Hey, I was looking for wider wheels recently, but with college coming, I'm looking for cheaper solutions. I've heard of people widening stock steel wheels, but could it be done on my '89's 15X7 snowflakes? Has anybody else done this? Would material be added to the outside, center section, or inside of the wheel? I'm only looking for about an inch and a half.
Thanks for the responses.

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No guts, no glory.

[This message has been edited by NTChrist (edited May 11, 2001).]

It'd probably be cheaper and easier to find a nice set of used wheels.

I was actually looking to do this to my GTA-type rims...widen them, and customize them a bit. I dont know what it would cost to have a set built to my specs, beacuse i would want 18" all around...but i am guessing way past 6 grand.

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1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH

Seriously!?! I figured it would be a couple of hundred dollars! Are you sure that simply widening wheels would be more than 6 grand? Hot Rod paid a shop to do it for that crazy caddy powered Chevette, and it only cost them 3 figures.
I don't want any resurfacing, repainting, or otherwise. Just the width changed.

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No guts, no glory.

I am not saying widening your wheels will cost 6 grand. I am talking about making a one-off set for myself from scratch. Thats what i am GUESSING it will be for me..upwards of that...i am curious also as to what you described in your first post...maybe i can get away with a few hundred instead of a few thousand bucks



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1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH

In the HRM article they were widening steel wheels. Aluminum wheels is a whole 'nother ball game. I don't think you would have too much luck finding someone who even wanted to attempt this (I've thought of it myself) let alone be able to afford paying someone who would attempt it .

FWIW

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Clem
SCCA TransAm Series Race Mechanic/CrewChief
-------------
1983 Z28 with LG4, 5 speed, and (unfortunately) T-tops
1983 Z28, NO T-tops, (unfortunately) Auto Transmission---FOR SALE---
Looking for a V8, preferably 4 or 5 speed Camaro with NO T-tops (wanna trade?)

By my first post I was asking about splitting wheels along the circumference, and adding aluminum in the joint. I hear that aluminum welding is a little more pricey, but I don't think that shaping the material to go in the space would be too hard. I guess that nobody here has tried it, step 2 will be talking to auto fab shops in the area. Thanks for the help, anyways. I've never heard of somebody adding material to increase the diameter though. I don't know if somebody would do that for you. 18" stock looking wheels would kick *** , though.

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No guts, no glory.

The type of modification you are talking about doing, would be a disaster waiting to happen. There would be far too much pressure put on those welds, especially the fronts, that they would surely fail. Also, no one with half a brain would do this for you, because when you get killed or kill someone else there would be one hell of a law suit.

Yea, both of you are right...about no one wanting to do this, it being pricey, and the lawsuits. But i would want to keep my GTA-style rims, just bigger and wider. Think about it...it would look kick@$$....18" GTA rims...i guess i need to spend a few thousand to get a set of one-off's made...but thats something i'll leave off till the end. I'd rather concentrate now on the engine and tranny

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1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH

hey phantom, try colorado customs, or Boyds, they make custom One-offs for a steep price though.
i was thinkin about one-off 18" GTA's, i even made a pic of what it would look like a while back:

or

I'm sorry but that looks absolutly disgusting. Not the wheels, mind you, they look great. But how far u lower it??? Looks like an oversized import, like a f*rd focus or somethin'. Again I apologize but, ehhh..

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305 TBI, 700r4, 2.73 peg-leg...WS6 is good, though
14X3 o.e., functional formula hood(for sale in future), uhhh..., umm...
Soon to be dual TBI, heh, heh, heh
Am I the only person who believes a car has feelings, emotions, and a soul??

Hey Sheetouttaluck...

YES! Thats it right there...a nice set of one-off 18's...thats what i am looking for. Good job, man...you made my vision a reality.(minus the extreme lowering). I would lower my car also, but not that far. But anyhow, I have heard of Boyds but not Colorado Customs...to afford a one-off set, which is what i will do in the future, I am thinking that i will have to sell some body organs. Any takers?

------------------
1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH

Don't listen to 88, that's a beautiful car. I like that the panels fit perfectly, and the spoiler's way less obvious. Looks like how GM meant the car to look. I'm jealous.
Too bad you can't leave your driveway without losing an oil pan, though.



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No guts, no glory.