RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Feb 29, 2012 20:04:21 GMT
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Right, my plan with my Mini at the moment is to run a set of 13" compomotives all round (7" front 9" rear) for track use, but the only road legal tyres in a size that would work on the back are track-day tyres, and start at £109 each, before fitting (235/45s). As such, I want another set of wheels for road use, with more wallet friendly tyres sizes. To do this I'll be sticking with 13*7's up front, with 175/50s on them, and going to a 14*8 on the back, with a 225/40 tyre, which works in terms of with and diameter, and comes in at a rather more sensible ~£60 each for Toyo T1R's. Now the trouble here is getting hold of a set of wheels available in about those sizes, (13*7 et20, and 14*8 et10) that are either a matching set, or at least some where near matching. Wheel styles have never been my strong point knowledge wise, so I'm asking the hoards of shiny-rolling-stock-lovers that is Retro-rides for their best suggestions. They need to be those sizes, although a bit higher offset wouldn't matter, (or very slightly lower), and the width could vary as long as the tyres will fit. Idealy something retro and fairly traditional looking, the cars in your face enough as it is, so some fairly normal looking wheels might help tone things down a little. Cheaper the better really, I'm not bothered about the wheels being awesomely original/scene/amazingly rare etc, as I'm hoping the wheels won't be the thing people are most interested in on the car. (Plus I want to use the car hard, and constantly worrying about ££££ worth of wheels kind of stops that.) I'd like to get an idea in my head of what I want fairly soon on in the build, so I can keep an eye out for a decent deal while I'm building the rest of the car. (Oh, and before anyone mentions it, no, much lower offsets aren't ok on the usual idea of more width looking awesome, normally it would tempt me, but over half the tyres will be outside the original body even with those sizes  plus there's the geometry concerns) The shiny wheels that I had bought for the front, but have now decided against, as the offset's just too low (for sale if anyone want's them, but I've only got two):  What I'll be running for fun times on track:  |
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Last Edit: Feb 29, 2012 20:09:09 GMT by RobinJI
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Feb 29, 2012 20:07:14 GMT
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i can only think of 2/3 options.
image can make anything is any size, but thatll be mega-bucks.
the other option is either wellers (in either design) or banded steels.
i really cant think of anything else, you might just be able to find some simialr looking minilite style wheels in both sizes?
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Feb 29, 2012 20:14:34 GMT
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Yeah, I'm really struggling to think of anything, but wheel styles have never been my strong point.
Re-rimmed steels or Wellers does seem to be the obvious option, but I'm not sure they'd suit it looks wise. The old style Wellers (or something similar) might work. I want to make the external details as traditional as I can to tone things down a bit, in a rather hopeless attempt to make the car a bit more subtle.
Oh yeah, I forgot to say, the car will be running 4x100 PCD most likely, but in the grand scheme of things it wouldn't be a big deal to re-drill the hubs.
Edit, unfortunately Image wheels would be rather out of the question thanks to cost. I just couldn't justify it.
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Last Edit: Feb 29, 2012 20:16:01 GMT by RobinJI
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Feb 29, 2012 20:39:14 GMT
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You could probably achieve this with some of the more common Japanese rims like SSR Mk1's. You can get them in 4x100 as well as 13 and 14". Same with Mk2 and Mk3 as well as stuff like Advan A3A and Hayashi street. A set of something like 7x13's will cost from £400 upward delivered from Yahoo. 8 and 9j cost more but are usually available in pairs. Have a look HERE to get and idea of what these styles look like if you're not familiar with them. |
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Last Edit: Feb 29, 2012 20:39:41 GMT by Ratdat
1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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markbognor
South East
 
Posts: 9,970
Club RR Member Number: 56
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Feb 29, 2012 21:19:14 GMT
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^ SSR Mk2's would be awesome!
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Feb 29, 2012 21:54:59 GMT
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Ah, that's a good point actually, a lot of the Japanese stuff seems to be a lot more common in 14", and a lot of the the traditional Japanese styles can even look quite good miss-matched. Am I likely to actually get hold of anything with an offset as high as 20 for the front though? I guess there must be something out there?
The only reason I hadn't thought of it before is that I've been wanting to keep the exterior as transitionally British as possible, as the mechanical bits will all be so drastically altered, I wanted things as subtle as possible at a glance. That said, I do like the examples I've seen of Japanese wheels on old British tin, so it could well work rather well.
Does anyone have any idea what the brake clearance is like on a lot of the old Japanese stuff?
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Feb 29, 2012 22:09:21 GMT
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A quick browse of Yahoo seems to show that Watanabe's are avalible in the sizes I'm after. They could actually work very well as a twist on the usual Minilites. Plus they suit being fully painted, which suits me for road wheels. Hmm... Dark glossy brown Watanabes could look amazing on it actually. (The bodywork will be Old English White, with carbon details, which may or may not be brown tinted.) Either that or say sod it to being subtle and get something like these, for the back and then another random pair of something for the front. Hm.. options options options... |
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Feb 29, 2012 22:33:18 GMT
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I don't think you'd have too much trouble findng rims in the right sort of offset, as so many Japanese rims are multi piece (although most are welded during manufacture if for the road). Rims tend to be spun on these too so qute a lot of brake room inside them.
