Widening Stock 40 Series Wheels

[YoYoHo]

I have been looking at getting stock 40 series steel wheels widened and have seen a few threads on various options. Based on those and google searches etc I contacted StockTon wheels who quoted me $155 per wheel to take the stock ones, machine the center's out and put them into an 8" Band.

After doing some more research and finding a lot of negative feedback on Stockton Wheels and then inability / hit and miss nature of doing it in a timely fashion coupled with my original understanding they were around $65 - $80 a wheel I decided that was not an option.

Next I looked at Perfect Custom Made Wheels who I was told did them for about $65 a wheel also. After trying for over a week to get someone there to actually answer the phone (310) 819-6752 or Facebook messages etc I gave up on them being any help as I never even got a response.

So that took me back to the start with stock width wheels and looking at options to get them widened.

Has anyone got any other suggestions as to places in SOCAL that can widen stock wheels at an acceptable rate ?

I would think acceptable rate would be around $80 - $100 being a new 8" Band is under $40 and it doesn't take more than an hour to machine the center out, set back space and true it up .

Do people think my cost expectation is way off ? If I have to pay more than $100 a wheel I will just make a fixture and make my own it really isn't that hard I just figured being Hot Rod Heaven there would be shops doing it at an acceptable rate.

Any feedback welcome.

Thanks,

 

[Tancruiser]

I’m a machinist and wouldn’t widen wheels and bore the holes out for that money.

 

[YoYoHo]

I’m a machinist and wouldn’t widen wheels and bore the holes out for that money.

What holes are your boring out ?

What am I missing that makes it such a bad job ?

Get stock rim and cut center out
Machine Center to Id of band + some tolerance to get press fit
Heat band and drop in center
Spin center and true up band
Weld center in place

If you had fixtures for center placement to wouldn't be a rear hard thing to do . If you were real worried about centering you could keep stock back spacing and machining face band and then match it with the new band and sleeve that over the machined center to butt up against cut face .

 

[Tancruiser]

Go ahead and try one by the time you get to number 4 you’ll just wish you’d payed the money .

 

[YoYoHo]

Go ahead and try one by the time you get to number 4 you’ll just wish you’d payed the money .

With the only current option $155 each I will be doing 5 of them shortly as my need ( want ) for 35's on Stock Rims far outways any hassle that will be associated with a simple machining job.

That is unless of course this thread generates a realistically costed alternative

 

[oregon fj]

@Tancruiser - As a machinist who is used to dealing with precision work, you may be over-thinking it a bit. A steel wheel is not a precision part.

My first career was in tires and wheels, including 17 years with a large Pacific NW tire dealer. (You folks around these parts all know the dealer by name.) In the early '90s I was part of the group that decided on what custom wheel lines and styles the company should sell. On one marketing research trip we had a tour of an American Racing factory, and I watched the process for truing steel wheels. They had diagonal-mounted spinning jigs with a dial indicator. A guy would grab a wheel, set it on the jig and give it a slow spin, then continue spinning while giving it a couple whacks with a hammer. Then off the jig and over to the welding station. I don't think any wheel took more than 3 whacks, and I didn't see any wheel on the jig longer than 30 seconds.

Now I wouldn't try it myself, I don't have any of the required equipment. But it's not as hard a process as people think.

 

[Tancruiser]

Think about the larger picture all the overhead insurance, utilities,Workmans comp it just goes on and on maybe you can have them made in China.

 

[pb4ugo]

I'll be watching this thread. I've talked to a friend about this subject who has swapped centers on several sets of wheels. He tries to find a set of donor wheels with the dimensions he wants, with the same ID as the centers he wants to adapt to them. In my case 15x8.

 

[G-Cat]

I think I've read/followed every wheel-widening thread on Mud and am familiar with most of the Cruisers running widened OEM steelies on this site. They all seem to point to Stockton, especially for those living on that side of the country. The less expensive options tend to be shops who actually widen the OEM wheel as opposed to moving the center to a new barrel. That written, I don't recall anyone being disappointed by Stockton once they reopened after the original owner's death years ago. The price for widening wheels there seems to increase $5-$10 per wheel per year.

Where are you reading negative comments?

 

[Mace]

Spend some time and make them yourself 15 Inch Wheel Shell, 15 x 8

 

[YoYoHo]

Another option to keep options in the same place
Hubcap clips and rims :repost:

 

[YoYoHo]

I think I've read/followed every wheel-widening thread on Mud and am familiar with most of the Cruisers running widened OEM steelies on this site. They all seem to point to Stockton, especially for those living on that side of the country. The less expensive options tend to be shops who actually widen the OEM wheel as opposed to moving the center to a new barrel. That written, I don't recall anyone being disappointed by Stockton once they reopened after the original owner's death years ago. The price for widening wheels there seems to increase $5-$10 per wheel per year.

Where are you reading negative comments?

Just google them and you get heaps of negative and very long time lines and non delivery.

My prices where from an email I sent them last week

 

[YoYoHo]

Most of the negative posts seem to be a few years ago so maybe they have improved. I did get a quote off them in Feb this year and they were $85 each

 

[Tancruiser]

Try Stockton Wheels

 

[middlecalf]

Jeep guys probably know where to get wheels widened.

 

[AlaskanWheeler]

I would also recommend going out to 16" instead of staying with 15's. Stockton is capable of doing that work as well.

 

[YoYoHo]

I would also recommend going out to 16" instead of staying with 15's. Stockton is capable of doing that work as well.

Why would I want 16" over 15" ? 16 " will give me less side wall to air down and benefit from

 

[Mace]

I personally like a 35 on 17" rims. I prefer them over 15" rims (which is what I currently have)

 

[Howard705]

I watched an old guy I worked with do it 30+ years ago. Cut apart 8 wheels with a torch saving centers and rims. Trued then welded them up with a stick welder . Turned out nice. Do it yourself then it's a learning experience.

 

[Utah Bob]

I have been looking at getting stock 40 series steel wheels widened and have seen a few threads on various options. Based on those and google searches etc I contacted StockTon wheels who quoted me $155 per wheel to take the stock ones, machine the center's out and put them into an 8" Band.

After doing some more research and finding a lot of negative feedback on Stockton Wheels and then inability / hit and miss nature of doing it in a timely fashion coupled with my original understanding they were around $65 - $80 a wheel I decided that was not an option.

Next I looked at Perfect Custom Made Wheels who I was told did them for about $65 a wheel also. After trying for over a week to get someone there to actually answer the phone (310) 819-6752 or Facebook messages etc I gave up on them being any help as I never even got a response.

So that took me back to the start with stock width wheels and looking at options to get them widened.

Has anyone got any other suggestions as to places in SOCAL that can widen stock wheels at an acceptable rate ?

I would think acceptable rate would be around $80 - $100 being a new 8" Band is under $40 and it doesn't take more than an hour to machine the center out, set back space and true it up .

Do people think my cost expectation is way off ? If I have to pay more than $100 a wheel I will just make a fixture and make my own it really isn't that hard I just figured being Hot Rod Heaven there would be shops doing it at an acceptable rate.

Any feedback welcome.

Thanks,

speedway has 15 inch blanks