I have made up my mind FINALLY.

I have decided to go with a wide body conversion. Rather than jump in blind, I have a couple things to consider first. I know plenty of you guys have had great success with this modification, so I know I can expect some good info here.

First of all I don't really want to use repro wheels because of the added weight. So that being said, I thought about getting a set of stock OEM C6 19's (79mm offset) widened to 12" and using an adapter...What size adapter/spacer do I need to have the 79mm C6 rear rim sit flush with a ZO6 rear quarter panel?

I have seen a couple people with Z06 rims on the front with Z06 offsets, will these protrude too much? My car is lowered all the way on stock bolts. If this will work then I can just buy OEM Z06 wheels all the way around.

My last option would be to buy OEM Z rear rims and use repros for the fronts - BUT I'm not sure the reproductions and the OEMS will look exactly alike (plan on powder coating flat black). Are the designs pretty spot on?


What advice do you guys have for me, I would like to start ordering everything I need now. Looking to buy the conversion kit from Gene Culley. Anyone have experience with Corvette Recycling? They are a couple hundred cheaper on the rear kits.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

 

If you're doing the widebody conversion there is no problem with wheel offsets. If you're doing rear only you can use Z06 front wheels but they will stick out almost 1/2" and it's not a good look. Personally I wouldn't consider the weight savings in widened rear wheels compared to factory spec wheels any big deal. I thought the Corvette Recyler had used parts.

 

You mean factory spec wheels compared to reproduction wheels? I think the repro wheels will add about 15-20 pounds to my car... Not to mention the fact I already weigh about 255.....

 

Sounds like your choices are buying factory Z wheels (which you can find on here for good prices) or adding 1-1/2" rear spacers which can stress bearings.

 

Stress bearings? Ouch, that doesn't sound good....

Guess factory Z wheels in the back and repros up front with C6 offsets. At least I won't be adding TOO much weight that way - But i want black Spyders....

 

Go with Gene Culley, no surprises and great service.

Stock Z06 rears and repro Z06 in C6 offsets up front sounds like a good compromise.

You could have the powder coating done yourself and buying used wheels may save a few $$.

 

It sounds like you've decided to go wide-BOOTY, not wide-BODY. If you go widebody (front and rear) you'd run Z06 wheels front and rear. If that isn't correct please clarify.

San

 

I've done the rear wide body with the stock Z06 wheel widths and offsets on the rear, standard C6 offset for the front but with the Z06 tires. Fronts fit fine under the front fenders and the factory reproduction wheels balanced and look great. I bought Factory Reproduction Z06 black chrome 10 spokes.

 

Yeah just going for the rear. Can't wait to do this mod, looks bad ***!

 

Been there, done that. I'm running 18X13s in the rear so my options are wide open for meats in the back (currently 335/30/18 Toyo R888s).



San

 

Thank you kindly for your referral. I am very thorough with the conversions and don't leave you in the middle of a project with problems. I'd love to have a shot at earning your business. Thank you.

 

I bought my rear widebooty kit from Gene. No issues and everything was delivered in a timely manner.

San

 

Mike,

Corvette recycling.....GREAT to deal with. Got my widebooty from partstaxi....great to deal with

I just completed my Widebooty & have a point of view I would like to share with you.

As per spinmonster's recommendation: "Get rid of the 19" wheels & go 18's all round" just make sure you get a 35 profile tire NOT 30 (1" shorter)
* Better traction
* More tire selections available
* Lower cost for tires
* DID I MENTION....MUCH BETTER TRACTION DUE TO WIDER SIDEWALL'S!

I bought an extra set of used oem polished 18/8.5 fronts & sent them to a place for widening. They came back 10" wide instead of 12" Needless to say I was pisssssed.

