Guest Drewz Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 Okay here is the deal. I have just talked to a guy here in town that has just purchased the first, in Canada, CNC lathe for making rims. He has offered to make me some 3 piece or what ever my heart desires for around 1500 to 1700 canadian funds. Now I am looking into this cause it would be a set of my design 1 offs, perfect backspace, and staying 4 lug hub. Alot of money to be saved by staying with the stock bolt pattern, no foling around with spacers or whatnot. I am looking for opinions here as to whether I am going to get good bang for my buck or not. I figure that with my ZG's and coilovers i can go 9.5 inch width in either 16 or 17. I would like ot stay 16 if I can get enough tire for that rim though. Roads are a bit tough here at the best of times. I figure that if i have to go spacers or change hubs and bolt pattern that just going custom would save all that work?? All opinions and veiws are being sought out?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 well i run 17x10.5's with my ZG flares. but i wouldnt go wider then 9.5's rear and 8 or 8.5's front. i say do it! that would be sweet to have rims thay nobody else has. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 Think the price is fair?? I think the one off thing is okay but it is the perfect fitment idea I have in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iskone Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 Is that 1500-1700cdn a peice or a set? If it is a set JUMP ALL OVER IT! A peice is still a good deal too IMO.(for one off's, sh!t for any 3 peice wheel) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZR8ED Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 If you get them exactly the way you want them, and you trust the design...ie Wheel mfg have lots of experience on what works and doesn't work for wheels... Then the price for a custom designed "one off" rim is good.. My 17x8 with my specs for offset cost me about 900.00 per wheel Canadian. The Rears were more If I recall correctly (17x11) In a 16" rim.. a 245/45/16 is about as wide as you can go in a low profile tire.. I ran a semi track tire that was 265/45/16, and i have seen nothing wider in all my searches.. For that size rim, you have lots of options and custom may not be worth it.. Custom rims are great if you want to be different, and realy want to stick with the 4 bolt, or want to go slightly wider than most people put on their z's. I personally feel its more of a "looks" "bling bling" reason, as our cars don't really need that large of tire to be fast.. So you can see where that puts me hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 That is canadian funds for a set of four, correct!! Well they are going to be a true 3 piece and the new programs also will tell you if structurally it is a sound design or not. Also this guy has been doing nothing but rims for a decade and also has 3 lotus's to his credit. Lucky bastage. I will be staying 4 bolt and going custom not just for looks but exact fitment. I will taking my car to him and leaving it for a couple days so he can triple check measurements and save the time of tracking me down with the car for measurements. Also to ensure it clears brakes, hoses etc. I told him I was in no hurry and he could take his time measureing since I can scoot aroung on my Magna while he has the car. Just gotta come up with my own design for the centers. Just soooooo many choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Um first CNC wheel lathe in Canada? Hmm.. I dono about that.. Is it ment specifically for automotive wheels? Not that it maters I guess... just doesn't sound right to me.. But the one off set of rims sounds cool! And heck, it's hard to get a decent set of rims for that $$ new anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240jz Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 I have just talked to a guy here in town that has just purchased the first, in Canada, CNC lathe for making rims My teams race car used to have Kodiaks on it. CNC rolled 2 piece shell with a CNC billet center. Made in the great white northlands. Sounds like a smokeing deal tho.. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest steveo Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 i believe that toronto and montreal have custom rim specialist. but damn thats an awesome deal!post some pics when all is said and done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Just repeating what he said to me. Maybe it is the biggest one than?? Dunno. It has 3 1/2 feet of movement in all directions. Just huge, he wants to sleep beside it ....lol. Just gotta find a few examples of what I want and than meld or design my own. Won't start on them for at least a month. He had the tooling rep there today ordering the bits for it. His first custom piece is a steering wheel for the Lotus he races. Must be nice..... FREEBIE!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iskone Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Do you know if he plans to make wheels for the Z in the future? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Drew, When you have him make the wheels have him mill the center hole perfectly so the wheel can be 'hub' centric like the OEM wheels rather than 'lug' centric like most aftermarket. That will give you a huge advantage when mounting and balancing. You're talking around $1,000-1,100 USD which is a great price for custom wheels. I agree with your 16" diameter. It keeps you at a 40-50 series side wall (depending on tire width) so you can handle most frost heaves, broken asphalt, etc. without bending the rims. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted March 6, 2004 Share Posted March 6, 2004 Thanks for the input so far guys, especially phantom. iskone he is going to be saving the specs on my wheels including hub centric, back space (no coilovers), and sizes for inner and outer halves in case I have any boboo's. I am also drawing out a custom steering wheel for my car. It has the Z theme of course. Just can't get a picture of the rim center to go with though. Want to stay Z theme but nothing is really popping out at me right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToplessZ Posted March 6, 2004 Share Posted March 6, 2004 I always liked the snowflake wheels from the zx bt the 14 inch size is too piddly for me. I think a set with that design only stretched to a 16 or 17 inch rim would be hello sweet. I want a set of those rims too if he wants to make another set for a similar price adjusted for me because I need a little wider. Definatly keep us posted. If the price was right I would go for a custom steering wheel too I like the canadian to us dollars conversion rate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted March 6, 2004 Share Posted March 6, 2004 Hey Drew, sounds like a sweet deal. I just have a couple of things to add to this thread. 1) those of you wondering about wheel production, you need DOT or equivalent approval based on destructive testing in order to sell street legal wheels. Off road only is ok. 2) if you want the wheel strength analyzed and 3d modelled prior to the CNC run (highly recommended) contact me offline. You'll end up with a lighter, stronger wheel, believe me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 He mentioned something about the 3d modeling and testing/analysis as well. Not sure though so I will pose the question. Good idea D-man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 Jared, wider than 9 to 9.5?? Whatcha runnin'???? He would definately do that ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToplessZ Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 Im gonna need a 12 inch wheel in the rear and a 9.5 or ten in the front. Got an imsa (not the msa version) widebody kit and hope to have new wheels by this summer. I really like 18's but I will probably go with 17's what I want is something like a five or 6 spoke wheel in comparison to volk racing wheels but in a deeper offset. I want a smooth lip rather than a stepped lip like the ccw's have. It makes your rim look wider than it really is and really looks sweet on a deep dish wheel in my opinion. If you can get a price that is anywhere near yours I definatly want a set. The wheels Im looking at right now are 2300 for the set and I cant even think about affording them 13-1500 is more in my league. Definatly keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 That is the type of lip I am going for as well. Looks cleaner and that is the whole look of my wheel overall. I will stay 16 probably for the tire size and price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToplessZ Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 I want to get 17's mainly because there are not many if any 335 tires in the 16 inch size. Thats what Ill be running in the rear. probably 285's up front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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