360 wheels on a 308

I was talking with someone that had put 360 wheels on his 308. He mentioned he had a fabricator cut a section out of the middle and then had them welded back together. Is this a typical conversion technique or was this a unique project. First thing that comes to mind is safety? Second was balance and alignment. Even if the fabricator was high quality, just not sure about cutting rims then reusing them. Thoughts?

 

Hi John,

Here are a few photos of the wheels on the car, the car on the track, the spacer installed on the front hub of a stock brake to allow running the 7.5x18 front wheel and finally, a shot of the weld joining the two pieces of the rear wheel after narrowing.
I and others have done this and i have heard of no problems, either balance, structural failure, out of true, or air loss.
The company that did the narrowing also does widening and alloy wheel repairs and seems to be well respected.
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Chris dude, that's a very cool shot of your very cool 308 on the track.

 

I'm trying to go the non-cut wheel route, but it's not easy, no room in this thing. Some people have made suspension mods for a uncut wheel. The easy way is to cut the wheel. I looked into the company that does this and they do quality work, they even done work for the OEM's. I've been against cutting them, but now I'm having second thoughts!
I'm now working with a shock company and their trying to accommodate me in making an uncut rear work, I should know in a few days, either Yes or NO. You can see by attached picture not a lot of room for a spring!
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can you foward me the contact of this company that does the wheel widening?

what did they charge per wheel?


warm regards

hf

 

Why wouldnt you just use 4 front wheels?

 

Chris, I remember a photo of your car somewhere else. It looks so good with the color and wheels!

 

John- Those wheels really make the 308 look more modern and much meaner. Please tell us who did the work on the wheels, because I would love to have the rear wheels on my 575M widened by 1-1.5". Public post hopefully, PM if necessary. Think it may be Ye Olde Wheel Shop in Maryland.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Get 4 fronts and then you won't have to modify stuff to make it fit. Except for spacers that is.

 

Ditto on the 4 fronts.

I did that with 355 wheels on my pre-ABS 328. Thread is here

 

You can put a wider tire on if you cut a 10in wheel, make it 8.5 in. it looks better. I don't think it looks good with 4 fronts, just my personal opinion. Look at the Pizzaman's rear's they have 1.5 in cut out, wider looks better in the rear. The green 308 above has a wider rear than front.
I have the 10 in wheel and tire in the wheel well now and it looks bad ass. I just need to come up with a shock package that will fit. I'm working with a shock manufacturer now to ty and make this happen.

 

You can put 360 wheels and tires on a 308 without having to hack up the wheels. I have been running the stock wheels and tires on my 308 for 6 years without a problem. Hill engineering spacers and longer bolts is all you need.

Cheers
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You've been running uncut rears on yours? What width spacer? What shock and spring brand?

 

30mm spacers. 50mm bolts. stock shock and springs and now qa-1 with Eibachs.

 

looks like this.
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Good to know that you could go either way. The 360 wheels do look pretty nice on there. Amazing how the car instantly looks like it just came off the design block in todays standards with just a wheel change. BTW. I do like the style of the old wheels as well, but just commenting on the sheer greatness of the design of this car!!

 

Really 30mm spacer, uncut 10 in. wheel, no suspension mods on rear, I don't see how you did that? Did you cut the fender wheel Lip? What's your spring O.D.?

 

I don't know what 360 wheels cost, but there is a set on San Jose craigslist for $1200.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/pts/1109052440.html

 

I did not cut anyting or hack up the car. It worked with the stock setup and works with the qa-1 and eibach setup. Read April 2006 Forza if u dont believe me.

Cheers
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I believe you, and now with this picture I can see how you did it. It's sitting up high in the back and the wheels are push out for the clearance. I really don't want to do that, I want the wheel and tire tucked in a bit more and a lower ride height. What's your overall rear spring O.D.? I'm looking into a narrow bodied shock with a 2.60 O.D spring which will not push the wheels out. Thanks for posting your pictures it helps.

 

Hi Chris,

Thunderhill Again, this Friday - I'm so stoked i am almost..., well never mind. Tomorrow i hope to receive a video camera from Griots to record the track time, engine sounds and shrieks of delight....and fear.. Track days, still the most fun you can have with your cloths on.

Sorry for the hijac
chris

 

Running on the track is fun,I raced Formula Fords for 5 years and it was a blast.
Have Fun and don't tweak it, Remember Keep the shiney side up and the rubber side down.

 

Hiya HF, The cost was roughly 100 per whel, it takes you more time and money to carefully pack the wheels for shipment. By the way, they also repaired a shallow penny sized curb nick for free. Good people.

Here is the link: http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/

 

thanks Pizza Dude, Friday on the track....Im loving it

regards,
chris

 

The 360 fronts are 7.5 x18 and will work just fine on the rear as well; if you don't feel comfortable doing a cut and weld. With Qa1's and skinny springs you might be able to go 9.5, or even all the way to 10.5, with spacers, as Turboqv did.

That was a really awsome write up of the Turboqv. Did you really run the sway bar over the top of the lower a arm??? How did that work out???

I do have to tell you about the "little" problem with running 360 wheels and anything 225/40 or bigger tires....The new wheel and tire will not fit into the spare well without modifying the well. So, either you redo the well or carry a couple of cans of fix a flat. I was somewhat humbled by this massive oversight in my big rush to install larger wheels, tires and brakes.

Something to think about.
chris