American Racing Wheels & Bolt Circle Dimension

Hi Everyone -
I was just on American Racing's website and noticed that they're FINALLY accepting 'custom' fitments for a version of their coveted Torq-Thrust wheel. Anxious to see if they'll turn down a Porsche guy AGAIN, I want to fill-out an application form but I don't know the exact the bolt circle dimension, can anyone help? I expect to get turned down again, it's only been about a year since inquired last and they didn't bother to acknowledge my request then.

Thanks, Marc

[rattlsnak]

5 x 130

[rusnak]

Whats this? the ultimate early car wheels?
These look a little more correct on a Porsche, while still being of the same period as the AR wheels. I think the torque thrust might look a little out of place, like putting on a set of slot mags. Those AR mags are beautiful wheels, but a little out of place.

[jackb911]

Here's a pic of the American Racing magnesium Torq-Thrust wheel made for 911's in the 1960's-70's.

The closest thing now available would be the Torq-Thrust "D" wheel. The D means it will clear disc brake calipers. Also, the spokes on the TT "D" look almost exactly like the ones in the picture.

[Zeke]

Why can't you buy blanks and have a machine shop drill them for you? I can't stand "being turned down," myself. I'd find a way.

[Hotrod911T]

Here are American Racing wheels (15-7's and 8's) on my '69 911. These wheels were originally made by AR specifically for Porsche's with the 911R offset and they were used by some race teams until the wider Fuchs and Minilites started to come out. I bought 8 of them for time trialing in 1977 and haven't seen many around since that time. The neat thing is that the original Fuchs centers will fit in the early Torque Thrust wheels.

Rod

Well, I've actually been able to talk to some people that sound like they care enough to at least 'look into more'. This is a huge step in comparison to my prior inquiries when they basically ended the conversation the moment they heard the word Porsche. Basically, their customer service agent got confused enough to where he put me on to an engineer and that engineer seems to really want to help. The says engineer he is going to talk the new brand manager for the Torq-Thrust products and will call back then. Like Doc mentioned, I asked if they'd sell 'non-drilled' wheels and I'm supposed to get a response on that, too.

I'm not holding my breath but it is still WAAAAYYYY further than I've been before. Keep your fingers crossed. IF we do get them to produce anything I don't think the molding patterns are still the same as what was produced in the 60's & 70's but we'll hopefully have something that is very close and a nice alternate.

[Hotrod911T]

The early Torque Thrust mags are said (by Hotrod Magazine) to be better and stronger than the newer design because of the early sand casting techniques used back then. Unless AR makes a complete new wheel, I think the most backspace you can get from them on a 15"x7" now is 4.75". The backspace on my early Porsche AR mags is over 5", maybe 5.125" if I recall correctly. As you know, the standard AR lugnut for these wheels is a sleeved design that goes into the hole and centers the wheel on the studs. You would need to have special lugnuts made to fit the 14mm studs and the standard AR hole size, or maybe tap out a standard Chevy lugnut to fit the 14mm threads on the Porsche studs. AR told me that they had a subcontractor make these lugnuts years ago and they haven't had any around there for decades. AR gave me the name of a guy (I can't recall it right now) who has a business in Oregon that specializes in used AR mags. The last time I checked over a year ago he had a few of the Porsche 15x7's, but no 15x8.5's. He was asking big bucks for them. Google "American Racing Wheels" and you can probably find his website. Good luck.

Rod

[cegerer]

Thanks for that info Rod. I had never heard of the 8.5's with "R" spacing! Those look fantastic on your car. Are those Mag or Alum? I contacted that place in Oregon a year ago and they didn't have anything at the time. I machined a set a custom lugnuts for my Alum 15x7s recently. I also replaced a bent wheel and the one I found had custom machined inserts in the lug holes that allowed the use of a standard Porsche lug nut - looked fairly simple to make.

I think the TT wheels look sooo cool on Porsches, which is part of the reason why I'm trying so hard. Dave at TRE says he has a guy that can make some too, but we need to hear back from him, too. I think the guy in Oregon goes by "Torq-Thrust Terry". I've had good dealings with him in the past, I bought my first set of 15x7s from him. As for the lug nuts, I bought current available diameter and reamed the holes to fit. The wheels work great and it was VERY easy to do. I bought the reamer from MSC and it was less than $30, I think.

