American Racing Wheels not so "American".

[SactoJim]

I'm a little bent...OK, a lot BENT!

Ordered wheels and tires about 5 weeks ago with the premise that I would have them in 4-6 weeks and more than likely around 4 weeks. Got a call today from Newstalgia that American is telling them that it may be another 4-8 weeks!!!

In no means am I bashing Newstalgia, and in fact they are great to deal with and I would recommend them.....this is just out of their control. They were VERY apologetic and acknowledged that American has been less than forthcoming regarding excuses for delays. Newstalgia did give me the option of a refund or picking something else, but it took quite awhile for me to finally decide on what tire/wheel combo to get.

As it turns out, about 18 months ago, American started getting all the wheel centers cast in China and they are having problems filling orders.....at least on 5 spoke style wheels.

Personally I don't give a crap where my wheels are made as long as the quality is there and I get them in a reasonable amount of time. I'm all for "American made" but the reality of that is becoming rarer and rarer for a multitude of reasons that are better left for discussion on another forum and should be of great concern to all of us.

So here I am trying to decide whether or not to wait, or pick a different wheel.........In the "big picture" of life, this is pretty minor really, but it still just pisses me off!......venting complete.

[jkaylor68gmc]

Yeah, David Coker owns Newstalgia and I have hung out with him on many occasions. He is a great car guy. Yeah that does such however.

Kind of aggravates you after deliberating for all that time.

[Already Gone]

What kind of wheels did you order? IMO if you have researched and decided these are the wheels you want,I'd wait for them.. The time will fly by and you will be glad you waited if they are what you really want.
I'm on the fence whether to get the American Racing 200S ( I'm going 17's) or Boyd Coddingtons' Blasters. I do like the look of the 200S on your truck in your build pics but also have pic of the Blasters on a long wheelbase 67 navy blue and they look great too. I think with all the choices for wheels out there, decide which ones is a very tough decision to make.

[SactoJim]

Jkaylor68GMC - Dave is the one that called me and sure seems like a pretty nice guy. He said he had a big list of people to call regarding delayed orders........really sucks when it is completely out of your control and you are lead to believe something else.

Already Gone - I ordered the cast center 5 spokes and came really close to getting 17" 200's, but decided I wanted 18's cuz the tire selection worked better for me.

Waiting just plain SUCKS!

[stepside454]

I do care where there made. When I redid my truck, I really wanted American Racing Hopsters....till I found out there made in China. I went with Centerline, there made in Cordova CA.
I try real hard not to give my business to countrys who would like to do us harm.

[lowdowndirtyshame67]

I am proud to be an American, but imported wheels typically far exceed the quality of our chrome...The EPA of other countries just isn't as strict as here in the US. Some of the chemicals used in the chroming process are much more expensive here and the equipment used to control the processes are very expensive. So basically, if you aren't paying $700+ per wheel American made, you aren't getting half the quality of chrome from over seas. A $200 wheel from China will typically have better quality than a $500 wheel made here. Unfortunate, but true...But then again, to get the right look for our trucks, you pretty much have to get custom-fit wheels anyways...

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by stepside454

I do care where there made. When I redid my truck, I really wanted American Racing Hopsters....till I found out there made in China. I went with Centerline, there made in Cordova CA.
I try real hard not to give my business to countrys who would like to do us harm.

buy some Centerlines.

[whatnow123]

I just ordered some Coddington Smoothies and got the call they will be here Friday, exactly 5 weeks after I ordered them (I wanted specific backspacing), so I doubt that they were made in China even though I believe that American Racing is making the Boyd wheels now as well.

Anyone know if China has 5 week turn around? Something is telling me no however, I don't doubt that the more popular sizes/backspacing/lug pattern are mass produced there while the "custom" ordered wheels are made here.

[Joesjunk]

Thats the problem with America today, people dont give a crap where things are made. I wouldn't put a china made wheel on my truck!!

['68 longbed]

the thing is "Amercan made" don't mean that much anymore. toyota, bmw, mazda builds cars here and to my knowledge pretty all the "foriegn brands are made here . beyond that alot of "American " companies are owned by overseas intrests and run by suits who come from or are still in their respective countries.

"made in America" doesn't always mean it's "American made"

[Ram-Man]

Originally Posted by lowdowndirtyshame67

I am proud to be an American, but imported wheels typically far exceed the quality of our chrome...The EPA of other countries just isn't as strict as here in the US. Some of the chemicals used in the chroming process are much more expensive here and the equipment used to control the processes are very expensive. So basically, if you aren't paying $700+ per wheel American made, you aren't getting half the quality of chrome from over seas. A $200 wheel from China will typically have better quality than a $500 wheel made here. Unfortunate, but true...But then again, to get the right look for our trucks, you pretty much have to get custom-fit wheels anyways...

