Suspesion and wheels.

[bulldog]

Ok if I keep the chevette as a road car I'm going to want to get some steels like Brad's and tyres stretched over them like Brad's. I simply want shorter firmer springs to drop it 30 odd mm or so.

Brad can you send me the size of the wheels and tyres again please?

So in short I want it to look the part and kinda handle ok. It's simply going to be my hack to pick up the kids etc in. It will certainly show it's face at some motorkanas as it goes really well with those carbs on it and I can take the opel to serious race events.

Is it wise to hit someone up who does springs like mag and turbo and find someone who does steel wheels? Would love to make some rostyles that deep.

[zep]

There are various ways to do it. You should pop over to OS and have a search for widened steels, there are a few threads on it with places to buy centreless rims and workshops who will do the job.

Tom has widened Rostyles and they look the bizinessss!

[mikuni]

Crazytim knows a guy who knows a guy who can widen steels apparently. Talk to him. Mine cost heaps. Otherwise send them down to elite in christchurch. They will cost around $280 for all 4.

You can only legally widen a rim by about an inch.

Zep got his springs through snell springs in Auckland and they seem pretty good. I would probably get a bit softer rate though, atleast in the rear to reduce understeer.

My wheels are 13x8 and I run 175/50/13's. I wouldn't stretch anymore than that and I know a lot of people have a real issue with even that stretch so think carefully before you go ahead with it.

When widening rims I have heard that you want to actually take the centres out and widen the back of the rim. Then when you put the centres back in flip them around so what was the back of the rim is now the front. The reason for this is to allow you to still be able to fit tyres to the "soft" lip of the rim. I didn't do this when I widened mine and had a huge amount of trouble getting tyres fitted.

[bulldog]

So it's official, I'm keeping the ole girl as a daily. I took it for a phang through some back roads today and then took it for a WOF and said if it passes I'll keep it.....I'm keeping it.

Brad, I'm thinking 13x7s to fit under the guards and I measured Tony's race rim offset today which is 112 offset. I'm thinking 650lb front springs and 250rears. What size tyres would you squeeze over those puppies?

CrazyTim, where did you get your Rostyles done? I'm keen to do some rostyle steels. Do you have photos?

[dannyboy]

I can understand why people stretch tyres over, I dont like the look but what does it handle like... I have driven on wheels the other way, tyres too big for rim and that was not good.

[jaygti]

May 20, 2008 16:16:53 GMT 12 bulldog said:

Brad, I'm thinking 13x7s to fit under the guards and I measured Tony's race rim offset today which is 112 offset. I'm thinking 650lb front springs and 250rears. What size tyres would you squeeze over those puppies?

For tyres, the ubiquitous 175/50/13s are all go... but shop around, best I've got so far is $180 a tyre fitted and balanced for the Yokohamas Brad has, but haven't really tried seriously ringing around yet.

(edited to correct the tyre size, coz I'm a retard...)

[mikuni]

May 20, 2008 17:07:24 GMT 12 dannyboy said:

I can understand why people stretch tyres over, I dont like the look but what does it handle like... I have driven on wheels the other way, tyres too big for rim and that was not good.

Stretching tyres reduces sidewall flex which is supposed to allow a smoother transition into oversteer/sliding. Hence the reason the drift guys do it. I guess with racing cars on slicks you would be familiar with the snappy nature of very grippy tyres with a little bit of sidewall flex.

That’s not the real reason most people do it though. My reasoning was partly aesthetic, but mainly for clearance to the guards.

Toms rostyles are 13/7 with 175/50’s on there and they offer moderate stretch and look great.

Something to note, you need to have a low car for such small wheels to look good and such small wheels make for a low car before you even start. You WILL have trouble driving your car around daily, with even moderate lowerage. I’m not trying to put you off because I love the look, style and feel of small wheels on a low car but I am getting larger wheels for daily use.

[bulldog]

Do we have some pics of Tom's end result....actually....who is tom? I'm toying with the cheviot turbos on trademe 13x6s, they're pretty old and hammered but nothing a lick of paint and autosol wouldn't fix

[gordo]

I was having a look at these www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Car-parts-accessories/BMW/Exterior/auction-155733745.htm
but they want too much - be good with 195/50-15 tyres, IMO.

If you're just dropping it by 30mm or so, there's no real reason to go that hard on springs as it'll give you a hell of a hard ride and on Auckland roads be twitchy as anything over the bumps - both things I'd try and avoid with kids in the car - as a toy, however ...
TJM are offering spring and adjustable damper kits, if you're feeling flush - that quick rack would also be a nice touch

[crazytim]

he has a project thread, may be sum close ups too these will give you an idea...cant be bothered finding close ups on stooopid snail speed dial up!!!
btw the 78 gem sedan on trademe under 'blondiecapella' is my wifes trade me account, i pm'd u my number last nite gimme a holler if u wants to chek out sum bits (and have a perve @ my fleet lol)

[bulldog]

That's exactly the height and wheel setup I'm after! Bloody brilliant! Although I'll paint my rims

Hey I'm still after some straight bumpers too if anyone still has some?

[mcqunt]

brads chuvit handles really well from the strop he took me on,
very well balanced little car,
less flex in the side wall will give you good grip when cornering up to
the point when inertia overcomes the grip either understeer or oversteer