Late wheels all wrong on early widebody

[Jemal]

Getting to know my recently acquired canvas barn find and bringing it back to life after 10 years, I find the fit of the 17" Turbo Twist wheels that someone added is not pleasing to the eye! There's just too much fender with the wheels too far inboard, even with big wheel spacers (actually adapters thanks to other informative posts).

I won't add more spacer so think I'll look for period style "dish mags" like my 68 GTO wears. But it seems that 70s 930s came with adapters for the widebody, in fact that may be what I have. Does anyone recognize what I have here?

I understand that a wheel spacer is no different than a deep dish wheel as far as bearing and hub loads, but that huge chunk of cast and machined aluminum must add vastly more weight than saved by the amazingly light lug nuts! And I see lots of discussion about wheel weights.

It seems that correct wheels and no spacers are the best solution. Is that even possible? Any advice appreciated!

[James Brown]

Braid wheels (in the catalog) makes some very nice Fuch reproductions in a lot of sizes that will fill out the fenders

[MIAdragon]

There is a set for sale right now in the classifieds for dirt cheap. In CA no less.

[Bill Douglas]

A great looking car that's going to look even better with period correct wheels. Yes, suitably offset Fuchs or Carrera Cup alloys will look fantastic on it.

[john walker's workshop]

964/993/986 wheels have a deep back spacing, due to much wider hub to hub than earlier cars, so those bigazz adapters were used. Still may need some width adapter for fuchs 7/8/9s, but mount some and see.

[porsche930dude]

Nice mini. My favorite color. A bunch of us have them aswell. Mine is a 66

[Jemal]

Yes the newer the car, the wider it is hub to hub. True of most cars. Advantages for handling, bump steer, brakes, looks(?)...
I can't justify Fuchs for this project and want at least 17" wheels for tire choice availability and future big brakes. And I LIKE the look of a "deep dish" wheel over the protruding spoke "modern" look. My 17 x 10 rear Turbo twists will actually rest on the center spokes if placed face down on the floor with 255-40 tires!
Any demand for the Turbo Twist wheels in 17 x 8 and 17 x 10? Advice on what to ask for the set as I look to fill the huge fenders, preferably without wheel spacers?

[Jemal]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

Nice mini. My favorite color. A bunch of us have them aswell. Mine is a 66

Oh, you might know me then! I have a long affiliation with Mini Mania, and am the owner of Cooper Road Mini. I use my real first name everywhere (Google "Jemal shows" and go to Videos). I've already recognized a few Classic Mini guys on here!

That is my 66 Cooper S restomod, and it's for sale if you know anyone that wants to help me finance the new Porsche project!!

Here's the story:

www.CooperRoadMini.com

[MIAdragon]

Here’s your wheels. Good guy to deal with too.

Braid BZ 17x9 and 17x10 As-new

[Rodsrsr]

Nice car...what year, what engine? I was in the same boat and finally broke down for a set of Lindsay's which start out as 16" Fuchs. I don't remember the specs but they're 17xsomething...no spacers.

[Jemal]

Thanks I did look at those and they are stunning, but a bit too much commitment for this project right now! Another gentleman has a set of 18" Momos that he states were made for just such a widebody, but somehow they don't look deep enough from the outside and have enormous cast hubs on the inside that look like my wheel spacers.

More careful measurement (and the stamping on the inside) reveals my current wheels to be 7.5" and 9" wide (by 17"). The 9 looks good on the front so it should be easy to get rid of the 1" spacers and fill the front fenders. The rear will be trickier as the spacers are at least 2" and I need an 11" wide wheel.

I have time to work on other things after getting it running surprisingly well (fuel lines to tank), and try to find someone who can use these wheels. I'll research value and post in classifieds.

Anyone recognize what and when they may have been original on?

[racer]

Pull the wheel and check the back for dimensions and offset (et).
Popular upgrade due to:
1) Price - much cheaper than Fuchs/BBS/Fikse etc of the correct size/ofset
2) Tire size availability for 16" Fuchs"? not much tire selection these days. Modern 17/18" wheels? tons of choices.

Factory did not offer 17" wheels in this style, only 18".. so these are repros if memory serves correctly.

[Jemal]

Interesting info, thank you... Marking on the back says "NPV" (brand?), front are ET52, rear ET47, There is a stamp with "96" in center (year?), and "Made in Italy" (I wondered about that).

Oh, the car is a 76 911 S Targa with a cab conversion. It has a 3.0 liter from a 78 911 SC, and the correct 915-04 5 speed (mag case). Widebody was added at some point and looks well done. Rear is galvanized steel and front fenders look new, no welding.

It was stored about 10 years (last registered around 2009). I would have been more cautious but the seller tried to start it with some fresh fuel before I picked it up, and it actually did fire up but would not stay running. I pulled and cleaned the fuel tank, changed the fuel pump and filter, and started it up! I took video so will post the first start on my YouTube and here!

[DanielDudley]

Those are not the worst looking wheels on that car, and at one time that look was fairly well accepted.

I think the Rota Fox wheels come in sizes that will fit your car, and they are more affordable.

[Jemal]

Yes I like the style on the car from the side... reminiscent of the "phone dial" look of the 928. Easiest option might be to look for a bigger pair for the rear (maybe 18 x 11?), specially since there are aftermarket copies. The current 9" rear looks great on the front!
Let me see how to post a video on here... Here's a short clip of the "Canvas Barn" a few weeks after the most recent wildfire evacuation... The "Jones Fire" seriously threatened this old neighborhood this past Summer. I simply had to save it!

[WPOZZZ]

You can go for the aftermarket look. I have BBS LM and OZs on my FrankenPorsche. There is also the turbo twist with black centers.

[Jemal]

I like the black centers! And great looking cab! How unusual is a widebody cab? Yours is is the only other one I've seen. Of course I'm pretty new here... I have a garage full of British classics!
I've not seen my top down yet as it has a few issues. Does your 88 have a power or manual top? I seem to have the same one and it's clumsy, as if it aught to be power, but is missing all those parts.
I may just unbolt it from the car and enjoy some winter sun. Global warming can't be all bad! Of course where you are, you're thinking 'what's Winter?'

[racer]

Porsche didn't make too many "widebody" cabs on the G body (ie, 74-89) year cars.

Porsche offered a M491 package - which was the turbo looks/suspension without the turbo engine. It was about a $10K option available from 1984-1989 - available on Coupe, Targa or Cab models. Small numbers of people actually ordered them. Even fewer genuine Turbo widebody cabs were built.

I would guess an even number or more of aftermarket conversions were made. Mostly from midyear cars or wrecked cars that needed fenders replaced anyway.

[Quasimoto]

Great looking car, but I agree about the wheels. I have period incorrect wheels on my 84 widebody, but they have a lot of dish, and I love them...

[WPOZZZ]

My car has a manual top, and I can put it up or down in 30 seconds or less. The widebody is actually an 88 cab with a body kit. I call it a FrankenPorsche because it is a 911 with a 993 style fenders and headlights and a 964 back.

You can try and paint the centers black and you might like the look on the car. Just mask the wheel lips and get some black paint. I don't like gloss black wheels and went with a satin finish.