PartTimeGenius

I love the look of the factory alloys on my '80, but as we're all finding out, there is a substantial lack of performance tires for 15" wheels.
I've noticed that at least one mfr. is modifying the rallye wheels into 16" and 17" units.
I realize those are steel, two-piece wheels, but I wonder if my allows could somehow be modified into a "17 so I can run some real tires to go with all the suspension mods I've done.
Any thoughts?

norvalwilhelm

It would be impossible to make your alloy wheel grow 2 inches. You will have to buy new wheels. With a 2 piece steel rim it is possible to fabricate a outer ring and reweld the 2 together but from a cost point of view I would imagin that they would just sell a whole new rim.
Just guessing.

Brutus

I have seen it done successfully to a Vette from South Africa that was brought over here. Not sure if they went to !6" or 17" tho. I'd have to check my magazine collection. It was done well enough that I didn't notice it even after spending a whole day around the car.

Twin_Turbo

I've seen it too. They took the center from a stock wheel and welded a new spun rim on, I tthink it was 17". Looked really good.

MIKER

I don't know anything about this car or it's wheels. I just thought that you might like to see them.

Brett K

I must have those wheels :cool: :cool: :eek: :eek:

Metal Wulf

:eek:

PROSOUTH

That is unbelievable! They are what I really always wanted!

But, I would be afraid of them for safety reasons. They may be just fine, but not for me!

I wanted a wheel like this and never expected to have one available so I looked until I found the next best thing. That was a Corvette Rally Wheel in Billet Aluminum from Wheel Vinitiques in 15", 16", 17" and 18" diameters with several widths and custom backspacing available. They aren't cheap, about $350 each, but they are nice and I believe safe. Mine should be here this spring and I can elaborate more on them then. I am waiting for a guy to get me set at wholesale plus 10%.

If someone wanted to tool up and make several sets of these I would much rather have them than the Rally Wheels. But I'll pass on the altered original alloys. JIM

Twin_Turbo

That's the one I mean, I absolutely LOVE that.

Someone who started a side business modifying stock wheels into those could probably make some serious money.

Marck


[Modified by Twin_Turbo, 12:42 PM 2/8/2003]

Brutus

Yep, that's the car. It resides here in Australia the last I saw. It runs a blown SB with nitrous. Still LHD for any of you in the States who want to import it just for the wheels.

C3 Shark Tank

I really like polished stock rims, but those are just freakin' awesome! Anyone know where/how that could be done?

blue72

Would it be possible to make an entirely new wheel as a two-piece? Take a rim in whatever size you prefer, have a shop with CNC capability cut you a center in that style (well, four new centers)... and voila. If enough people got together and commited to buying a set maybe a custom wheel manufacturer would do it at a somewhat reasonable cost?
Just a thought...
-Jason

PROSOUTH

This approach would be the way to go. I could see a new center being made to resemble the org. and be used with several rim dia. A new billet center could be made to make this work safely. I'm not so sure the wheel in the picture was not built this way. It may not be an adaptation at all but a complete new wheel and center.

The Wheel Vintique guys do this with the Corvette Rally wheel already.

I would be in on a set of these optional wheels if within reach $. If anyone finds out anything let me know.

JIM :hurray: