Where can I get aluminum wheels widened?

[jdurant]

I haven't been able to find anybody around here, but I need to get some aluminum alloy wheels widened. Somebody in the Houston area would be great, but am willing to ship them for a good job at a descent price.
Thanks in advance.

[grinch4om]

I dont know if you can

[AceX]

Talked to a buddy of mine. He said good luck finding a shop that will do it.

[lolife99]

Billet wheels can be re-hooped. (Center cut out and installed in a new wheel hoop) I think it would cost as much as a new wheel. I don't believe you can do anything with cast wheels.

[jdurant]

Well I have found this company, but they are way up in Michigan--www.Weldcraftwheels.com . Also, a few years ago I found a local guy that said he could do it and was cheap, but I had other priorities then. I wish I could find where I wrote his number. Also, this guy www.gbodyparts.com--gets them done somewhere. But his prices are reeediculous plus he wants cores and I just refuse to do business with him ever again.
But I'm pretty sure it can be done-and am willing to spend good money to have it done.

[f.monroe]

What wheel or type of wheel are you looking to get widened ? Post a pic or give details . I agree about the billet wheels and rehooping but I dont know anyone that widens cast or one piece wheels .
Frank

[tgh117]

There is a place right up the road from me, they fix bent wheels, widen wheels, re coat, them, etc. The place is called keystone automotive. I am not sure, but I heard once that they have several locations around, maybe you want to try and check in to them? I know PA is nowhere near houston, but maybe they have a place closer to you? Good luck finding a place

[jdurant]

Here is a link pulled from the gbody parts guy. http://www.gbodyparts.com/product_in...44e45ed9bebbe9
These are the exact wheels. Problems with buying from him:
He doesn't do it in-house, and he doesn't want to do anything special. It seems like he just wants to get rid of stock and I don't want the sizes that he has got. And from past experience takes forever and if you have a problem--good luck getting him on the phone. And as you can see his prices suck and he wants your wheels. I might would pay somebody else those prices, but not him.
I know they don't look like much in the pics especiall with the black paint, but are gonna look good on the car. These will be the wheels I use while I am building the car and getting the suspension and setup right. Eventually I would like to put some high dollar 18" or 19" forged wheels. Maybe these http://www.kinesismotorsports.com/k19.jpg I'm not sure, but have been leaning this way. When that happens, the wheels that I want to widen now will become my track set. Now, I like to build them in stages and try to keep them on the road, and this will be the car I blow my load on--so it may take a few years even before I buy the Kenisis or similiar no compromise wheels, but for now I am ready to get this thing back on the road and will be usingthe almost new 295/50s that I pulled off the Blazer today.

BTW-thanks for the speedy responses and I will check on the Keystone Automotive.

[f.monroe]

GN wheels are just basically American Racing Vector wheels . Search ebay for used wheels or check American Racings website since I think they are making them again . The Dukes movie kinda brought them back .
Frank

[jdurant]

Frank, you are correct. However, as the new ones do look good--they are smooth were the originals are textured. Plus 8.5" is the widest they offer now. I could find two of the 10" old ones, but neither old nor new take the original center cap. Plus the old 10"s actually command top dollar.
I have thought it out.

[SCOTI]

I'm not sure which way your going, but if you're wanting to widen toward the inside (increasing the back spacing) try.....

http://www.ericvaughnmachine.com/

I had him widen some off the shelf 15x6 AR TorqThrusts (before TT2's were available) for a fox body Mustang (coupe/cop car too). He did a nice job & they were perfectly balanced.

[454HO]

I know there were a lot of guys on the ImpalaSS forum that used weldcraft to widen their stock wheels. There was only one other company I've heard of that widens cast wheels, but you had to send them 2 wheels to section so they could build one widened wheel. Can't remember the name, but they were in California.

