Front rim bent Italian Cup Replica

[Mike Kast]

Here's the deal. I have 7.5" and 9" by 17" Cup Replicas. I have been waiting to wear out my tires to get some nice polished Fuchs. I hit a pot hole a few weeks ago and apparently bent the front passenger side rim and possibly damaged the tie rod at the same time. It has a pretty bad wobble.
I'm replacing the Turbo Tie Rod kit and sway bar bushings and installing a bump steer kit.
I'm a little tight right now and wasn't in the mood for spending a bunch of money on the car at the moment but these items have to be addressed before I can get the car back on the road.
The cup wheels are heavy and not really all that structurally sound from what I understand. That being said is it dangerous to try and straighten out the wheel? I've been thinking no matter what I do I would like to have a set of 4 good wheels so I can sell them when I get the fuchs.
I'm going to need an alignment so I think I need to address it before she gets running again.

Am I best off just buying a new crappie cup rim or trying to have it straightened out?
Or... Buy the fuchs and sell the wheels as is? I don't think that last option will work out too well...

[Kevin Stewart]

to have the wheel repaired your talking about at least 100 bucks, not worth it as they heat pry and bend them back before any one says anything I had the company that everyone talks about do a set for me as a test for my company, the wheels were not within tlolerance for me to resale, or for that matter give away, Porsche and all german cars are shakers meaning any bent or slight Out of round wheels make the car shake or have a vibration, if you feel the structure is not up to snuff, how are you gonna feel about a wheel that has heat put to it, ill pass,

there seems to be some people that feel that the after market cup wheels are not very good quality, it seems that everyone of these guys were racing on them , and I always see a picture with the wheel dropped off the pavement in a corner(usualy in a hole a foot deep from others doing the same), when the wheel/tire comes back on the track it smacks the side of the pavement , lets face any wheel you drop off the pavement has to come back on(well unless your doing a off track spin) my pitch is this if you drop a wheel off your gonna damage it either breaking it or bending it or stressing it, these are the exact reasons why one should never buy some one elses track wheels, Email me a may be able to get you a used one, stew09@aol.com Kevin

[Mike Kast]

Thank's Kevin, I emailed you.

[Mike Kast]

Kevin? Are you proposing that the Replica Cup Wheels are possibly better than their reputation implies? They sure do look cool

[Kevin Stewart]

they are as strong as any gm wheel or they would not have passed dot, i also believe the box is marked TUV, Porsche has made the hollow spoke turbo wheel and other wheels that are usually forged, this is why everyone likes the fuchs because it is forged and can take the abuse of racing(it cracks also over time), but lets face it no wheel should be dropped of the track at speed, so i would say visually thay are almost as good, as far as build, no, they are a good street wheel, they are heavy like late model oe wheels, (have you ever picked up a RUF wheel, its a tank) I bent a cup three wheel to the put that we put it on display as the worst wheel we had ever seen bent , the barrel was bent and the spokes were bent, the wheel was not cracked in any place, I hit a chuck hole, but the wheel was never raced on street use only,

[Mike Kast]

Thank you, That is nice to know. Maybe I don't need to rush into Fuchs as badly as I thought I did. Part of the reason mine bent I'm sure is because of the tires that are on them. Leland riced out my car just before he bought his 350Z. It's to low and the front wheels... well, a picture tells a thousand words...
But Leland, I still love you!

[Kevin Stewart]

Thats a c2 or cup one replica, Kevin

[Mike Kast]

In his defense, he said he had to buy them in an emergency situation. But he did go and buy a 350z. that is indefensible

[Mike Kast]

I just checked the wheel to see how far gone it is. Its wobble is at least 3/8 of an inch and the interior of the rim has a big dent! I can't believe I drove it like that. I guess the cup replicas aren't that bad or it should have broke.

[Mike Kast]

Kevin, That was a question right? i'm looking at the reicipt. It says

Wheel Enhancement

May 3, 1999
2 each- 7.5 by 17 and 9 by 17 C2Turbo replica alloys $1512.00
Ouch!