| Author | Message | ||
| Tazio Nuvolari (Nuvolari)
Junior Member Username: Nuvolari Post Number: 231 Registered: 9-2002 |
Peter I have to disagree with you here. The Campagnolo 16" wheels that came on the 308 did not have rasied letters. They carried the word Ferrari, Campagnolo and the wheel size of either 16x7 or 16x8. These words were done in black decal that was (I believe) under the clearcoat on the wheels. Cromadora wheels had this information in raised letters cast into the wheel. From my understanding Speedline only began suppliying the wheels to Ferrari starting with the 328 which we have established to be a different wheel. On a slightly different note there is all this talk about the repros being 2lbs heavier and not 'original'. Let us not forget that if you find a set of original 16" wheels out there, they will still almost 20 years old at least. Certainly something to consider when purchasing such an important structural component such as a wheel. | ||
| David A. Ward (Davidgt4)
New member Username: Davidgt4 Post Number: 10 Registered: 5-2003 |
Lots of useful thoughts - thanks a lot guys. | ||
| Peter B. (Gts308qv)
Junior Member Username: Gts308qv Post Number: 247 Registered: 5-2001 |
Tazio is almost correct. The Campagnolo and Cromodora wheels had the raised letters. Speedline had the decals. Superformance repro wheels are the Speedlines in alloy instead of magnesium. The repro wheels are stronger and better made than originals.The only penalty is about 2 lb extra weight per wheel due to use of the slightly heavier alloy. On a F1 car it could mean 7/100 of a second per lap. On your GT4... you work it out ! | ||
| Robert W. Garven Jr. (Robertgarven)
Junior Member Username: Robertgarven Post Number: 154 Registered: 2-2002 |
Check out my profile I got a set of 16" Chromodora wheels from fellow lister Dave Handa, I think they are worth the price, if you can find them my second choice would be the Superformance wheels as they are nice also. point of reference: the 16" wheels were a option for the GT4 in Europe in the 1979 catalog, so it is not that far a stretch to mount them. They feel great, however use only 205/55's in front as 225 will rub and bend the inner lip of the fender 225/50's in back is the standard and they feel and handle great I used Bridgestone S-02 not pole position and they are wonderful!  | ||
| axel wulff (Axel)
New member Username: Axel Post Number: 16 Registered: 5-2003 |
to add some more info .. in 1980-81? the 16" were an option that year (under part number 111965 for the 7J x 16 and 111966 for the 8J x 16". They came with Pirelli P7-205/55 VR 16 for front and P7-225/50 VR 16 for the rear. Here they are ..  | ||
| Alan Leach (Speedy308)
New member Username: Speedy308 Post Number: 46 Registered: 12-2002 |
E-mail JRV and ask for wheel photos. We compared some early OEM 14" from all three vendors. The repro 16"s look good though. | ||
| John Millard (Jmillard308)
New member Username: Jmillard308 Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2003 |
David Confirming thread that Steve mentioned - I put 328 wheels on for track use on '76 Glass with the mods mentioned. The reason I didn't use 306 16" was price - I got the 328 wheels as a bargain. The reason for the smaller dust cover was so I didn't need to machine the wheel itself - not desirable IMO. I assume the hubs are the same on a GT4. John | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Intermediate Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 1856 Registered: 1-2001 |
David -- I believe all the 308 wheels (14", 390mm, and 16") had the "wavy" line structure around the lugbolt holes. The 308QV came with either 390mm (mostly euro) or 16" (mostly US) wheels, but when people talk about the desirable "stock 308QV wheels" they usually mean only the 16" ones. If you want a set of 390mm wheels (and can deal with the tire situation) you should be able to get a set very inexpensively IMO (came on both 2-valve "i" and QV). If the 328 wheels (whether stock or reproduction) are an Aluminum alloy this should be a lower $ value IMO, but you still might have some "mechanical" things to fettle to put on a 308 -- see this thread: http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/112/228598.html | ||
| Tazio Nuvolari (Nuvolari)
Junior Member Username: Nuvolari Post Number: 230 Registered: 9-2002 |
The 308 only had one 16" wheel however during its life, these wheels were made by Campagnolo (identified by black decals on the wheels) and by Coromadora (identified by raised letters in the casting of the wheels). Both manufacturers made effectivly an identical wheel with the 'wavy line' as you put it. I like to call it the bolts being on the center of the flats of the wheel's central pentagon. Just to confirm, these are the QV wheels and the wheels from which Superformance has made their repros. I have a set of these wheels and think they are great. Yes they are not 'original' but they are so close that it is really splitting hairs to argue (unless you are after 100 point perfection in which you would not be putting these wheels on a GT4). The 328 wheels are different. They were made by Speedline and had their bolts on the corners of the 'pentagon' (thus no 'wavy line'). We have yet to determine if it is a straight bolt on to the 308 however they look very different to the 308 16" wheel. I have seen QV London's web site and something tells me (call it a gut feeling; I'd call them first to confirm) that the wheels they are selling are not 328 wheels but the 16" QV repros. I get the feeling they posted the wrong picture. The 'informal' nature of the rest of their site would have me believe this. Anyways, being located in Surrey you are close to both Ferrari UK and Superformance so shipping will not be a problem. Too bad you'll get nicked for the 17.5% VAT | ||
| David A. Ward (Davidgt4)
New member Username: Davidgt4 Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2003 |
Newly acquired '74 GT4. Lovely 14" wheels in good nick - definitely to keep. BUT I fancy some 16" as well. I've spent lots of time sifting the archives but please forgive a rookie for what may be obvious questions... 16" 308 wheels are presumably the obvious choice - is this what people mean by "qv" wheels, or was there a different earlier wheel for the 2 valve GTB? Are these wheels the ones with the "wavy" line around the wheel nuts/bolts? If so are these what Superformance sell as a repro wheel at a good price? Presumably the originals were mag. and therefore are as expected pricey from Ferrari UK. QV London are offering an even better deal on superficially similar wheels but without the "wavy" line. Are they repros of a later (328?) design? If they are then I believe from an earlier posting that Ferrari UK prices are much cheaper for the 328 wheels than the 308/qv. Now I may have the wrong end of the stick here but any thoughts would be welcome. Obviously I would prefer original parts if poss but it is an "entry level" Ferrari! I guess like a lot of things "you get what you pay for".... |