>>On 15x8s, Curt usually does 4.5 inch back space, on 15x7 it is usually 4.25 inch back space. That is what I have on my super sports from Curt.
What's the deal that no one gives out the price? If it's that bad,he wouldn't be as busy as he is supposed to be? I had a set of 15x14 Buick Ralley wheels done by Stockton wheel and had the triple chrome done about 7-8 years ago for I believe $330 shipped...Pony up some numbers...
It ran $700 to do my 15x7 & 15x8 set in new chrome rimshells, including painting the centers and shipping.
OK, here goes and I hope this clears up a lot of questions about MCWHEELS. My name is Curt McKim and I live in Slater, Iowa. 515-685-3397 is my home phone! I have been making steel wheels (chromed or painted) for roughly 15-18 years. First off, the way I make my living is I make about 6-8 sets of wheels, pack all of them into my van and take them with lugnuts and trimrings to car shows and swap meets. I am not big enough to stand by the phone 24 hours like Stockton or Specialty becuz I don't advertise in any magazines. My business is strictly word of mouth and I hand out a flyer at swap meets for the people. Sometimes I am on the road for a couple of weeks going to 2 or 3 swapmeets. This is why I don't answer the phone for a week or two. My wife takes phone messages then gives them to me when I get home. I apologoze for this but that's the way I do it. Second, I can't make a wheel without NEW rimshells from southern California. On the average everytime I put in an order, I recieve roughly 40% of what I wanted. There is only one rim producing plant in the U.S. and I am small potatoes to them. They like supplying Wheel Vintiques and Specialty before they get to the little people. Example, I have been waiting 3 months for 10" hoops to make 2 customers wheels and I still aint got them! Prices, here they are. 15 x 6 Buicks are $120 each, 15 x 7 Buicks are $135 each, 15 x 8s are $150 each. 10s when I can get them are $220 each. I usually go out of my way and deliver these wheel orders to the customers cuz I don't mind a Saturday drive. Usually I meet customers at car shows and swapmeets and deliver then. I don't charge you guys to bring them to the shows, give me a beer or buy me a burger and I am happy. I have had good comments and really bad comments on V8Buick. Naturally I enjoy the nice things that are said about me but I am the one that creates the bad situations usually. Lately my life has been a rollercoaster ride. My daughter just got married and my son moved to Seattle Washington. Yes, I had to help move him from Louisiana to Washington and getting ready for wedding was HELL. I don't have any help, I pick up rims, deliver rims, cut the rims apart, sandblast, paint, put wheels together, maintain vehicles, talk to customers, go looking for particular wheels that customer needs or wants, drive to salvage yards in the next states just to buy 8-12 wheels, go th swapmeets, set-up, tear down, etc. etc. I do all of this by myself with no help from anyone. I hope from this explanation you guys, the customers, can understand why I am not sitting next to the phone 24 7. Also when I am operating the lathe or plasma cutter, I have sound deadening ear plugs in so I can't hear a thing. On the average , it takes me 2-4 weeks to make a set of Buicks and get them sent out. Wheel Vintiques and Specialty will do them for you. I have talked to a couple of guys and they said it took 8 months to get their stuff from these two places and one order was wrong backspace. If I have the 14 x 6 wheels in stock to cut apart for the centers, and I have the correct amount of rimshells I can and will get them done as soon as I am able. For all the other orders, I am sorry for all the hassles and yes I am terrible with communicating with you guys, but I wish you could see what it takes as in running around getting everything, cutting, sandblasting, buffing, welding, boxing up, and taking to FedEX or taking to swapmeet so you Guys can have a product that pretty much nobody else will touch. On average I make 300 sets of Buicks a year and ship all over the U.S. of A. This might seem like a big sob story to most of you guys, but I enjoy making wheels and I will usually bend over backwards when it comes to what the customer wants. If everybody is dissatisfied with my work or the way it is ran, then all I can say is don't call, try to find someone else to make the Buick wheels but I also say Thanks You for the people that have put in an order with me and have let me make something that they wanted. Sorry about all of this, but I just had to say my side of the story and hope you guys understand! Thanks again, Curt!!
Thanks Curt. I was hoping you would post on here. I remember when you first asked me to help you get this all started here and I know of a lot of members here have your wheels on their cars. All I can say is I think if you enjoy your work then its a great job. I'll be calling because I want a original center not the chrome one that you find on most of the other guys wheels. I have those on my wifes Suncoupe and thats fine but on my Stage 1 frame off I want your wheels. Also on a side note I have access to a lot of wheels but since they are mostly in good shape I doubt it they would be considered cores. I'll see what I can get for you . I do have a set of 14.6 wheels and several WGs that are rusty.
Curt, totally understand all of that. I have my set of your rims on my car and they look great. And you knew the offsets that work well with the different years of Buick's. When I talked to you on the phone it was all good and you seem like a good guy. I would just recommend better communication to your customers. I was told 4 weeks and it was more like 8 weeks. Not a big deal.... if I would have been informed along the way. All the un-returned phone calls had me more than nervous. It would only take two minutes to call and say..."I'm busy, gonna be 2-3 more weeks" Not a rant...just my side. My rims were priced right, packaged great, look great, balanced great, and completely changed the look of my car. James
Well, I clearly made a mistake by posting my new rims on this old post. I should have started a new post. I never intended to put Curt in any sort of a defensive position. I am a very happy customer and would not think twice about using McWheels again or recommending him. I should have used better judgement about location of my post. Got some 295's on the way to mount on these bad boys.
The reason I asked for a picture is because I have very specific issues with rear discs and stock Buick 15x7 wheels. The caliper hits the wheel and I have never seen the back of a 15x8 with 4.5" back space.
I am sorry, I don't do anything aluminum, I can't weld it or get new rimshells. Call Trudesign wheel in Denver 800-621-6436, ask for Jim!
Curt has made numerous sets for me, some are several years old and look as good as the day I bought them.
:gp: I'm not going to sit and bash Curt, been there done that, a dead horse issue. But I totally agree with James statement above. Back when I had my experience with Curt, it wasn't a good one, from beginning to end, which was never resolved as far as the final promise that was made to me for some money returned for a set of wheels that took an unacceptible amount of weight to balance. I wish Curt good luck in his business, but I also suggest you work on your customer relations, get a cell phone, return and follow up on calls to customers who paid money up front when they are promised a set of wheels in 2 weeks, and they are calling 3 months in wondering where their wheels/money is at like I had to.:Smarty: No excuse sir.
it is all about customer service! i am canadian and i have found that customer service in the u.s is far superior to that in canada.
I do not need for Curt to answer the phone.All I wanted was to know,whats going on.I understand the price and quality are great.But as stated above a call while hes on the road saying I havent forgot about you,would go a long way in keeping a customers sanity.I do not mind the wait,even if its much longer than expected,life happens ready or not,but when you send money to somebody you dont even know,and dont get return calls it makes a guy wonder.After reading this thread I feel much better knowing I will get my wheels one of these days,and Curt hasnt fallen off the face of the earth.
