What size wheels/offset have you guys chosen? I know this topic has been beaten to death for the stock brakes, but I think this is a little bit different...

I'm toying with the idea of rolling my fenders in order to fit the *ideal* wheel size, but I'm not sure what that is. I'm figuring out that the consensus is 15" or 16" wheels. I'm expecting to make 450-500hp, so I'm thinking I probably need an 8" tire to keep that on the ground. With the necessary clearance required to clear the TII brakes in the rear, what have you guys been able to fit back there without sticking out past the fenders?

Would rolling the fenders improve the look of the car (i.e., stretch the lip of the fenders over a tire that would normally extend beyond the fenders), or just keep the tires from rubbing the fenders?

 

Try getting fender flares. Datsun 240Z flares apparently fit with a little modification, and you can trim your stock fender for wheel travel clearence. Rolling the fender won't give you much. 450-500hp? wow. I hope that's just for drag. That will be a handful on the street with a light 1st gen

 

Interested in this too as i just won the Kit from Respeed at Deals Gap

 

I didn't mention that I really don't want to modify the body at all. I'm not interested in painting it or anything yet, just a sleeper . Maybe there's no way around it though...

It's a Cosmo-13b swap, btw.

 

Chad,

The rear brake kit does not effect the offset in the rear. It only requires 15"+ diameter wheels. You have the ReSpeed GSL-SE axles so you are looking for GSL-SE owners who have gone to 8" wheels. This would be a much larger group to ask.


-billy

 

Excellent, thanks for the advice Billy! I'll do some more searching...

 

you still have a LONG way to go its expensive but WELL worth it

Dysfnctnl85-- i have the respeed moser GSLSE axles as well. my rear wheels are 16x8. due to my offset though i will be eventually switching to the moser GSL axles. i have rolled my fenders recently. its REALLY easy to do once you figure it out. i think you could easily fit a 9" wheel back there if you got the appropriate offset and rolled the fenders. youll definately HAVE to run drag tires 24/7 though making those numbers.

 

Thanks for the info! I didn't mention that I have the Eibach Pro-Kit springs and I understand those can cause fitment issues, especially up front.

If it's possible to fit a 9" tire back there, it'd probably be worth it. I have a little bit of damange on the left back fender, but with some heat I don't think it will crack when I roll it. I'll have to look at the numbers and see what offset would be best, I know +40 is the stock GSL-SE offset (I think).

I thought I would be able to use TII front calipers in the back but completely forgot about the parking break, so now I'm pricing TII rebuilds to see if it's worth it to scavenge some or just go buy a set from Advance/Auto Zone.

I'm really aiming for a balanced car, in all honesty, but I think I've got the turbo and motor work to put down 500 easily. I haven't posted much over here about my build, but pretty much every bump and headache has been documented in a nopistons thread, haha .

What offset are you running at the moment, and what wheels? Just out of curiosity.

 

i an running eibach pro kit also. ill be eventually switching to coil overs, but at that point in time itll be a massive transformation. i dont have any fitment issues in the front or rear. that will always depend on the offset of the wheels more than anything else. for the front, what i did when wheel shopping was look for wheels that had less than 4.75" or 5" backspacing, i cant remember which. you DEFINATELY want to use heat when rolling the fenders, if you dont, the paint will crack. i have proof.

i found a used set of Work Equips from an importer company. they have some curb rash, nothing major, but i got them for a great price. im not sure what offset they are. ive been meaning to look for some time. ill get them off the wheels tomorrow.

for the rear calipers, youre better off buying used. you wont get the mounting bracket if you but them from any autoparts store. i dont think they even come with loaded calipers. but some used, and if they need it, rebuild them. much cheaper route also.

youll be pushing 500hp, but what will you use the car for? hopefully no drag racing with slicks.

 

I PM'ed the guy I picked up the front calipers from, I'm hoping he has a matching rear set as he is local.

I wanted to get this brake stuff done so I begin the wheel search. I have an idea of what I want (looks wise) but it's getting those finicky little measurements such as offset/backspacing right. I'm not totally set on 16s but I think those would be the best fit. I've wanted Gram Lights for the longest time...

I hope to scare some Z06s...that's what the car will be used for .

Thanks for the info and if you have any more advice please share!

 

I'm curious as to why you're willing to modify the wheels, but not the body? I'm keeping my car stock as well while doing upgrades, but I'm keeping it completely stock: wheels and all.

Good luck with the swap though!

 

Use mid 80's VW Cabrio Fender Flares. They bolt on with very little trimming from what I hear.

 

Yep, they do.

 

I need larger wheels to make any use of the power I ::fingerscrossed:: hope to make, so that's my reasoning for wanting to upgrade the wheels.

As for the body, I couldn't care less about what it looks like at this point -- the stockier, the better though.