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  • Virgo wheels on my 1991 240 Heeeeeeelp

Hello OzVolvo,
After briefly attending the meet at Gerringong last weekend I have now signed up to the forum.
I had a few chats with a couple of members and for anyone that remembers I pulled up in the car-park at about 2.30pm in a 1991 White with black tinted windows 240.I couldn't stay long as I had rigged up my overdrive solenoid to the spot lights relay ,that was triggered when I flicked on my hi-beams.As a result of this bogey wiring set up I had unplugged my headlights altogether so as not to blind fellow drivers.It also meant ,that to drive in overdrive I had make sure I was off the highways and had my head lights plugged back in before dark.
As a side benefit(?) to this my hi-beam switch acted as a sort of paddle shifter and I quite liked it for a laugh.

Anyhow today I think I got lucky and just happened to be checking out Gumtree at the same time a guy in the suburb next door was posting a set of 4 Virgo rims with three tyres.I had him on the phone less than 10 minutes after he had posted the ad and scooped them up and 4 wheel centers on the way home after work for $150.
However.....the rims currently on my car , known affectionately as "the Vanilla Biscuit ", use a locating pin that sticks out from the wheel mount plate thingy. In my haste to get a tyre on the rim without a tyre ,I went straight to thew long-time family friend tire guy ,ordered a suitable tyre and said I'll be back tomorrow.
My question is ...........The Virgo rims do not appear to have reciprocating hole for the locating pin ,yet from everything I've read , that Volvo RWD rims go straight onto most Volvo RWD's.
Help please ,or don't and there may be set of Virgo's up for sale soon.
Overdrive relay has arrived in the mail so I may drown my sorrows by tinkering on the VB this long weekend.

Cheers in advance

P.S. I have ordered a 195/60/15 tyre. Is this tyre recommended by members ?
P.P.S The seller had a set of mags he said were for a 160 or some other early Volvo's.I can put you in touch if anyone is interested.They have not been posted to Gumtree yet.
just pull it out. it wont be a problem.
Sweeeeet Rob,thanks very much.
Are you interested in his other rims ?
They have a 5 spoked star appearance.

Cheers Rod
would certainly like to see what they look like.
Well they're alloy with some oxidation .
I'll get some pictures.
This is a VERY vague recollection - and a couple of years old one at that - but I *think* the Virgos *might* go on with the locating pin still in place - boy, am I struggling to remember... is it that you have to rotate the rims to find the one exact spot, because they only go on (with the pin) in one position only - something like that!? Anyway, I'm really not sure. But I do remember striking this same problem - and I saw a solution (without removing the pin)... It just wasn't obvious until you look REAL close - maybe one of the depressions behind the wheel is deeper/longer... Oh, I don't know - don't listen to me.
i definitely have the same recollection as @familyman from putting Virgos onto my old 240... maybe not all Virgos are equal? by my UK ones definitely fit on with the pins still in place after a careful look.
Ramrodfunk;59917 wroteSweeeeet Rob,thanks very much.
Are you interested in his other rims ?
They have a 5 spoked star appearance.

Cheers Rod
Early 5 spoke makes me think of the ATS wheels that look like globes. Get them Rob!
240Joe;59940 wrote
Ramrodfunk;59917 wroteSweeeeet Rob,thanks very much.
Are you interested in his other rims ?
They have a 5 spoked star appearance.

Cheers Rod
Early 5 spoke makes me think of the ATS wheels that look like globes. Get them Rob!
I was thinking Globe look ATS wheels too.

familyman;59938 wroteThis is a VERY vague recollection - and a couple of years old one at that - but I *think* the Virgos *might* go on with the locating pin still in place
Nah they don't. I've removed and replaced the Virgos on Nina's 244 about 20 times in the last fortnight. You can either just chuck the locating pin altogether, or you can replace it with a regular bolt (what is it, M5x10 or something? M6x10? Just take the old pin with you to Bunnings.

This is what Volvos that weren't fitted with rims with corresponding locators for the pin had - just a regular old bolt.

cut off the pin bit and ye have a bolt....
The original Virgo tyre size was P195/60R15 (for both sedan and wagon).

I've seen a couple of different sizes on Virgos. I wish I could remember for you what they were, because one looks ok up close - but when you stand back and taking a longer look, they just don't suit the wheel. It looked a tractor tyre, LOL.

The old tyres that came fitted on mine are P205/60R15.

They say 215s will fit, but I wouldn't go over 205. (Virgos are only 6" wide.) P205/60R15 is generally thought of as a good size. Maybe P205/55R15... But - it all depends on if the car is standard height, lowered or sagging too... i.e. How much gap you're left with between your wheel arches with the different sized tyres fitted, more than what other people use.

If the car is lowered you may even prefer P205/50R15. Probably only good for a track car though - not a daily-driver - because RPMs would increase.

What I would do is look at the different sizes first, see if you can discount one in the shop. i.e. Narrow it down to two choices from these three:

P195/60R15 (original)
P205/60R15
P205/55R15

Then have the tyre place put one size on two rims - lean them against the wheels already on the car (or just fit them), walk around, compare both sides of the car. I'd want them on both front and back too - because the tyre/arch gap is often different front-to-back.

You'll only have to do it once. Next time you'll already know what suits.