5.125" backspacing!! Man, I wish the two sets I have had that much. Mine are 4.375" and it's pain in the rear getting tires bigger than a 205 to fit the fenders.

[Hotrod911T]

Marc and Cegerer,

I agree with you that the TT wheels look good on 911's, and they are now unique enough that you don't often see them. As I mentioned earlier, I bought these wheels when they were brand new and used them as race wheels for a '67 911S I was time trialing in the '70's and early '80's. They originally made these specifically for 911/912's in both 7" and 8.5" widths. At the time, you could also get the 200S Daisey pattern wheels from American Racing in the 911 bolt pattern, but they only came with the standard Chevy/Ford back space of around 4.5"- 4.75". I wished I had bought a couple of the 8.5" TT ones at the time, but 7" was as big as the PCA/POC rules would allow for my class. I installed the original steel RS flares years ago and spaced out the rear wheels to fit the flares better. Last year, I had the rears widened to 8" for the 225/50 tires. Because the width was added to the back side, the rears have over 6" of back space. I had to put in longer studs and have a set of spacers made to get the back space down to about 5.5".

I was thinking about replacing them with the new Pack Racing Superlite GTR 15x8's, but my wife really likes the TT wheels and whaletail, and since she drives the car too, I guess I will have to keep them on the car. She likes the Retro look.

By the way, Cegerer, your Targa looks great with the TT wheels. If you want to finish off the openings in the center of the wheels, with a little beveling of the inside edge of the opening, the standard Porsche centers for the Fuchs wheels will fit.

Rod

[Yellowbird RS]

ok here it is the link to the web site now some one help me with the back spaceing offset I'm going with 17x7 front and 17x9.5 rear

[mnmike]

I remember about 4-5 years ago I ordered a set of boyd coddington smoothies (back then they weren't known about and didnt even have the name) for my 68 firebird 400. Now the wheels are fairly common as well. They're my favorite muscle car style wheel and I was able to order them completely custom at the time. What was funny is they fit my 540i (though the hub was a different diameter). Not sure if they still custom make them, but if you call the shop they probably will. Actually I just checked the website billetwheel.com and they even show a cayenne with some boyds.. You can custom order and they have two that look like what you want, the smoothie II 5 and they junk yard dog. Heres what they looked like:


on the firebird:

[RickM]

Looks like the Mustang Bullit wheels. Replicated by many wheel makers.

[mr. warehouse]

I have a set of original American Racing Torque D's I'd like to sell.

They are 15 x 7's

Asking $3000 OBO

One has been refurbished the other 3 haven't.
I have new American Racing center caps for them, although I like the idea of early 3 prong caps instead.

PM for more details/ pictures.

[rvanderpyl]

If they are the magnesium ones you 'might' get that, otherwise for the aluminum try around 1200.00. Also try posting in the for sale forum instead.

[Hotrod911T]

I also have six 15"x7" and two 15"x8" Porsche American Racing aluminum wheels, and I was thinking of selling four of the 15-7's. I might be under estimating the value of these wheels, because I thought I would be fortunate to get $200-$250 each for the wheels.

Rod

To everyone, I'm looking for another good set of 15x7s in aluminum. Willing to pay $800-$1000/set. Lemme' know what you got.

Thanks, Marc

[mr. warehouse]

Originally posted by rvanderpyl
If they are the magnesium ones you 'might' get that, otherwise for the aluminum try around 1200.00. Also try posting in the for sale forum instead.

I'm not trying to find a buyer or I would post up in the for sale forum. I buy / sell enough and have my own outlets for selling. Instead I was trying to help out the people reading this forum that were looking.

If you have some aluminum torgues for $1200, I'll take all of them.

[avendlerdp]

I had a set of those just a little while ago. I got them for $2500 and they came with a 914 V8 thrown in with the deal. If I had known the value of those wheels I would have taken them off the 914 and sold separately. They where mag!!

By the way this pic was taken after I painted the car and did a bunch of other work as well.