Early C4 Track wheel options
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 7
From: Johnsonville Wi
Early C4 Track wheel options
I've got an '84 that will be a track day / auto-x car. I knew wheels were an issue for early C4's but I had no idea how big of a pain it is to get quality wheels without buying custom wheels or using stupid spacers.
I'm NOT running spacers on the track and repros are too heavy.
Here is what I've come up with so far;
Factory 17" ZR-1 a-molds are a good option since the 11" rears fit perfect. BUT, the fronts are the wrong offset requiring spacers (deal breaker). I could get repros for the front but 1. I've heard they won't clear the C5 brakes on the car, 2. I don't like the idea of a mis-matched set of wheels and 3. repros are HEAVY.
Factory C6 Z06 & GS 18x9.5 front wheels have a +40 offset which would be fine for the front but doesn't work for the rear.
C5 and Late C4 won't work. . .
I'm looking for a quality wheel that will take track duty, hopefully can be found cheaper with cosmetic flaws (i'm probably going to coat them orange or red anyway), and give a decent width (9.5 min.). I'm not too concerned about sticking out of the fender a little bit (1/4"-1/2") since it will be a track animal.
What are my options and/or what have others done???
-Tim
I'm NOT running spacers on the track and repros are too heavy.
Here is what I've come up with so far;
Factory 17" ZR-1 a-molds are a good option since the 11" rears fit perfect. BUT, the fronts are the wrong offset requiring spacers (deal breaker). I could get repros for the front but 1. I've heard they won't clear the C5 brakes on the car, 2. I don't like the idea of a mis-matched set of wheels and 3. repros are HEAVY.
Factory C6 Z06 & GS 18x9.5 front wheels have a +40 offset which would be fine for the front but doesn't work for the rear.
C5 and Late C4 won't work. . .
I'm looking for a quality wheel that will take track duty, hopefully can be found cheaper with cosmetic flaws (i'm probably going to coat them orange or red anyway), and give a decent width (9.5 min.). I'm not too concerned about sticking out of the fender a little bit (1/4"-1/2") since it will be a track animal.
What are my options and/or what have others done???
-Tim
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 533
Likes: 18
From: Boca Raton Florida
AFS Wheels sells a ZR1 set made for the 84-87 Corvette. 17x9.5 front and 17x11 rear with the correct offsets. Price is reasonable for the polished aluminum set ($585 + shipping). I have no personal experience with their wheels but I didn't come across any outraged customer reviews either.
http://www.shop.afswheels.com/AFS-fi...-1-Set-S9P.htm
http://www.shop.afswheels.com/AFS-fi...-1-Set-S9P.htm
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 4
From: East Wenatchee (2hours from n e where) WA
Been bangin my head against the wall myself over this. I just cant get real comfy with adapters but they do allow the stock C5Z wheel, cheep n light. CCWs are the right stuff but almost 3000$. One that is kinda new is the LG motorsport C6z front. The offset is right, 18x10 and it weighs about 20lb a pound or 2 more than the CCWs and C5Zs but only about 1/2 the price of CCWs looks nice too.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 7
From: Johnsonville Wi
Been bangin my head against the wall myself over this. I just cant get real comfy with adapters but they do allow the stock C5Z wheel, cheep n light. CCWs are the right stuff but almost 3000$. One that is kinda new is the LG motorsport C6z front. The offset is right, 18x10 and it weighs about 20lb a pound or 2 more than the CCWs and C5Zs but only about 1/2 the price of CCWs looks nice too.
That isn't terrible for weight on the AFS. Does anyone know if they will clear C5 brakes?
-Tim
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I use AFS ZR-1 replica wheels with the proper 38mm offset for my 87 for both autocross (one set has Hoosier A6's mounted) and track days (second set has Nitto NT05's mounted). I have never had any sort of a problem with any of the wheels. The autocross wheels have 4 yers worth of events and the track wheels have 6 years worth of track and street use.
My 87 also has C5 front brakes and there is no clearance problems with the AFS wheels. I have seen other people use the AFS 17x11 wheels in the front with 315/35 tires and no clearance issues.
AFS sells on fleabay and from time to time they offer "blemished" wheels sets at some good discounts. Both sets that I bought were blems and the in last set of 4, only one wheel had a very slight run of the powdercoating. My wheels are black with the machined rim.
Here's a pic of a front wheel with the C5 caliper.
My 87 also has C5 front brakes and there is no clearance problems with the AFS wheels. I have seen other people use the AFS 17x11 wheels in the front with 315/35 tires and no clearance issues.
AFS sells on fleabay and from time to time they offer "blemished" wheels sets at some good discounts. Both sets that I bought were blems and the in last set of 4, only one wheel had a very slight run of the powdercoating. My wheels are black with the machined rim.
Here's a pic of a front wheel with the C5 caliper.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 7
From: Johnsonville Wi
That is some great information c4cruiser! I was just talking to a coworker about seeing if I could buy any cosmetically damaged ones they might have since i'm thinking about just painting or coating them a crazy color anyway.
Thanks again!
-Tim
Thanks again!
-Tim
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 711
Likes: 3
From: charlottesville Virginia
I believe the only issue with late C4 and C5 wheels is how they sit in the wheel well. If I remember correctly they sit about 3/4 inch inside, however they don't interfere with anything. There are a bunch of threads on here about it. How big is your budget? If you get lucky you could find some gen 1 dymags which would be perfect for what you are looking for.
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Instructor
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possible solution
I used to race a mini-stock at the local bull ring. I used a company called Falcon Wheel. They would make any racing wheel with any setback that you requested. They made me several 13x7 steel wheels that were really light. One downfall is that they bent pretty easy when you hit something. I know that they make 16 inch wheels, I saw some on a imca.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 7
From: Johnsonville Wi
I used to race a mini-stock at the local bull ring. I used a company called Falcon Wheel. They would make any racing wheel with any setback that you requested. They made me several 13x7 steel wheels that were really light. One downfall is that they bent pretty easy when you hit something. I know that they make 16 inch wheels, I saw some on a imca.
I've already investigated a similair option. About 60 miles away there is a company (diamond racing wheels) that builds steel wheels for dirt track, auto-x, road race, or anything else. They seem to be getting pretty popular with import guys too. They told me they can't handle a wheel 17" in diameter and in the widths I would be looking for (around 10") for a couple reasons. First, they don't have a DOT approved hoop in that width and also simply because the wheel would be insanely heavy. As a comparision; they sell a wheel under their "trucker series" for circle track trucks that is 17x8. It's 34lbs so you can imagine what a 17x11 would weigh.
http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/trucker-series.html
-Tim