Checking in on this - I'm in search of a smaller wheel that looks close to original in my 1978 FJ40. I recently put the doors back on and I can't angle my left leg out anymore. Need a smaller wheel!
Custom 15" Early Style FJ40 Wheel.
- Thread starter EmanC
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #22
Sorry been away from the forums for a bit. I do not have any extra wheels anymore. Had two extras and they were eventually sold and put on a pair of really nice FJ45's. The last one is on my cruiser. Being made of a solid billet made them pricey. Doubt I could even get them made for the same price I originally made them for now a days.
So outside of someone making there own. I don't think well see more of these anytime soon.
So outside of someone making there own. I don't think well see more of these anytime soon.
I'm going to try an early 80's SR5 pickup wheel.
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cruiserkev
3 decades in the same FJ40
Not the best picture but I went with a '91 pickup steering wheel when I installed power steering. Easy swap, It’s black and says Toyota on the horn part. Best of all it was only $5 at an off road swap meet. 
You don't have access to the old CAD schematic? .. so someone can not just pay for the materials cost and your fee?
I'm sure you could cook up a batch of 5 and get them off. Lol
OPMACHINE
SILVER Star
Very impressive wheel! I need one
Told ya... haha 
OPMACHINE
SILVER Star
I would do it in a second, but this is not my thread...look back through and you see the name of the person who originally did it.
I'm just another person saying that I wished he could make more.
Read back through though previous posts - he mentioned something about why he didn't do more - I thought there was some indication he still might have the CAD model, but I could be wrong. I'll take a look also..
OPMACHINE
SILVER Star
OPMACHINE
SILVER Star
His finished wheel looks incredible!
- Thread starter
- #34
Shot OPMachine the CAD. Curious to see what he does with them. I have a Bumper from him and it's great.
I originally only made 3 because they were pricey to get made. Outsourcing the machining on this part is a bit expensive. Its milled pretty much from a giant 100lb billet. They are essentially $1,000 apiece in just the parts cost. So that's the billet aluminum core and the two Delrin plastic rings on the outside. Delrin Horn sleeve, hardware, plus the grant hub adapter and the bulk of the cost is the machining that needs to happen to make that fit. Not to mention the bead blast and type 3 anodize.
I made 3 because the price break made sense at that qty. In the end 3 wasn't that much more than just 1. So I sold the other 2 at my cost just to make mine a bit less $. With projects like this most of the cost is in the initial setup programming. I would like another set of Delrin rings as some point, just because that may be the part that needs replacing (though seriously doubt it) . The aluminum wheel itself will outlast the cruiser. You could make the grip out of anything or even go all billet there to reduce part count. But wanted the wheel not to not change temp in the hot/cold.
Also think you can probably optimize the CAD/construction to be more efficient to manufacture. But I had a specific vision of the wheel and figured I would make that vs trying to get the cost down. I never designed them to make a profit. So they are a bit over built just because I wanted them to look exactly a certain way.
I originally only made 3 because they were pricey to get made. Outsourcing the machining on this part is a bit expensive. Its milled pretty much from a giant 100lb billet. They are essentially $1,000 apiece in just the parts cost. So that's the billet aluminum core and the two Delrin plastic rings on the outside. Delrin Horn sleeve, hardware, plus the grant hub adapter and the bulk of the cost is the machining that needs to happen to make that fit. Not to mention the bead blast and type 3 anodize.
I made 3 because the price break made sense at that qty. In the end 3 wasn't that much more than just 1. So I sold the other 2 at my cost just to make mine a bit less $. With projects like this most of the cost is in the initial setup programming. I would like another set of Delrin rings as some point, just because that may be the part that needs replacing (though seriously doubt it) . The aluminum wheel itself will outlast the cruiser. You could make the grip out of anything or even go all billet there to reduce part count. But wanted the wheel not to not change temp in the hot/cold.
Also think you can probably optimize the CAD/construction to be more efficient to manufacture. But I had a specific vision of the wheel and figured I would make that vs trying to get the cost down. I never designed them to make a profit. So they are a bit over built just because I wanted them to look exactly a certain way.
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jesus888
SILVER Star
Thanks for all of the hard work, stoked to see what @OPMACHINE comes up with... I'm in line if you need a test mule!!
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+73 wheels next? 
EWheeler
GOLD Star
I researched recently and didn't ever see a resolution posted - did you end up getting your 40 back?
OPMACHINE
SILVER Star
Gentlemen,
@EmanC was gracious enough to provide an absolutely amazing CAD model, you can tell he put some time and thought into this design. I am going to touch base with our engineering and CAM teams this week to see when we can get a batch of wheels in production.
Once I have a better idea of the cost and time involved. We will take orders and figure out how many we should make.
i
@EmanC was gracious enough to provide an absolutely amazing CAD model, you can tell he put some time and thought into this design. I am going to touch base with our engineering and CAM teams this week to see when we can get a batch of wheels in production.
Once I have a better idea of the cost and time involved. We will take orders and figure out how many we should make.
OPMACHINE
SILVER Star
OPMACHINE
SILVER Star
Incredible