[jdurant]

That looks promising. I will give him and Weldcraft a call tomorrow. I was going to widen it toward the inside of course. I might have to use an adaptor -that I'm not crazy about. I was hoping that I could talk whoever into bolting down and welding an aluminum spacer on instead of using an adaptor if I need it. I don't see why that wouldn't work.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by jdurant

....I was hoping that I could talk whoever into bolting down and welding an aluminum spacer on instead of using an adaptor if I need it. I don't see why that wouldn't work.

One word: Liability.

[jdurant]

Good point. We'll see.

[Cherub]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I'm not sure which way your going, but if you're wanting to widen toward the inside (increasing the back spacing) try.....

http://www.ericvaughnmachine.com/

I had him widen some off the shelf 15x6 AR TorqThrusts (before TT2's were available) for a fox body Mustang (coupe/cop car too). He did a nice job & they were perfectly balanced.

Thats who alot of the supra and IS300 guys use. pulled these references from is300.net. When i still had my is300 i was going to increase my stockers to 17X10 from 17X8.

Eric Vaughn Machine
111 North Myrtle Ave
Monrovia, CA 91016
Phone: (626) 358-6413

-------------------------------

The Wheel Shoppe
11357 Eight Mile Rd.
Warren, MI 48089
Phone: 810.415.7171
Wheel Widening

-------------------------------

Winnipeg Wheel Works
263 Gunn Road
Winnipeg, MB R2C 2Z2
Phone: 204-942-2600 or 204-222-9191
http://www.winnipegwheelworks.ca/services.html

[85X3]

Check out this site. http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/index.html

[jdurant]

Just got off the phone with both Eric Vaughn and Weldcraft. They said the exact same thing. It's like they new I was gonna call. Maybe they are members here or something.
Anyway, they both can do it. 2 week turnaround. $175 per wheel. About $80 shipping. Weldcraft even said they would try with the adaptor thing, but I think Eric may have talked me out of it. I don't know. I think I am going to use Eric Vaugn, because he claims that his wheels have gone 400mph and that he does all of the work. Where as weldcraft has a few welders. I might be able to notch the frame enough where I don't need an adaptor or spacer anyway.

[Cherub]

Originally Posted by jdurant

Just got off the phone with both Eric Vaughn and Weldcraft. They said the exact same thing. It's like they new I was gonna call. Maybe they are members here or something.
Anyway, they both can do it. 2 week turnaround. $175 per wheel. About $80 shipping. Weldcraft even said they would try with the adaptor thing, but I think Eric may have talked me out of it. I don't know. I think I am going to use Eric Vaugn, because he claims that his wheels have gone 400mph and that he does all of the work. Where as weldcraft has a few welders. I might be able to notch the frame enough where I don't need an adaptor or spacer anyway.

COOL! Good follow up info. Good luck on the wheels.

[swb85]

Friend of mine had Weldcraft widen the rear wheels on his 400rwhp Roush mustang, turned out VERY nice. He road races the car so they're shown no mercy and have held up just fine for the last few years.

[jdurant]

Update:
I called the Wheels America in Dallas just to be sure, and they said that they could do it also. They will do it for $135 per wheel and save me alot on shipping. But, they don't like to do more than 2"s depending on the wheel. I guess I'm gonna give them a shot.

[Jonboy]

I was going to say Wheels America also. I could have sworn they have an office in Houston, though. I use them to do the wheels at our shop, and they widened the wheels on my Mark VII a few years ago, and powdercoated the centers to match the car. Their web addy is www.fixrim.com if anyone else is interested.

[jdurant]

They do have a location in Houston, but they don't widen there. They send them to Dallas.

[pooz911]

I would HIGHLY recommend Eric Vaughn. He does remarkable work. Eric used to own his own wheel manufacture called Real Wheels. They were highly sought out by professional hot rodders for years. I have been to his shop several times and have seen his work personally. I did work for the person who bought his real wheel business. The name has been changed to real rodders wheels. check out

www.realrodderswheels.com