Jackman wheels info/fj40

[73fj40lc]

Two Jackman wheels rims available

I have two of these rims on my parts Cruiser if anyone is interested. They look exactly the same and the steel is around 1/4 of an inch thick. They would need to be sandblasted and re-painted. I never noticed how thick they were until i read this post. Mark you are correct my rims are flat from spoke to spoke, no raised portion around the lugs. The rear two rims on the parts cruiser are spoke but thinner and have the raised portion around the lugs.

Jim, I would love to get 2 sets of your cantilever shackels for my 40 if you still have any way to get them. I have no idea of shipping on these rims but they are heavy!!!!! I can post pic's if anyone is interested.

 

[FJ40Jim]

Those wheels are evil. there's a reason they don't build 'em like that anymore. Actually, about 4 reasons:
-massive unsprung weight
-runout issues due to the welding of the spokes to the rim
-the thick mounting pad that doesn't give enough thread engagement
-The centers are not die-stamped (shaped), so are not as strong as they could be
-The centers are not bent/shaped so they do not get away from the mounting face enough to clear disc brakes without a spacer. Wait, a spacer on a wheel that's already too thick? Sure, it's been done....

alright make it 5 reasons they are bad. There's prolly more reasons, but that's the obvious ones.

If anybody is jonesing for some of that crap, talk to Zebrabee. I gave him a set of those wheels a while back, just to get rid of 'em. For reasons unclear to me, he was happy to have them.

 

[dgangle]

hum, I ran 10X15's w/ multiple sets of 33"Gateway Gumbo Monster Mudders for almost 10 years in the 80's and the guy I bought them from another 5 years and we didn't die or have them develop any issues as I recall. but I have been told I spent most of that decade drunk, high and/or obsessed with chasing tail. I deny all of the above.

 

[Mace]

Funny, I've been looking up the rims that I have on my 60. Sure enough, the appear to be Aluminum Jackman wheels.

They've been good for a while now. If only 15" tires were as common any more!!!

 

[Captn Conch]

Back in the day Jackmans started the white spoke wheel revolution...These to my knowledge were the first..and they just looked cool! If you don't know what I mean you're just too young.

 

[Captn Conch]

Which makes me think...Maybe I need to see who makes white spoke 15" wheels now days..After all I live in the past..

If you are always looking back, you will never move forward. Hmmmm. dang.

 

[Landpimp]

didn't Jackman wheels have a Jackrabbit or Jackalope for a logo.......looking back thru the haze in my mind......I recall a 1980 Dick Cepek catalog, the one where they had the cowboy hat hanger that you screwed into the roof of your pickup, the air inflater that replaced a spark plug. Burbank springs(bought a set in 81) Armstrong Norseman Tires, Confer.

.....mail in postage(yeah a stamp) for a catalog out of the back of any magazine, got my 1st Heckler Koch catalog in 1977....

 

[Captn Conch]

Oh yes, spring loaded hat hanger, and oh yeah, the Armstong Norseman was definatly the tire to run back then.... Bias ply if I remember right?. They worked and they were even better on the Jackman white spoke wheel.

 

[YSG2017]

Got a set of aluminum Jackman-type rims and a steelie spare, all from the late 70s on my ‘40. Previous posters are correct, the real Jackmans were made in So-Cal, and like all of these now are super rare and not DOT approved for street... but they look sweet, for that authentic period build and look. Had to install longer custom stronger studs from Australia to accommodate them, but worth it as you can see. 15x8 running BFG 32’s with an OME lift fit perfectly under a 40 with no rub at full articulation. Just make sure you get these Old rims with the std common offset, or they will not clear Toyota’s disk calipers. Need to be 6-bolt with Toyota or Chevy centers also. Very hard to find rims now if you’re looking for the real deal though from the 70s As there’s very few left in safe driveable condition. If I had to try to find another set, I’d look in Japan.

 

[YSG2017]

Also, I contacted Jackman’s son in SanDiego last year to inquire about their wheels. They still have the original dies from the 70s and are contemplating re-releasing new DOT approved retro versions of their wheels he said. I haven’t seen nor heard any update though, but that would be fantastic if this happened. Real Jackman designs wheels were unique and nothing else really looked like them, although there were a lot of Poor knock offs.

 

[65swb45]

I noticed that Jim @Downey didnt speak to this in his original post, but I know he was one of the victims of runaway product liability insurance in the ‘70s that lead to the formation of SEMA.

As an attorney, I still have to wonder if anyone could get insurance for a product like that today?

 

[YSG2017]

I noticed that Jim @Downey didnt speak to this in his original post, but I know he was one of the victims of runaway product liability insurance in the ‘70s that lead to the formation of SEMA.

As an attorney, I still have to wonder if anyone could get insurance for a product like that today?

There’s likely no way insurance would cover an accident today if it were shown non-DOT approved, illegal wheels were installed and being used on the road.
Any new iteration of these wheels would have to utilize modern safe wheel/lug design, materials, and fabrication techniques to be approved for road use.
Honestly, probably the best route for Jackman to go to reproduce these retro designs today would be to just sell Or license their designs, name, And rights to one of many quality modern wheel producers.