R100 Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Looking at getting some cast alloy wheels widened. Anyone on here had it done ? or know of any places in NZ that do it. Any help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombsquad Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 the only place I could suggest to try would be Wheel an Frame in cambridge, I dont know what they do in the way of widening though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R100 Posted May 15, 2010 Author Share Posted May 15, 2010 the only place I could suggest to try would be Wheel an Frame in cambridge, I dont know what they do in the way of widening though Thanks, anywhere is worth a try, maybe they can point me in the right direction. Google searched and found there contact details. Will call them monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaver Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 what about the likes or arrow wheels in auckland, or even elite wheels in chch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R100 Posted May 15, 2010 Author Share Posted May 15, 2010 Already spoken to arrow wheels and its not something they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isnowi Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 I'm fairly sure Howat engineering in lower hutt do, i took some steels in there to be widened and they were working on some alloy wheels at the same time, might depend on the quality of the wheel as to whether they can/will widen them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Testament Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 hmmmm I guess its possible - most anything is possible if you throw enough money/effort at it. But I'm guessing it means cutting the rim and either welding in a band, or welding on another new widier "half". But welding to cast aluminium for something quite structual is usually a bit of a nono (although not as bad as cast iron) it will reeaaaaaly depend on exactly what type of aluminium the wheel is made of, how it was cast and what heat treatment It has had. Personally I would advise against it - and if you do go ahead I would not be putting them on any car I planned to be giving a hard time at all. It is possible someone has developed a good process to do it and has proven it to be reliably sound - but it would surprise me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombsquad Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Thanks, anywhere is worth a try, maybe they can point me in the right direction. Google searched and found there contact details. Will call them monday. They are good at straighting out just about everything (do my quad rims), so even they dont do it i would say they will atleast be able to tell you if its possible or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isnowi Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Hmm, reading Testaments comment has jogged my memory, i think that they would only widen spun alloy rims, not cast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R100 Posted May 16, 2010 Author Share Posted May 16, 2010 Practically any rim can be widened, plenty of places in the USA do it. They widen them exactly the same way as they widen steel rims. Just cut and put a alloy band in them. As long as the alloy isnt too crap it can be done. Wish i had the gear to do it, need myself a large lathe and a tig welder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eke_zetec_RWD Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 i have a feeling thats its not legal tho. check cert manual. . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isnowi Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Practically any rim can be widened, plenty of places in the USA do it. They widen them exactly the same way as they widen steel rims. Just cut and put a alloy band in them. As long as the alloy isnt too crap it can be done. Wish i had the gear to do it, need myself a large lathe and a tig welder. I think the only doing it with spun alloys was a matter of convenience more than anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R100 Posted May 16, 2010 Author Share Posted May 16, 2010 What Testament said "it will reeaaaaaly depend on exactly what type of aluminium the wheel is made of, how it was cast and what heat treatment It has had" I am confident it can be done. Just wanting to see if anyone has had it done and could possibly direct me to a place thats done it. I do have an engineer friend who i will go and see tommoro as i think he may have a lathe big enough. I would rather take the mags to somene who specialises in this sort of thing as i may end up with a set of cut up wheels only good for the scrap man If i do go a head i will let you all know how it goes, will have a talk to cletus regarding the legalities of certification. No doubt they will have to be exrayed for cracks or something. Below are some pictures of widened cast alloy rims. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Testament Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 It still seems like alot of effort for the risk invovled in cocking it up. I would have thought you could buy something awesome as wide as you wanted for comparable cost to the work involved in doing this. Do you have the wheels you want widened already? do you want to widen the front or the back of the rim? most styles of cast alloy rim would probably dictate that you can only do this with the back side of the rim (like in those photos) which doesn't change the outward appearance much. I guess you can get more stretch on for fitment maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggo Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 It still seems like alot of effort for the risk invovled in cocking it up. I would have thought you could buy something awesome as wide as you wanted for comparable cost to the work involved in doing this. Do you have the wheels you want widened already? do you want to widen the front or the back of the rim? most styles of cast alloy rim would probably dictate that you can only do this with the back side of the rim (like in those photos) which doesn't change the outward appearance much. I guess you can get more stretch on for fitment maybe. Yeah, wouldn't it make the offset severely positive? unless you have bucket loads of inner clearance or plan on using massive spacers.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombsquad Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 I went and saw wheel and frame this monring when I dropped a rim off. They can widen alloys with no issues and its about $250 per rim to do it. Essentially what the do is cut your rim off as close to the inner bead as they can, and cut a similar rim off close to the outer bead, then join the two togther with one weld. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Testament Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 I went and saw wheel and frame this monring when I dropped a rim off. They can widen alloys with no issues and its about $250 per rim to do it. Essentially what the do is cut your rim off as close to the inner bead as they can, and cut a similar rim off close to the outer bead, then join the two togther with one weld. But will they give you some signed document that its safe to use on the road that a certifier/NZTA will accept? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombsquad Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 i dont know i can ask them tomorrow when i go pickup my wheel if you like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matb Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Elite wheels = wankers, completly wasted my time and money!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sentra Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Robert Broughton No idea how to contact him, try asking this guy for his number -> dion.burgess@secure-com.co.nz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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