froggy47

I never have & frankly never thought it was a good idea, but HOW has a bunch of new 10.5 x 18 Speedlines and I was thinking a 10.5 front & 12.5 rear might make a nice set of rims for a reasonable price..

Have you guys ever had wheels widened?

Details, for success or failure.

ScaryFast

I personally have not, but I know a few of people who have. On race cars.

No issues that I know of.

Obviously it should be done by a shop that does that specific thing.

J.R.

I had two sets widened by Weldcraft. They are on their 3rd and 4th race season. I check them after every off or excessive curbing as well as dye test them at the end of every season. No issues.
www.weldcraftwheels.com

froggy47

I was thinking hack saw & bondo? No?

dbratten

for Weldcraft. Had a pair of 17x9.5 repro wheels widened to 11.5 to run 335x35 710s over two years ago for autox and HPDE. No issues.




I see you're in SoCal so there is also Eric Vaughn but I have no personal experience with his shop.

mgarfias

what do they charge?

froggy47

Do they have to do it on the inside? I assume that means a big spacer?



I think they get about $200 each, but I have not got a price yet.

Plus you pay ship 2x.

mgarfias

So $300/wheel. + the cost of a wheel. Seems like I could do better buying new, no?

dbratten

Yes, only to the inside as there is no lip on the outside to cut through and inset material. I don't use a spacer and they fit under the base C6 fenders. If you were to widen to the outside they will stick out. If you start with the right offset to widen you don't need spacers. I had the new rims drop-shipped to Weldcraft so only paid to ship one-way.

It's all about the offset that you need to end up with. To custom order wheels you're looking at CCW, etc. to build them. They make fine wheels but are more money.

My wheels were $125 ea. plus around $230 ea to widen and ship so, $375 for each rear. The fronts (18x10.5) were $125 ea so I have a total of <$1000 in the set of 4.

froggy47

I have 4 rear sets, which were about $100 each so actually don't need to buy more.

I guess there is more space on c6/c6z in the rear?? Can I widen all to the inside & clear the tub on c5z without big spacer?

What is the widest rim/tire anyone has fit on c5z? I have run a 335/30 x 18 on 10.5 with 1/4 spacer. Clear the stock tub ok.

Maybe if you widen the rim, it'll still be determined by the tire width / clearance not so much the rim clearance??

RDnomorecobra

really? holy cow I didnt think you could even get one that wide on a 10.5".

JRL

I spoke w/ a wheel specialist in socal a year ago who did it before on speedline 10.5's. He said the rim is too thin (hence the light weight), and he would not feel comfortable doing it again on those OEM wheels, especially if the car is tracked or autoxed.

----
John

ScaryFast

Hmmm...I suppose if you then covered it with duct tape you'd be fine.

Funny, I was going to mention Weldcraft as that's the place I know of; I didn't because they're nowhere near you. I didn't realize so many other guys used them

They're very close to where I live, if you can't find anything closer and need a hand I can drop off / pick up / keep an eye on / or whatever if it helps.

You could have them widened, then I could pick them up and mount some of those 315's on them and ship them back

froggy47

For 315's on 10.5 I wouldn't even bother widening, but for 335's yes, I think you get much more of the performance out of the 335 on a wider rim, anyway that's my take & all the charts say go wider.

Having said that I am getting good wear & decent tire temps with my 10.5 with 335 combo so far.

I don't mind shipping stuff to a known good fabricator rather than take a "chance" on someone closer.

I wish I had $10. for each fabricator/shop I have talked to about different stuff & they all say "Oh, sure, I can do that"

Allthrottleandsomebottle

Weldcraft.............had my repos widened to 18 x 12. I have tubbed my 97' so 345s fit near flush with the quarter

I looked into this when I 1st got my 97'...and just got a deal I couldn't pass up. Chrome Y2K repos, weigh 31 lbs each, now 18 x 12. Work was done by Weldcraft Wheels The wheels say +56 (From Bob's house of wheels)...........with the 1.5" strip inserted, they are right at 9.375 backspace............same as my 18 x 12 HREs. You have to be VERY careful moding any OEM/repro wheels.......and not just anyone can do it right. Been fine racing them as well.......I have plenty of power so a little more weight was ok

froggy47

Great pics. THX

froggy47

I just talked to Weldcraft.

If you have to buy a new wheel (say HOW @$200) it's your cost of the wheel & $235 & you ship both ways.

So for me it"s $200 & $235 & $50 each wheel = $485. Two wheels = $970.

I think a new ccw classic is about $575 & ship one way so $600. Two = $1200
If you have the wheel & assume zero cost & if you live across the street from WeldCraft then It's just $235.

So do the math for your scenario.

Wah

And there there is a brand new set of 18-in ForgeStar for $1,400; which means it's ~$700 for half a set.

froggy47

Do you buy them direct or a reseller? Anyone using these? Hmmm.

dbratten

Yes, but they're not very wide (10" for most) and if they are (deep concave) the offsets and diameter don't work. But, they're pretty, a good price, and look like a good street wheel.