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| < Tech Questions ~ Any interest in steel wheel widening info? |
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 Posted:
Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:00 pm
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Joined: 23 Jan 2010
Posts: 34
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I had some Ghia smoothies widened at True Design Wheels last year for my bus. They turned out really well. I had them widened from 4 to 6 inches all the way around but kept the offsets different to give it a more aggressive look. In the front I had the 2 inches added as backspace so from the curb they look original. I did this to allow the use of a wider tire while still keeping the stock appearance. The back I had the 2 inches added the opposite way so that the backspacing is the same as stock and they have a real deep dish look.
It took about 2 weeks to finish the wheels. Some of the hubcap clips got broken off in the process but Mark helped me put those back on. Mark powder coated them at Spectrum with a 60% gloss black finish and they look pretty killer.
I paid $50.00 per hoop (the were brand new, made in the USA) and $70.00 per wheel labor to have them widened. Total it cost me about $500.00 to have all four widened to what ever offset I wanted (within reason, as Brian said). I'll post some pics today or tomorrow of the results. |
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| Posted:
Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:30 pm
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Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Posts: 723
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| Kris wrote: |
I had some Ghia smoothies widened at True Design Wheels last year for my bus. They turned out really well. I had them widened from 4 to 6 inches all the way around but kept the offsets different to give it a more aggressive look. In the front I had the 2 inches added as backspace so from the curb they look original. I did this to allow the use of a wider tire while still keeping the stock appearance. The back I had the 2 inches added the opposite way so that the backspacing is the same as stock and they have a real deep dish look.
It took about 2 weeks to finish the wheels. Some of the hubcap clips got broken off in the process but Mark helped me put those back on. Mark powder coated them at Spectrum with a 60% gloss black finish and they look pretty killer.
I paid $50.00 per hoop (the were brand new, made in the USA) and $70.00 per wheel labor to have them widened. Total it cost me about $500.00 to have all four widened to what ever offset I wanted (within reason, as Brian said). I'll post some pics today or tomorrow of the results. |
This whole thread is super timely for me. I'll be doing the same with '67 bug wheels for my bus. |
_________________
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats. -- H. L. Mencken |
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| Posted:
Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:54 pm
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Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 114
Location: SC
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| Same here. I've contacted Stockton, but I was thinking of jigging it myself and giving it a whirl. Finding old stock wheels are cheap and if I screw it up, no biggie. |
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56 Oval Project
http://www.steven-laura.net/Steven/VW
2003 Buschur stage 5 Evo |
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| Posted:
Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:29 pm
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Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Posts: 723
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| 56Hotrod wrote: |
| Same here. I've contacted Stockton, but I was thinking of jigging it myself and giving it a whirl. Finding old stock wheels are cheap and if I screw it up, no biggie. |
I wouldn't mind doing it myself either but finding new hoops is a challenge. |
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Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats. -- H. L. Mencken |
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Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:38 pm
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Joined: 29 Dec 2007
Posts: 245
Location: Woodbury,TN
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Be aware that modern hoops are really heavy. Harvesting hoops from salvage yard wheels isn't that delicate and goes pretty quick. It has been too cold/wet/snowy to go on a junkyard hunt for larger diameter(16,17 inch) possibilities.
Darren |
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aDD Concepts-"trying to focus on everything" |
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| Posted:
Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:29 am
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Joined: 29 Dec 2007
Posts: 245
Location: Woodbury,TN
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| Posted:
Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:45 am
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Joined: 19 Jan 2009
Posts: 351
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That's one of the coolest Bugs I've ever seen. Nicely executed!
Howdy Kris! When is that Bus gonna get on the road? |
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| Posted:
Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:23 pm
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American Bacon?
Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 1004
Location: Transplanted to Junktown
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 That bug definitely has the look |
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| Posted:
Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:06 am
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Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 8618
Location: Grand Junction, CO
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^^ Your mom definately has the look. ^^  |
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| Posted:
Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:46 am
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American Bacon?
Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 1004
Location: Transplanted to Junktown
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| Franz wrote: |
| ^^ Your mom definately has the look. ^^ |
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| Posted:
Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:13 am
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Let me tell you something
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 699
Location: Prescott, Arizona
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| Posted:
Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:19 am
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Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Posts: 723
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| Brian1957 wrote: |
For all the guys in Colorado, you can have this done to your wheels. You send the guy your wheels, and he will re-hoop, or cut your center out of your old band and put the center in a new wider band at your specified back-spacing. Obviously there are limits to backspacing on the different widths of the outer hoop, but is a great way to utilize stock wheels with a wider appearance.
Tru Design Wheels is located in Denver. I have sent many customers to him. |
Here's their website for those interested.
http://www.trudesignwheel.net/
Note that they'll re-rim alloy Fuchs oversize (15 to 16, 16 to 17), etc. |
_________________
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats. -- H. L. Mencken |
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| Posted:
Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:45 am
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Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 7516
Location: GJ CO
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Hey, I don't know if you guys heard, but they make cool wheels you can bolt on without all this widening stuff..
Just an FYI! |
_________________
Building the shit out of VW's.. "lifer"
Choices make us who we are.
Set yourself up for success
The harder I work, the more successfull I am.
Success is obediance to a structured way of life! |
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| Posted:
Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:36 pm
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Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Posts: 723
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| john jones wrote: |
Hey, I don't know if you guys heard, but they make cool wheels you can bolt on without all this widening stuff..
Just an FYI! |
But it's the same damn wheels on every custom VW you see. Boring.
I want to be different, just like everybody else. I am a beautiful and unique snowflake. |
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Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats. -- H. L. Mencken |
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| Posted:
Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:53 pm
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Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Posts: 599
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
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| Kris wrote: |
I had some Ghia smoothies widened at True Design Wheels last year for my bus. They turned out really well. I had them widened from 4 to 6 inches all the way around but kept the offsets different to give it a more aggressive look. In the front I had the 2 inches added as backspace so from the curb they look original. I did this to allow the use of a wider tire while still keeping the stock appearance. The back I had the 2 inches added the opposite way so that the backspacing is the same as stock and they have a real deep dish look.
It took about 2 weeks to finish the wheels. Some of the hubcap clips got broken off in the process but Mark helped me put those back on. Mark powder coated them at Spectrum with a 60% gloss black finish and they look pretty killer.
I paid $50.00 per hoop (the were brand new, made in the USA) and $70.00 per wheel labor to have them widened. Total it cost me about $500.00 to have all four widened to what ever offset I wanted (within reason, as Brian said). I'll post some pics today or tomorrow of the results. |
Kris's wheels turned out nice and look stock with attitude. We have Kris's 63 bus over at my shop ...we'll take some photos of his wheels and post them.... Rumor has it Creig might end up with these wheels for his 58 and Kris might end up going with some vintage race car inspired alloys .  |
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Just a "poser" with damn good luck I guess!
"The last ten percent takes ninety percent of the time" D.F. |
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