had 4 sitting in front of me 15 min from my house. I think they are the coolest wheel ever made for Jeeps, but I'm holding back for some reason. Polished, they even look like chrome - which of course was a factory option wagon wheel for Scramblers.

I think the reason is, I'm very fond of my white wheels. I have fallen into wanting my Scrambler to look period correct - 1980's, but without any of the crazy tube bumpers or weird stuff - overall factory look. In fact, one day I hope to fine tune the body work, get it sprayed, and put on the silver stripe kit.

In my mind, it's always white wheels - not '70s slots, even though I love them.

Now, I could just buy new white wagon wheels, I'm ok with not having stock CJ wheels, but it seems like the ones you can buy new are crap, and I'll be right back where I am now in a few years.

I do wheel it, but not as much as I used to.

So, if you are still reading this, thanks for coming along for the ride, and let me know what you think. Is it just that I have had white wheels for the last 15 years, or what?

Signed,
Undecided in Connecticut

 

[DeLuke]

I like factory look more than anything else . . .

However, I am with you on having to match the spare and can help you. I recently found a set of 4 factory 15x7 slot mags for a 1970 Jeepster but needed a 5th so bought another 4 when they come up semi-locally. Now, I have 3 slots and debating finding another to sell as a set or keep for the future. If you decide on the slot mags, I will sell you (or anyone else on here) a single to make 5. They are very good wheels not perfect. I polished one for my 5th and it came out great.

 

[DeLuke]

I obviously like slot mags a lot as they were never factory on Jeepsters. Guess that makes my advice mixed at best and even hypocritical.

 

[designerRob]

I say keep both sets, white wagons and the slots. Run one set for a year or 2. Then get your tires mounted on the other set and run those for a year or 2.
Even better if you can afford 2 sets of tires. Then you can switch them up whenever you feel like it.
You might decide which you like better. Or that you like both.

 

[Randyzzz]

I don’t think you will have clearance issues on the 82 axles. I have a set of Western Bullet wheels that fit fine on my 82-up axles that I swapped into my red Scrambler. I tried to mount them on my 80 CJ5 with the earlier disc setup and they would not clear the front calipers without 3/8” spacers. So, no go. Just for fun I tried a modern mag on the 80 and it fit fine.

I was torn on my red Scrambler wheel choice. I originally decided on the 8” white OE spokes that I had, but eventually went with a modern black aluminum wheel. Still questioning that decision, but I sold the white wheels so no going back. I do love the look of OE white spokes.

My 80 CJ5 is black on black, and I’m seriously considering a set of the new American Racing slot mags in 15x8. If they fit, that is. I’ll be selling it eventually so I want it to look “right”.

 

[CJeep]

Well, last night I went over, and test fit them. They clear the brake calipers just fine. So I bought them. I think that $325 (down from $350) was a fair price. Special thanks to DeLuke who is selling me a fifth matching spare. I'll text you about the arrangements.

I've got a bit of cleaning and restoration ahead of me, but my timeline is new tires by June, so I think I should be okay.

I actually might keep the white wheels and tires just for the winter time, mostly because of how much salt they use here in Connecticut. But the tires are just about 10 years old, and I'm a little bit risk averse.

 

[Kane]

I had the slots on my CJ5 and loved them. I found a set in Tolland CT for $150 with a spare. I wish I held onto them for the CJ8 but I sold them with the 5. The factory 5 slot rims are forged and super strong.

 

[DeLuke]

Congrats on grabbing those! Think that's a good price too. It's a little less than I paid for either of my 2 recent sets of 4, plus I shipped one. With a little polish yours will come out great. I used Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish. Bought that and some drill-bit polishing pads and went to work on mine.

I've got a box ready for your single and will work that up probably tomorrow.

 

[DeLuke]

Here’s a pic of mine after polish on the Jeepster.

 

[CJeep]

Kane, you are so close to me . . .