Check Out These "Enlarged" Vintage Wheels

Bill D · 27th April 2006, 11:39 PM

After the fiasco with Jongbloed, Fran found a company near his business in Detroit that said they could widen wheels. So Fran had him take a set of 15x10 BRM wheels from Vintage Wheels and widen them to 15x12 and 15x14. All they need is to be polished.

Bill D

Bill Bayard · 28th April 2006, 06:13 AM

Bill,

Looks like they did a great job! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re-balanced, I hope!???

Bill

Mark Worthington · 29th April 2006, 11:57 AM

Those rolling pins look good! I wouldn't do track work on them though. How's the runout?

Bill D · 29th April 2006, 08:14 PM

Mark-
I don't have any idea what the runout is. I'll have to ask Fran

Jac Mac · 29th April 2006, 08:53 PM

Mark, Why Not? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Jack.

JohnC · 30th April 2006, 12:28 AM

That looks like Weldcraft's work, and they're near Detroit. Here's their website, but their work is of a much higher quality than their website: http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/

I don't have personal experience with them, but know others who have used them with very good success for widening their street and strip wheels. Runout is guaranteed to be stock or better, as is balance. Obviously the process requires some coordination to get the backspace/offset dimensions correct. This is probably where getting it done through someone like Fran would be value added.

John

Fran Hall RCR · 30th April 2006, 07:48 AM

John ..
spot on.....Weldcraft did the widening and the finish machining was done by T Craft one of the largest wheel manufacturing companies in the USA..

Bill D · 30th April 2006, 12:46 PM

Fran-
Did you find some shipping boxes?

Mark Worthington · 30th April 2006, 03:39 PM

I saw a Mustang a few years ago with widened wheels that had a wheel split right along the weld seam during an autocross event. I have no idea who did the work, but it was probably a crappy job done on a cast wheel. That said, I have heard great things about Weldcraft and that, in fact, the runout on their widened wheels is usually better than on brand new high-end forged wheels.

Fran Hall RCR · 30th April 2006, 04:15 PM

Bill.

yes Sir.I did and they will be rolling along to you tomorrow .....look out. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Wheels331 · 30th April 2006, 06:44 PM

Can't wait to see pictures of these on the car!

Bill D · 30th April 2006, 09:38 PM

Thanks Fran

Wheels-
Once they arrive, I have to have them polished, then its off to the painter to have the centers painted orange. Then I can have the tires mounted. I'll be sure to post pictures of them on the car.

Bill D

Kenny J · 7th May 2006, 06:14 PM

Bill or Fran,
What was the cost to widen the 15" wheels to 12" wide? And is the inside seam welded or just a very close fit?