Oh - and you may know this, but make sure the tyre guy does... Lots of tyre places still have old machines that have grab-in 'teeth' - that eat Virgos. Tyres should be fitted/removed with the rims upside down, to stop them gouging dents into the spokes.
See here, Rabbitt (I'm too lazy for grinders/bunnings):

https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1367903/220/240/260/280/virgo_wheels_dont_fit_240_front_hubs_normal.html

... and partway down here: http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=13012

But maybe there's different styles of Virgos!? Mine were from a 1983 GLE. I dragged them out from under the house today, to wash them down & decide if I'm going to reco or sell them. On the rear side - between each pair of bolt holes - there's a recess. One of those recesses is much deeper than the others. Pretty sure that is to accommodate the pin. But no matter. It's just a pin. Remove, replace, grind the head off, rotate the rim to the right spot - whatever. ;-p
I put Viirgos on an 89 240 only 2 weeks ago. The locating pin fits fine. You just need to rotate the wheel to the right place. Re tyres, I need to look tomorrow for you. I wanted lower profile but didn't go as low as I would have liked to - mainly because the price jumped significantly as you went down one step in profile. I got Continental. They have /had a special: buy four for the price of three. Nice tyre!
There might be a change in casting at some point because my original set most certainly had no hole for the locating pin.
I had 205/55/15's on my moose which looked great when the car was lowered. There is a link with pictures in my signature.
If I remember correctly I had the same as Scott.
Dunlop Fast Response , damn good tyres for my 245.
Thanks for all the great info.........Got 195/60/15 put on,maybe next time something lower and wider.
I didn't see a hole in the back of the spokes that was larger than the others but they went on fine. I did mark the hole I chose so I could put them back on the same way next time. I should have closer look to see if one is deeper.
Anyone know of a good wheel refurb place in Sydney?.I'm going to run around with these for a while but when the budget gets back into shape I'd like to get the Virgo's tarted up.
They look great in black .Think I'll try some "Plastidip" paint for now and see if I like them.
Installed rear Louvre ( front ones aren't very much fun ) today,looks great.
Will post pics soon. Cheers all for the info.
A couple of cheap cans of Matt black spray and spray em. Cheaper than plastic dip.
When refinished they blast them anyway.

Paint em or plastic coat them?
Cheers Snoopy,I spoke to a wheel refurbisher today with my mate at Toyotafest at Castle Hill.He reckons about $50 to get rid of gutter rash and $120 a wheel to paint.
Going to have to let the bank account recover before coughing up for that.So paint it is.
Get a 'flap disc' for 5" grinder , clean up the rash ( at the cost he charges you could buy the grinder and disc!! )
My local plastic coaters do blasting and a great range of colours for $240 for 4 wheels!
Cheap to send em here in Melbz via E - Go Couriers , get them done and sent back cheaper than your guy to just paint them , paint chips very easily , i had Volans done and chipped easily , had some 17s plastic coated and they are amazing! Black with multi colour speckles !

Rattray Engineering , Braybrook , VIC.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Rattray+Eng&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
Depends on what exactly the quote guy will do - I have a photo of a Virgo rim... hang on I'll upload it - here: http://postimg.cc/image/fycxdvzdp/ - take note of the lip. They've machined out (curved) the square edge. I think it's a really nice touch.
Nice !!

What finish do they have now?
Does Rattray also repair dents, flat spots from clipping gutters, etc. or just paint?

Plastic coated... Snoopy, do you mean that peel-off stuff that's been popular in the USA the last few years, or are you referring to something that's a lot more durable?
paint the spokes orange with grey , leave polished lip?
Ex850R;60085 wroteNice !!

What finish do they have now?
That WAS the finish. They were part of an ebay auction a few years ago. I kept the photos because I was so impressed. I've sent the pics to a few places - with an email asking for quotes - and none of them bothered to reply.

Some of you may remember the auction. It was a 1970s 240 - white - recently resprayed - dark tinted windows - it had some powerful engine in it - Nissan maybe!? - located in Sth.Aust. It came with a boot full of spares, these wheels, a spare engine... The owner had injured himself and couldn't work on cars anymore. The auction said the engine was overheating so needed the cooling system worked on, or I would have flown there, bought the lot and driven it back to NSW. It all went for less than $4000 if I remember correctly.

I asked him where he got the rims done - he couldn't remember - said a business name was on the box - but wasn't sure if that's where they were done - but gave the email of the guy that bought everything. I contacted him too. He gave me the business name, but they never replied to my email. I forget the business name now. But I remember it was located in both SA and VIC - but SA didn't do the rim work - only the VIC branch did that.

He was quite unclear on this, but from what I understood, he was saying the outermost edge was machined and then polished - not even any clear - and the rest of the rim was painted. (Unless he meant the outer lip AND the largest flat edge was polished - and it was only the spokes that were painted. He said it was the first one. But personally I don't see how that could be the case - because surely the line where the paint started would look too obvious - but that's what he said!?

The second guy quickly resold them on ebay. Again, I would have bid, but there were only four. Since I couldn't find where to get a fifth one done the same, there wasn't much point in me getting them.

Also, if you look here: http://postimg.cc/image/h8qvz7r4v/ - it looks like the paint is two tones - silver and gold - but he said it was just a trick of the light at certain angles. Unless again - it was just the spokes painted. But as I said, he said that wasn't the case. I wish I'd seen them in person.

And I'd still love to find the place that did them.

More photos - here's one that is just polished metal. Doesn't move me much though:

http://postimg.cc/image/58j83pnvj/

... and some more polished fitted on a wagon:

http://postimg.cc/image/ndguxb9gz/

... and some painted gold:

http://postimg.cc/image/civf5rqdt/
The one with TURBO badge is what they should be i reckon , unless black , deep , semi , blaaaaaaack.
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