Who can widen wheels?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: Naples Fl
Who can widen wheels?
I have the early thin spoke forged wheels that came on my 2000 FRC. I like the clean looks and the fact that the forged wheels are better than cast. I want to widen the rears by 1 1/2" to 2". Then I will have the set powder coated to the color I want. I know I will need the spacer/adaptor to get the clearance inside once I go wider than 10 1/2". I heard 11 1/2" is doable. Does anyone know of a good company that can widen then re balance a forged wheel or if this can even be done? I saw a company,at the Zypher Hills car show, does it but long since lost their card. They had a wheel that was a cast one, that looked to be 15" dia that they widened to about 20" or more as a display of their work. So I know they can do cast wheels but I dont know about forged ones. Anybody tried anything similar or if you can direct me to someone who would know, I would appreciate it. Thanks 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Your asking a lot. Might be less expesive to buy new wheels the width and powder coating.
I have several 18 in CCWs sets. The rears are 11 1/2 with a 8 1/2 in offset for the street set and 9 in offset for the track set. The track set is also powerder coated centers from CCW.
IMHO cutting up a forged wheel may not be the safest idea. If they were three piece wheels then yes they maybe able to take them apart and put wider rims on the center piece.
I am sure if you spend a little time and look you can find what you want.
Good luck
I have several 18 in CCWs sets. The rears are 11 1/2 with a 8 1/2 in offset for the street set and 9 in offset for the track set. The track set is also powerder coated centers from CCW.
IMHO cutting up a forged wheel may not be the safest idea. If they were three piece wheels then yes they maybe able to take them apart and put wider rims on the center piece.
I am sure if you spend a little time and look you can find what you want.
Good luck
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
e-mail weelman@aol.com and ask him. He deals in Vette wheels and I believe knows a source for widening.
Fred K.
Fred K.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: Naples Fl
Thanks for the input. AN U GEL is probably right, the cost of widening and spacers may get up to the cost of a set of wider wheels. I think if the guy who does the welding knows what he is doing, the safety point may not be an issue, but I would research that angle carefully before doing it. Ill email the source FKING1 furnished just to find out and satisfy my curiosity. Thanks again
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: Naples Fl
wider
Originally Posted by FKING1
e-mail weelman@aol.com and ask him. He deals in Vette wheels and I believe knows a source for widening.
Fred K.
Fred K.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Wheel Widening
I know that Wheels America in Dallas can widen wheels up to two inches. I wanted to do the same thing as you and looked into it. It costs about $200 per wheel to do it. Just before I was going to have it done, I found a set that had already been widened. I am not at home or I could tell you who made them. I know it was a company in California. Anyway, they took the early forged 5 spokes and cut the face off and welded them to HRE spun-aluminum inner barrels. They polished and re clear coated them. They look great and are true. They are 18 x 12.5. I had the car mini-tubbed and run a 1 7/16 spacer to keep the inner lip of the rims off of the upper control arms at full suspension sag. I mounted BFG 345/30/18's on them.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: Naples Fl
Originally Posted by R6_C5_ML430
I know that Wheels America in Dallas can widen wheels up to two inches. I wanted to do the same thing as you and looked into it. It costs about $200 per wheel to do it. Just before I was going to have it done, I found a set that had already been widened. I am not at home or I could tell you who made them. I know it was a company in California. Anyway, they took the early forged 5 spokes and cut the face off and welded them to HRE spun-aluminum inner barrels. They polished and re clear coated them. They look great and are true. They are 18 x 12.5. I had the car mini-tubbed and run a 1 7/16 spacer to keep the inner lip of the rims off of the upper control arms at full suspension sag. I mounted BFG 345/30/18's on them.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Originally Posted by flynbludream
Maybe its supposed to be "wheelman"?
Sorry for problem.
Fred K.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Here is the contact information for Wheels America in Dallas. There are other locations around the US, but I think this is the only location that does the wheel widening.
Wheels America
4480 Mint Way
Dallas, TX 75236
214-330-9866
Toll Free(888) 99-ALLOY
I have emailed the guy I bought my rims from to get the contact information of the comany in California that made the wheels. When I hear back from him, I will post their information as well.
As for pictures, I have some, but I have no way to post them. Send me an email at sean.ellis@thhill.com and I will email you some shots I took of them with the 345's mounted (off the car from all angles). I also have one shot taken from the rear of the car with the 345 on the driver's side and the stock 275 on the passenger's side so you can really see the difference in the amount of meat.
Wheels America
4480 Mint Way
Dallas, TX 75236
214-330-9866
Toll Free(888) 99-ALLOY
I have emailed the guy I bought my rims from to get the contact information of the comany in California that made the wheels. When I hear back from him, I will post their information as well.
As for pictures, I have some, but I have no way to post them. Send me an email at sean.ellis@thhill.com and I will email you some shots I took of them with the 345's mounted (off the car from all angles). I also have one shot taken from the rear of the car with the 345 on the driver's side and the stock 275 on the passenger's side so you can really see the difference in the amount of meat.
Last edited by R6_C5_CLS55; Jul 19, 2004 at 09:24 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,935
Likes: 26
From: Lackey, my own dragstrip VA.
Virginia Events Coordinator
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
NCM Ambassador
Originally Posted by R6_C5_ML430
I also have one shot taken from the rear of the car with the 345 on the driver's side and the stock 275 on the passenger's side so you can really see the difference in the amount of meat.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
weelman@aol.com answered my e-mail so I know the address is good. Ask him about widening source.
Fred K.
Fred K.