new shoes for The BEAST

[aronhk_md]

This is the rim I think I'm going with. 18x9.5 with 5.25 backspace. I already have a set of 275/35/18 tires for the front, and 285/35/18's for the rear.

I thought about the Bosses.....and the Vision Legends.....had good reasons to consider both. But the wheels you see in the pic are actually a german made 2 piece wheel. And I'm getting them for LESS than the Bosses or Legends. Not as much lip as I'd like, but......budget is important right now, as I have WAY overspent on everything else at this point.

Literally 2 piece...can remove the center if I want and send it out for coating later. Here is a pic of a set that went on an anniversary vette over in europe. Anniversary vettes were always a bit gaudy, but I think these wheels have potential. I might even get them widened later.

What do you guys think?

[19,69camaro]

Ohh god please don't paint them purple. Painted they look like flowers and that ***** only works for beetles not vettes. Other than that I like them in the first picture

[aronhk_md]

LMAO.....nooo, no, no.........just showing those pics because they show the nature of the shape on the spokes. Although that color scheme does work for that anniversary vette. Dont think I could ever drive one of those....lol. Later for example I could hit the recessed area of the wheel center with a charcoal grey or black. I'm thinking the car may end up House of Kolor Galaxy Grey, but not sure yet. I like their Tangerine too, though its VERY bright.

[Flash68]

I opened this thread because I thought you were posting the new wheels on Eric Bana's "Beast" .....

[aronhk_md]

Nope....lol. Havent seen his car. The BEAST is a book I wrote a few years ago. Maybe someday I'll edit it enough to really publish it. This car reminded me of it in a way when I bought it, hence the name.

For anyone interested in the car there is a build thread here if you search The BEAST, and the car also has a webpage at http://www.americantorque.com/page/1/62/

If you go 3/4 down the page there you will find links to engine pics and videos of the car.

[astross89]

what brand?

[aronhk_md]

Ronal wheels. They arent really here in the states any longer. German make, and technically these are BMW wheels. But I have access to the machinery, so I'm just going to redrill my hubs AND use a set of aluminum hubcentric rings I just picked up for $20. From my research the 5 and up series of BMWs have workable backspacing/offset combos for many of the GM muscle cars. Right around 4.5-5.75 backspacing. So with careful choosing...

2.54 cm to an inch.......so 25.4 mm to an inch....so a +25 offset means add an inch of backspacing to whatever half the wheel width is. In this case, the wheels are 9.5" Half of that is 4.75"......the offset on these wheels is +13mm (just over half an inch), so total backspacing is 4.75 + .5 = 5.25".

[aronhk_md]

Hmmm.....kind of surprised nobody has an opinion....lol

[jocko124]

I actually like these wheels a lot. I have seen people put these on Volvos--specifically, the S60R & V70R. I was going to buy a set for the wife's car about a year and half ago, but they had already pulled out of the U.S.

[aronhk_md]

Well, if you are still interested I can put you in touch with the guy. He has an unknown quantity in different widths, backspacing and bolt patterns at prices that......well.....I cant believe. If you want me to have him call you PM your # to me or call me at 302-388-2964.

[19,69camaro]

Who has aluminum hubcentric rings for $20. I would be all over that!

[aronhk_md]

My research indicates that the GM hubs are 70.3mm, and that the 5 series BMW wheel hub opening was 74.1. Some of the others like the 7 series are less, and you could end up with a wheel that wont fit over your hub....so you have to be careful if you are buying a REAL BMW wheel to know what the hub size is. Most of the aftermarket wheels went with the 74.1 and offered a hubcentric spacer to the BMW guys looking to put them on the cars with smaller hubs.....but this way they fit any 5 series or up.

Either way....just make sure whatever wheel you buy has the 74.1 hub, not the smaller one. Also, it wouldnt hurt to double check my research for yourself before jumping. LOL

So according to that research you want a spacer with an outer dimension of 74.1 and an inner dimension of 70.3. Here they are, or you can get them from any internet company that specializes in hubcentric rings.....just have to tell them the size you need.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

They have a nice chamfered inner edge, and I'm going to lube them liberally with anti-sieze so I can hopefully get them off if necessary.

[aronhk_md]

Wheels look good with a satin black finish. Wonder what they'll look like on the car. Anybody good with photoshop?

[aronhk_md]

Would anyone mind helping me see what the wheels will look like if you have photoshop experience? I'd really appreciate it, since the car is completely in pieces and wont be together for at least another couple of months.

[Rod]

what are the trophy's for?? tacky champion!

[aronhk_md]

Got me....thats not my car. My car has the tacky yet cool 1973 paintjob done by the original owner when he purchased it as an advertisement for his body/paint shop.

[aronhk_md]

Thank you to Chris for doing a quick photoshop. It gives me an idea what it will look like, and I'm pretty pleased.

[Rod]

Got me....thats not my car. My car has the tacky yet cool 1973 paintjob done by the original owner when he purchased it as an advertisement for his body/paint shop.

you still rockin the vintage paint! AWESOME i dig the old school TA's, its just so damn hard to find one now

[SD428]

Those are some cool wheels. I'd consider them if it they were more of a direct fit because I'd probably mess something up. Also, not to forget that rim widths usually don't count the outter lips. A 9.5 inch wheel is usually 10.5 inches: 10.5/2 = 5.25 BS for zero offset, so with a +13 mm (.50 inch) offset, the BS would be 5.75 inches. Something to double check maybe. In an case, I think with those specs the wheels would fit pretty well.

[aronhk_md]

Thanks guys for all the positive feedback.....

Yeah Rod, the early trans ams are hard to find because they didnt make many. 70-71 production #'s were a little over 2000 each year, 72 was a short year and due to the strike they only made 1286 (I had one I sold last year to buy this car), and 73 they made 4800 TA's so it went up a little. When you compare that to 100,000 trans ams in 1979 though.....

Unfortunately the paint is quite worn now, and in addition the guy molded in all flares, spoilers, vents, etc.....so up front at the spoiler/valence/wheel flares it was a bit broken up and not looking great. Previous owner cut up the right fender inner lip for the turbo and a hole behind the rear wheel for a 4" electric exhaust cutout. Left fender had an area of rust behind the wheel well opening beginning to come through. Radiator core support was long gone and many other mods........so I just decided I'm going with a 1 piece tilt fiberglass front end. I have sitting here the new front end.....wish I had fiberglass experience because it needs flashing removed and some work prior to paint. Have all new grills, headlight rings, turn signals.....

To that end I have taken apart the front sheetmetal for good now.........and the paintjob is basically gone for good from the door fronts forward. :( Sad, but its time to move on from the 70's paint scheme. Luckily I have photos to keep for the future. When I can afford it the car is either going to be House of Kolor Galaxy Grey, or their Tangerine.

Yes, I realized that a 9.5" rim could be as much as an inch more. I can clear over 6" BS without any issues so I'm good. SD428.....it'll be a couple of months before I get the car all back together, but of course I'll report on how they end up fitting.....with pics of course.