A forum member suggested I order the black z06 reps from House of Wheels because they come in 18/12 & 18/9.5 I DID NOT KNOW Z06 RIMS 12" WIDE CAME IN 18'S (the 9.5's had the perfect offset for C6 front fenders & the 12" rears were the perfect offset for the Z06 rear 1/4's)

HERE'S THE DEAL AS I SEE IT & PLAYED IT:

A) 4 NEW Z06 wheels look so BAD *** on my car & cost $905 from House of Wheels
B) They cost less than 2 used oem's & mods & adapters
C) I didn't have to use a wheel adapter. I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO PUT 700 RWHP ON WHEEL ADAPTERS ESPECIALLY 1 3/4" ONES WHICH IS WHAT I ESTIMATED I WOULD HAVE TO USE.
D) You can resell all 4 oem wheels & recoupe $500-$800 buckarooooos
E) 2-3 weeks your car will be down if you send out your rims to be widened. New wheels you'll have in 3 days:-)
F) I weighed the rims myself & there is NOT a big enough dif for me:

STOCK 07 C6 REAR POLISHED 19”/10” 24 LBS (Remember widening this rim 2" will add more weight, so factor that in)

STOCK 07 C6 FRONT POLISHED 18”/8.5” 21 LBS (Remember widening this rim 3 1/2" will add more weight, so factor that in)

HOUSE OF WHEELS ZO6 REPROS BLACK 18”/12” 28.2 LBS

HOUSE OF WHEELS ZO6 REPROS BLACK 18”/9.5” 24.2 LBS

IN CLOSING HERE IS A LINK TO MY WIDEBOOTY CONVERSION WHICH INCLUDES THE Z06 REPS AS WELL AS MY OTHER MODS. LOTS OF PICS HERE:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-f...mods-pics.html

IF I HAVEN'T CONVINCED YOU YET TO GO REPRO'S and stay away from a widening the oem's because of a 1 3/4" wheel adapter having to be used...I AM SELLING MY 4 OEM POLISHED WHEELS IF YOU ARE INTERESTED:-)

Food for thought: I spoke to quite a few members that are running about 600+rwhp & do use wheel adapters without incidence. It just doesn't sit well with me:-)

 

I purchased my items from Gene Culley i had an issue with my items comming damaged due to the shipping company .. Gene Culley fixed the problem asap.

 

What am I missing ?? Why " Wide Body???? The look???? Isn't it pretty costly? Car any faster? Ride or handle any better? Or is it just a case of a ZR1 Wanna Be???

 

1) Unfortunately...."IT'S PAR FOR THE COURSE"when you're pushing 616 rwhp 594rwtq (soon to be 700hp) YOU NEED 345 WIDTH R COMPOUND TIRES & 12" wide rims or wider or all that power (some anyway) is being wasted, which negates the original purpose. 18" rims are a must, 19's hurt your cause!

You need AS MUCH Rubber on the road as possible and the only way to get 12" wide rims on a c6 is to flair or z06 the rear 1/4's. Mini tubing a c6 wont work because of the upper control arm restriction. So it is an absolute necessity. With this much power, I dead hook 2nd gear now in 65 degree weather with 3.42 gears and m/t 345-35-18. Some guys have squeezed 11" rims (without WB) on their c6's but the widest tires you can go comfortably is 305's or they begin to bulge.

2) mine handles great but the c6's handling is quadrupled when you dump the piece of crap sway bars for hp ones

3) yes it is very costly. It depends how you do it & how far you go, about 4 grand.... 4 rep wheels $905, 2 m/t 345-35-18 $650ish, rear widebooty kit about $1250, body shop paint and install about $1000 + incidentals.

4) OK, I did it for the looks too:-)

I hope this helped:-)

 

Some do it for looks, others do it out off necessity
When you can spin Mt's on the street at 70, it's time to go Bigger!

 

A-MEN BROTHER
You'll always break loose in 1st with an a6 no matter what you do with this much power, the key is hooking up 2nd!!

 

Wider wheels and tires (that sometimes necessitate different body parts) are always going to increase the handling potential.

Some do the mod for looks. Others do it to run larger wheels and tires. I did mine for the latter. To each his own.

San

 

You'll be able to answer your own question when you start making some power.