just wondering if anyone knows of any 17" options in frontrunners? would make all the difference for me personally...
i have found M&H do a 17" tyre, but i cant seem to find any 17" rim thin enough to suit other than a custom job.
space savers can no longer be used as front runners, bit of a bummer really because it would be so easy without that.
- (edit) on further research it appears a 17x4" space saver does exist that looks like a normal steel rim? i have found 17x6" spares that can be bought for ve's, not so sure i am comfortable with modifying the width and then having the hub drilled out to fit a pre-ve commodore. a little worrying when considering they would only be used for high speed situations...
just wondering if anybody has any great ideas? eg i know steel rims can be widened or shortened, is there anything in a 17" that i could have proffessionally made to suit?
otherwise my options are left at going a full custom wheel (like a weld or similar) or doing a brake swap every time i go racing, not a big deal but for saftey reasons i've come to love my big brakes up front...
i havent found any updates to older threads with the new ve range out, so i was hoping that with the new range would come more wheel options.
is it at all possible have alloys remade smaller? eg can rim repair places replace the actual circular rim bit on something like an alloy?
how about changing of shape etc? as my brakes stick out a bunch, i called two different places today and neither was very helpful, holden dealer was so confused i told him thankyou and goodbye. maybe im just not asking the right questions?
there are pleanty of dedicated racing wheels available, but they are very very expensive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheChad
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not so sure i am comfortable with modifying the width and then having the hub drilled out to fit a pre-ve commodore. a little worrying when considering they would only be used for high speed situations...
Why are you scared of machining, how do you think the holes get there in the first place?
VT-VZ HSV space saver is 17x4 from memory and should do the job?
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Originally Posted by RB2GO
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Why are you scared of machining, how do you think the holes get there in the first place?
You need to ensure the machining is done correctly otherwise if it's slightly off centre you will have problems. Not all machine shops are perfect
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Originally Posted by NZ EVLHSV
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VT-VZ HSV space saver is 17x4 from memory and should do the job?
you arent alloud to use space savers any more, there is a new ammendment to the rules. obviously ones that look like chasers would be ok, but those small black ones that are so convenient arent alloud anymore :/
racing wheels aren't cheap, that's because they're made for racing! By the time you stuff around make all the phone calls find someone that will do the work then provide parts only to find out when you get it back they're not the rite fit why would you get a pre fabricated set that are designed for that purpose and meet all the requirements?
andra do not allow space savers to be used.
if your chasing a 17" front runner, have a look at weld alumina's 17x4. are you sitting down? i paid 2k for mine bare, you might be able to get em a bit cheaper if you buy from summit
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Originally Posted by TOPFLYT
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andra do not allow space savers to be used.
if your chasing a 17" front runner, have a look at weld alumina's 17x4. are you sitting down? i paid 2k for mine bare, you might be able to get em a bit cheaper if you buy from summit
yeah man, i got quoted the same... fark
found magnums at $700 each... thats nearly as bad haha...
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Originally Posted by jbonez
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It maybe a stupid question but is the main benefit of having front runners the car doesn't respond to steering as well ? Keeping it straighter?
Lol ive thought this as well. but to scared to ask. in fear of masss flaming by the kind users on ct
Yeah that pretty well sums it up. As slicks walk around on the sidewall quite a bit, you don't want the steering reacting quickly to any directional corrections as it will simply flick back the other way on the sidewall of the rear tire and over correct.
6BOOST
thanks for the tip 6boost! great post. I've sent a bunch of emails out and im waiting to hear back.
there is also a place in the us that sells 2x 17x4 frontrunners and 2 15x8 (or 15x10!) rears for just under 900 au (then ofcourse theres going to be a vagina load of freight ontop of that, but still!) this is the greg weld brand obviously, and they do ship to aus!
just having trouble tracking down someone that will do m&h frontrunners in aus. hoping that the company that sells the wheels may be able to sort out tyres too.
ok bit of an update incase anyone was wondering (theres a few more threads on this topic i've found, sorry for making a new one)
17" greg weld drag star fronts with 26" 17x4.5 m&h front runners are costing me $399 usd each, so $800 for the set, tyres and rims. only problem is freight, still osrting out whats cheaper. to have them just fedexed on a plane and delivered to my door would be $550usd!!! fortunately the guy im talking to is looking at freight options, hes confident he can get it down to half that if i either pick them up from the international airport or they come over on a ship... so, probably looking at $1100 maybe $1200usd including shipping. about what i would pay if i went for 15x4 welds with mt fronts here, maybe even a little less.
^Don't forget import taxes.
http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/contact.html
Is perhaps another option. One of the only companies i know who make large diameter steel rims.
Its stupid that you can't use the space saver rims for the commodores..
They are only $140 odd bucks as well.
---------- Post added 09-09-10 at 18:01 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheChad
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ok bit of an update incase anyone was wondering (theres a few more threads on this topic i've found, sorry for making a new one)
17" greg weld drag star fronts with 26" 17x4.5 m&h front runners are costing me $399 usd each, so $800 for the set, tyres and rims. only problem is freight, still osrting out whats cheaper. to have them just fedexed on a plane and delivered to my door would be $550usd!!! fortunately the guy im talking to is looking at freight options, hes confident he can get it down to half that if i either pick them up from the international airport or they come over on a ship... so, probably looking at $1100 maybe $1200usd including shipping. about what i would pay if i went for 15x4 welds with mt fronts here, maybe even a little less.
FedEx them them to your door.. Its not worth the extra effort. You want to link where your getting them from?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RaceS...item2a09956902 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RaceStar-Dragstar-17x4-5-2-25-BS-Greg-Weld-Racing-/180549413122?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a09956902)
thats the price per wheel. the guy says he also stocks m&h 26x17x4.5 fronts for $160 (same price as other stores on ebay, same price as m&h quoted me themselves).
so thats the $800 usd there.
if you look he also does deals for $810 or so for the 2 fronts + 2 rear 15x10 or 15x8s in greg weld..
i considered going for the lot, but im unsure if ill bother getting the rears.
so far the only drawback i can see (maybe 6boost can shed more light) is that these wheels are oval drilled. eg the stud holes are an oval shape designed to suit both 4.5 and 4.75 bolt patters, there is a washer included that makes them fit.
see here for pic of what im talking about:
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/12015170-post5.html
while this isnt really a problem for fronts, im not so keen about the prospect of my rears not being 100% suited to the studs. and besides, pleanty of second hand or even new sets of genuine weld prostars or draglites for around what i would cost available in australia. just cant find anything in a 17" for fronts in australia.
Thos washers are an absolutely nightmare I have to say. My best advise is to get 2 sets, make sure your the only person who EVER puts them on and takes them off, and don't ever use a rattle gun, f ucks the nut and washer in one hit. You will also want to get some hub-centric spacers made up to locate the wheel, I really don't trust the offset washers keeping the wheel true and centric.
As far as import tax goes, I highly, HIGHLY suggest you do NOT mark them as a gift, you WILL get reamed, be smart, and mark them around 700 usd which will come under the $1000 aud limit and not look so suspicious. Also send from him personally, not a wheel company, so you can say they were purchased "new secondhand". Remember, wheels and freight must be under $1000 aud.
As far as space savers go, I would fins it hard to believe that Monaro space savers wouldn't be ok, they are a proper cast wheel, I'm sure they are talking about the gay skyline style ones. Just powdercoat them that silver mink style colour the normal 8' wide ones are, no one will ever even look.
6BOOST