I forgot about Watanabes. They would certainly help keep a Brit car vibe. They are reasonably plentiful as are Black Racing (which look the same).
If you don't mind mismatching pairs then you can often get bargains buying pairs from Yahoo. When I wanted some River Side Riverge rims for my Datsun 160J, I ended up buying three pairs to get the set I wanted (6.5x14 front, 7x14 rear) and it still worked out cheaper than buying a single set of four as they are quite a desirable rim.
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,888
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Feb 29, 2012 22:58:59 GMT
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Only thing about Wats in 4x100 is the mx5 guys are driving the prices up, even in 'weak' sizes and offsets. Compomotive's ML look very similar to the Watanbe version of the classic 8 spoke design and are available in all sorts of sizes for not too much cash? I'm all for the mismatched pairs of J wheels approach, would look nice.  I think it would look amazing on Hayashi Streets! |
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Last Edit: Feb 29, 2012 23:02:09 GMT by goldnrust
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
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Yeah, the thought of 14" 4x100 wheels had put me in mind of MX-5's instantly, so I can believe that there would be a bit of a premium for any in MX-5 friendly sizes. I guess re-drilling for 4x114 would be an option, but I'm not sure there'd be the meat in the golf drive flanges for it.
Compomotive unfortunately don't do any 14's wider than 6.5" or they'd have been my first port of call.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,960
Club RR Member Number: 174
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I reckon the best solution would be to buy cheap split rim bits as and when and build a set.
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I had some compomotive MLs in 7x15 and they were one of the heaviest alloy wheels I've ever owned. I briefly fitted them to my 510 and one trip out was enough to confirm the detrimental effect they had on handling and off they came. They are nice looking, well made and undoubtedly strong but at a serious weight penalty. Maybe they do a lighter, motorsport version/... I don't know but if not I'd aviod them.
I would have thought that on your project, low unsprung weight would be a major factor, right?
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
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Yeah, low unsprung weight's pretty important really. The CXR's I'm going to run for the track wheels are silly light, but they don't do 14s, and I'd quite like something a bit more traditional looking for road use.
I think Matts plan might be a good idea really, they're just weird sizes so I think it's going to take some looking about to find what I'm after.
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kevfromwales
Posted a lot
the conrod's REALLY out the block now!
Posts: 3,909
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I reckon the best solution would be to buy cheap split rim bits as and when and build a set. the last pile of compomotive splits I bought stood me at 20 quid a rim - you just have to be brave and buy lots of job lots to end up with the bits you need annoyingly I had a pair of 14" CX centres in 4x4", but I sold them for cheaps to a chap who was going to redrill them for a cortina I'd go for ford pattern or 3.75" if I was going down that route, seem to be the most common |
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Almost on the road: b11 sunny breadvan, e36 tds, 325i skidcar,
nearly there: ford f250 tathauler, suzuki alto, u11 bluey
not for a while: ford pop, 32 rails,
not in this lifetime: ruby, '29 hillman
''unfortanatly I'm quite old and scruffy and in need of some loving. my drive shaft needs a new boot....''
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,998
Club RR Member Number: 35
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Cheers Craig, yeah, I've seen those Weller rims and if I go with steels they'll likely be the way I go. Polo rims would need to be GT ones, and even then they'd be 7mm too low with the off-set, but I guess that's little enough that it wouldn't really matter. (Ignore me, just realised I was calculating it wrong.)
With the rears, thinking about it I could actually drop down to a lower offset than 10, so I'm thinking I'd almost get away with banding if I could get some 14x6 et45 steels, does anyone have any idea if Vauxhall make anything like that? (or anyone else, but most other makes seem to go with et38 or lower. (Ignore me, just realised I was calculating it wrong.)
That's good news about the superlights, there's not much info on their website, but they look like the size I'm after's possible, not idea about the offsets, but I'd guess it's relatively flexible being splits. Definitely an option! Although I'd be looking at £400 just the for rear two.
Playing on willtheyfit, in an ideal world I think I'd be going with 14x8.5 et0-5 for the back, as it'll sit the outer sidewall in the same place, and at the same angle as the 13s.
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Last Edit: Mar 6, 2012 16:43:32 GMT by RobinJI
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,998
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Well a set of MX steels could work for you then, when I calc'd mine, the 14x8's were around ET10 and the 14x9's were ET0, so 8.5's shoould be about where you want, perhaps with a 10mm spacer. You'd need to bore the CB out a few mm. The superlight splits do look good, but their website is useless for any costing info  |
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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I've just realised I've been being a bit special when thinking about banded steel offsets. I was forgetting it was only half the additional width you take from the original offset. That opens up a few more options. That means I could band a normal 14x6 VW steel 2.5" and end up with 14*8.5 et-6.25, which is pretty spot on. Then for the front I could band some 5.5*13 steels 1.5" to get a 13x7 et18.95 steel, also pretty spot on.
Well that's certainly one option, but I'll still keep looking in case there's some alloys I've overlooked.
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Last Edit: Mar 6, 2012 16:40:54 GMT by RobinJI
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Surely banded steels would still be a pretty heavy option?
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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They would yeah, which is why I'd much rather get hold of some alloys in the right sizes.
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plus there's the geometry concerns)
[*]
I think it would look amazing on Hayashi Streets! 
