360 wheels on 308 - how to do.

I have been inflamed with desire for 360 wheels on my 308 since i was Paul Sloan's silver beauty.

My 77 308 had 7.5x14 stock wheels with Michelin MMX tires. The 360 wheels are 7.5x18 in front and 10.5x18 rear. My understanding is that nearly all feraris have a 5 bolt pattern with a 108 mm bolt circle.

After discussing how to with don XVI, (full name: Mr. Jablowme), I came across Angelo's, (blicima), ad in fchat for a set of 360 wheels.

I ordered 10 360 lug bolts that are 30 mm longer than stock 360 bolts and 20 mm spacers from Daniel at Ricambi, This takes care of the 360 larger offset and brings the wheel out to the fender edge. The first photo is of the rear bolts, 308 on left and stock 360 on the right. The second photo is the front bolts, l to r, 308, 360, and the 360+30mm.

The rear wheels would not bolt up without hitting the narrower than stock QA-1s, even with the 20mm spacer, so i took Mr Jablowme's advice and had James at Weldcraft narrow the rear wheels 2 inches. This was done by putting the rear wheels on a lathe, trimming off the inner lip, then removing a further 2 inches of rim, then welding the inner lip back on, see photos.
The rear wheels mounted up with standard length 360 wheel bolts.
While the Goodyear F-1s were being mounted, i checked the wheels for runout and they looked good - on the road, no vibration.

I believe the stock tires are 25.5 inches tall. Both the front and rear Goodyears specd out at 25.1 Front 225/40x18 and 255/35x18 rear.

The wheels, caps, wheel bolts & shipping was: $1700.
10 360 length + 30 mm bolts & 20mm spacers Ricambi: 295.
Shipping to Weldcraft: 60.
Narrowing & return shipping from Weldcraft: 314.
Total $2369.

Tires - $950 or your choice

In some earlier threads some chatters have expressed concerns about the safety of using spacers. The wheel bolts clamp the wheel to the hub with literally tons of pressure and the shear load is taken by the projecting lip of the spacer, (that mimics the lip on the hub). Hub, Spacer and Wheel stay centered and the bolts are loaded in tension only.

Some have opined that installing "incorrect" wheels is "bastardizing the car"
I would point out that these are high quality, (BBS manufacturered), FERRARI wheels, the change to 360 wheels can be totally reversed to stock appearance if desired. AND this is my car and i want better performing tires on it.

Rather than go through the wheel narrowing, it is possible to run 7.5x18 rims on the rear as well but i wanted a bit more tire in the back.

There is currently about 19mm clearance between the tinside of the tire and the rear spring. The wheel/tire combo is about 19mm or so inset from the fender lip at the rear and flush or inset about 10 mm at the front. I have no rubbing during cornering.
The car needs to be raised about 1 inch to give tolerable ground clearance, (it is about 1 inch below stock height now).

The brakes look lost in the wheels, Brembos are on the way.

The transformation in cornering power, steering precision and feel is HUGE. and it looks ok too.

Can't wait for it to quit raining

best,
chris
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I forgot to mention that the $125 per wheel for narrowing also included a free small curb rash repair.

Here is the site address http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/

These guys specialize in repairing bent or damaged alloy wheels. They can widen or narrow just about anything.

Freight, (from no cal) is about $30 each wheel, each way.

Turn around time in their shop was less than a week.

chris

 

Hi Michael,

Check with Daniel at Ricambi, he probably knows the spacer and lug bolt set up to make it work.

chris

 

Allen,

1) Have him make the rear rim width 8.5 - that works, (unless you go strange with the tires.

2) You do not need spacers on the rear to make them fit, only a rim width reduction. This allows you to use the stock 360 length wheel bolts, whether you use stock or the stronger, double chromed ones, ones from Ricambi, I went stock rear bolts, from the po.

3) Many vendors have the brembo kit for the front of the 308. This kit is a major upgrade in braking, but the Girodisc set up is better balanced, and for only a bit more you get better rear rotors and a weight loss at all 4 corners. This is the best set up unless you are really going to race the car.

Greg,

My speedo reads about 3-4% low with this tire on the car, 255/35, about the same as stock. FWIW, i chose the goodyear over the higher rated tires on tire racks max performance summer tire rating, because of the road and track tire test that indicated better wet performance and a more predictable and controllable handling at the limit. The best was cornering at .95 Gs and the goodyear was doing .93 - but it was more controllable and more predictable. This is a no brainer if you factor in the wet braking and cornering, unless you are doing a track only car, then you want to move up to a street legal race tire and loose 60-70% of tire mileage.
Is that right, you guys that have run the "legal" auto x tires.

FWIW #2 I have run a couple of sets of Bridgestone So3s on my work truck and am on my second set of Goodyears. Liked them so well that i have them on the Ferrari - AWSOME GRIP. and better tire mileage.

hth,
chris

if you want more info, pm me, happy to chat.

 

Larry,

I will have to look back in my notes. i just don't recall the weights.
sorry,

chris

 

Greg,

Thanks, i like the color too, not ticket red, (so far). The color is Verde Pino, (pine green) - a stock color offering.

As a side note, i have been spending so much time on suspension, ignition, carbs, exhaust and electrics that i haven't yet waxed the car in two years of ownership - i am embarased to say. BUT it has been washed a lot and covered in the garage, and admired a lot.

best,
chris