I dont agree at all. I have the AR Titans on my daily driver which were made in China the chrome is so thin it was chipping off in the first 6 months poor finish on the chrome also. Most of the american made products from a reputable company have far better quality than products from overseas.

[stepside454]

Originally Posted by lowdowndirtyshame67

I am proud to be an American, but imported wheels typically far exceed the quality of our chrome...The EPA of other countries just isn't as strict as here in the US. Some of the chemicals used in the chroming process are much more expensive here and the equipment used to control the processes are very expensive. So basically, if you aren't paying $700+ per wheel American made, you aren't getting half the quality of chrome from over seas. A $200 wheel from China will typically have better quality than a $500 wheel made here. Unfortunate, but true...But then again, to get the right look for our trucks, you pretty much have to get custom-fit wheels anyways...

Im not opposed to buying products made in other countrys, I totally understand the EPA & labor issues.....I just dont like to buy from countrys such as China

[72 Cheyenne402]

The only problem I have is that the wheel is made in China and they still charge you a premium price. I looked at the TTII's and liked them but was not willing to pay the price for cast wheels made in china. so I bought some Billet wheels made by Centerline

[stepside454]

good choice. I personally wont buy em even if they were dirt cheap...just my stance is all. Id rather not fund the Chinease govt.

[SactoJim]

Just so you all know (I'm sure many already do), it is less expensive to get castings done overseas and American is only getting the cast centers built in China. They still build the wheels here in the good ole USA.

...and like someone said above....it pisses me off when X company finds a less expensive way to provide a product and doesn't pass the savings on to their customers and just enjoys fatter margins on that product.

...and as far as getting mad at the guy who chooses to buy a less expensive product that happens to be made someplace other than the USA...I mean hell, how can you fault a guy for trying to stretch out his already overtaxed dollar and get what he can for that buck!.....I surely don't think it makes him unpatriotic!

If you wanna fault somebody, point at our government.......Taxes up the ying yang, over regulation, out of control health care, out of control litigation, blah, blah, blah! To stay competitive, many companies have no choice.

[whatnow123]

Originally Posted by whatnow123

I just ordered some Coddington Smoothies and got the call they will be here Friday, exactly 5 weeks after I ordered them (I wanted specific backspacing), so I doubt that they were made in China even though I believe that American Racing is making the Boyd wheels now as well.

Anyone know if China has 5 week turn around? Something is telling me no however, I don't doubt that the more popular sizes/backspacing/lug pattern are mass produced there while the "custom" ordered wheels are made here.

Just an FYI, but my wheels were made wrong. The wrong back-spacing so I'm back to square one much like yourself.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

if the wheels are made in china i,am done with em too......
bob

[airdale94]

Made In U.S.A. (by illegal immigrants)

[stepside454]

this may be true, & of course I hope thats not the case....still not giving my money to fund Chinas govt.

[Shane]

You give more of your money to the Chinese than you know.

[LUV2XCLR8]

[Truck Hippy]

Be careful of all products quality wise, American made included. I try to buy American when I can but sometimes I can't. The quality of some American products is not what it used to be. The reason is that American company are trying to compete with cheap imports so they use lesser quality material to cut costs.

[stepside454]

Originally Posted by Shane

You give more of your money to the Chinese than you know.

oh, I know...but i try real hard to avoid it whenever possible, even if I have to pay more, or sometimes do without if its an option.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by '68 longbed

the thing is "Amercan made" don't mean that much anymore. toyota, bmw, mazda builds cars here and to my knowledge pretty all the "foriegn brands are made here . beyond that alot of "American " companies are owned by overseas intrests and run by suits who come from or are still in their respective countries.

"made in America" doesn't always mean it's "American made"

toyota, honda, etc may be made in America. But guess where all the profits from the sale of these cars go?....Japan. And the argument "they're putting Americans to work" dosen't hold up either. If Americans weren't buying jap-crap They'd be buying American cars instead, and all those toyota and honda workers would be needed at GM, Ford & Mopar.

[bryanw1968]

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

toyota, honda, etc may be made in America. But guess where all the profits from the sale of these cars go?....Japan. And the argument "they're putting Americans to work" dosen't hold up either. If Americans weren't buying jap-crap They'd be buying American cars instead, and all those toyota and honda workers would be needed at GM, Ford & Mopar.

And THAT is exactly why I always try to support the local guy and by stuff made here. Even if it costs more. I have a real problem with buying parts in general for my '68 that are not made here. I know that sometimes it's just not an option however......