Has Anybody Tried 15x9 wheels?

[zetec311]

Ive seen everything from oem to 16x7 on the forum so far. has anyone tried 15x9 wheels yet? I am quite a long ways from changing wheels but have read much about fitment issues with the hub bore needing a fillet or chamfer to fit. Longer wheel studs and spacers as well. Or clearance issues with fenders. Tricky offset choosings.

Kind of brings me back to 80’s and 90’s where everyone was putting wire spoke wheels with crazy offsets on everything. They had those spinners on them.. the washing machine turbine looking things.

[zetec311]

AAE09BC9-7569-4F26-B794-479C5603AB60.jpeg

was thinking of this

[mlwebb]

I spread the rear, so yes with major body work, flares, etc it's possible.
Fronts not sure, I need to roll the frost fender a bit for a 15x8.
7" max for stockish fenders, and you need to check your measurements carefully for that. (all roadsters are a little different by the time we get them, if not from the factory).
I'd think carefully before cutting fenders, etc on a nice car, mine was not qualified to be a parts car when I started.
I would also consider what kind of driving experience your after, wider is not necessarily better for all people.
Michael

[Alvin]

has anyone tried 15x9 wheels yet?

yes.















15x8:

[AidanDawn2000]

What kind of monster WHP are you making to need that much tire?!

[pebbles]

[MicVelo]

1:12 and replay!!

Fuhhhhhhhhhhh....... dayam!

[zetec311]

What kind of monster WHP are you making to need that much tire?!

whopping 130hp at the crank.. maybe 100 at the wheels? Im sure its maybe more than that with the few mods it already has. The car is mostly for casual rides.. but i love that look.

[zetec311]

1:12 and replay!!

Fuhhhhhhhhhhh....... dayam!

OMG!!!! thats like my RC cars!!! way overpowered in a tiny shell. That car rippps!!

[theunz]

No lack of torque in that beast!

[silvertiger]

Running a 15x8 what offset would you need?

I bought a set of 15x8 with 0 offset and before mounting can see it's not going to work on 68.

[datsun1500]

The wheels on that car are pretty rare wheels, and you’d need to flare the rear to fit 15x9. Flaring that car is not recommended based on previous body work. It’s also 135 at the wheels (or was at some point)

[zetec311]

the empi’s are rare indeed! i would love to re finish them, bead blast n polish the lips. A piece of history really deserves that treatment.

but then again the “dished” wheels really float my boat. Its possible to do both i hope. would regular sand blasting work on alloy wheels, or is that too rough to polish out later? There are some blasters local to me.

[zetec311]

No lack of torque in that beast!

yes, its quite a torque monster. But i drive very respectfully in my part of town... engine roaring at every stop light! its not me.. its the car, i swear. I did quiet the car a bit by adding a resonator i had laying around. hopes it didnt choke up the exhaust too much. (-5 hp)

[theunz]

When I bead blasted my Empi's I carefully masked off the polished lip. On the very edges in a few spots where the tape curled the lip was noticeably greyer, but it polished right out. I would definitely recommend against using sand to blast the wheels, particularly from a commercial high pressure sand blaster. My objective was to just remove the dirt and oxidation from the original finish, so if you wanted a rougher spoke a more aggressive media could be used. I don't think any actual finish was applied to them originally, just raw aluminum, but I could be wrong. Look for someone who uses a blast cabinet vs. a "sand blaster". Might check with some of the larger custom wheel dealers, as they probably do, or know who does, wheel repair.