Paging Jack Olsen, Lindsey Wheels ?'s

[racea911]

Jack,
I contacted Lindsey racing to get some info on the weights of 17" rims like the ones you have. That was a month ago and they haven't responded. Do you remember what they weigh each? Their website show weights for the 3-piece Fuchs look and that other "design" they have but I couldn't find any weights of the 2-piece Fuchs look.

I know you race on these wheels, but are there any concerns as to the structural strength of these wheels with the welded in centers? The 3-piece ones are stronger I assume but they are mega-bucks...

Thanks a million in advance.

[ted]

Curt or else anyone interested,

3 piece 17 inch fuchs for $2,200 most offsets available.
I have 17x8 and 17x10s on my RS bodied 69.

I got them at Mirage International located in San Diego.
Jae Lee is in PCA/POC and races a 911, he sells these rims too.
Ph # 858 581 1101.
Please mention that Long Mike refered you.
t'care,
Mike

some pics of the rims on my car here.

http://groups.msn.com/Gagenracing/shoebox.msnw

[Jack Olsen]

I gave this a lot of thought, and here's what I concluded. The downsides to the 3-piece wheels are 1) they weigh a little more than 2-piece ones, but only a little, 2) they will leak, eventually, according to everyone I asked, and 3) to my eyes, all those little bolts look funny.

Oh, and 4: they cost a lot more than the 2-piece wheels. (Ted's set, at $2200, was a great deal compared to outfits like HRE.)

There are some advantages to the 3-piece wheels. Common belief holds that they're stronger, and I don't have any reason to doubt that. Also, they make repair of a damaged rim much simpler, since you can disassemble them and add a new section. Finally, you can make them wider or narrower, down the line, and even change your backspacing by changing out rim halves.

Of course, thiose changes add even more expense.

For me, the 2-piece wheels were the better answer. Lindsey's been running a set on a 951 race car of theirs for over five years without any incident, and that 951 weighs more than a 911. I paid $1300 (plus $400 for a set of donors) for my 8x10x17 set. They held up to a whole lot of track use without any issues at all.

Mike and Dave Lindsey are not a huge shop, though, so their customer service might not be the greatest. They've always been pretty prompt with me.

And to answer your question, my bathroom scale weight for the 10x17 wheels were 18 pounds each, the 9x17's were 17 pounds, and the 8x17's were 16 pounds. But this was by my bathroom scale, so it may not be 100% accurate.

Those weights are less than Fuchs, because the rim on the 2-piece wheels is not as thick as the fuly forged Fuchs.

And what's a post without a picture:

[DKP]

Hey jack what size are those tires on the 8x17 in the front? Any clearance issues? Thanks DKP

[Jack Olsen]

That was four years ago, so I'm relying on my long-term memory, here. I was able to run 245/275 with a little bit of work on my 8x10x17 track set. But on my street set of Lindseys (8x9x17), I probably ran a size down 225/245 probably.

I did get some rubbing with the 245's, depending on the manufacturer -- some were wider than others.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Jack Olsen


And what's a post without a picture:

Not much.

No, really, you are the best source of info for Lindsey wheels. And, I'd bet big money that no one else has TWO complete sets.

[911boost]

Yeah, the HRE's on my car were $1400 a piece (on it when I bought it). Ouch, yeah no thank you. I am curious to weigh them though.

I have always liked the Lindsey's.

[DKP]

I have an 88 carrera and I'm just trying to fill up the wheel wells. I'm going with some 255/40/17 on the rear and mike at lindsey thought 225/24
17 in the front. Would you Agree?

[DKP]

sorry bad typing thats fronts 225/45/17

[Miguel Antonett]

I run 8x10x17 2pc's Lindsey's with 245 and 315 with no problem at all. Lots of track time and many many hours of spirited driving... I used to check the welds regularly but not any more. Mike Lindsey knows how to "treat" aluminum. Agree with Jack on the weights.

[Darryl I]

DKP,

I just revieved my Lindsey's a few months ago and was given the same tire / rim recomendation from Mike. I had alot of trouble with the 45's up front. I eventually got rid of them. Check out this thread. Hope it helps.
New 17" lindsey's-Help !

[Jack Olsen]

Originally posted by milt
And, I'd bet big money that no one else has TWO complete sets.

I've had four sets of the Lindseys -- those guys should have named a garage after me by this point, or something. I had an 8x9x17 set for street and an 8x10x17 track set for use on BB1. Both of those sets have gone on to other Pelicanites, who are still running them. Then, for BB2, I got two sets of 9.5x11x17 sets. One is theoretically for street and the other for the track, but I've been running Toyo RA1's on both.

I've been very happy with the Lindseys. I still check the welds before every race, but I suspect the welds are probably the strongest part of the wheels. The unknown with Lindseys (or any two- or three-piece Fuchs-based wheels) is how long the Fuchs center will last. Fuchs have a finite lifespan. They start to crack eventually.

So I'm interested in two new 17-inch Fuchs alternatives being championed by two Pelicanites. I'll copy and paste a reply I had to a recent thread on them:

Jeff Alton in Canada (he used to be known as 'catca' on the board) will be making 17-inch and 18-inch forged centers that can be mated to 3-piece wheel components to make 17- or 18-inch wheels to fit any 911 out there. Jeff's wheels will be forged (like the original Fuchs), and as I understand it he plans to get them load tested in the same fashion the big auto manufacturers do before he sells them.

Mark (Moses) is working on a cast one-piece Fuchs replica in a 17-inch diameter. He says there will be load testing done on those wheels by the manufacturer; hopefully they'll publish the results. (There were cheap cast Fuchs replicas made in the past that won the scorn of PCA scrutineers and users alike -- they weren't as strong as the forged originals.) The advantage of the Moses Fuchs will be their price (he's shooting for $250/wheel). I'm not clear on whether they'll end up being strictly street-only wheels or viable for actual hard track use .

From the sound of things, Jeff Alton's wheels will have a slightly better 'pedigree,' in terms of the manufacturing process, and -- since his will be available as 17-inch or 18-inch wheels -- will probably be the choice for guys who want to track their cars while retaining the classic Fuchs look. Tire availability in 18-inch sizes is the best there is.

But at this point, both those options are still in the prototyping stage. I'm not certain exactly when either of them will have wheels available for sale. The advantage these newer wheels (as opposed to Lindseys) is that you'll know the history of the center you're using -- it's new.

Previously, there were no options at all for 18's with Fuchs centers. Jeff Alton's centers will change that. Speaking for myself (since I can't get 315mm Toyos in 16- or 17-inch sizes), I can't wait for the 18-inch centers.

[porsche911girl]

OK stupid question, but would a pair of Lindsey's fit on my SC? And would I be able to fit the same size wheel/tire combo Jack had on BB1?

[DougM]

I posted this earlier this year:
Just weighed my new Lindseys

[Porsche Doc]

I have had great sucess with Lindsey wheels.
I have bought about 6 set from them in the last couple of years.
There very nice and very well done.
When I need 17" Fuch look wheels they are the guys I call.

[JTO]

I recently mounted a set of Lindsey 17X8 and 9s on my Carrera. They look fantastic. Much nicer than the car. But not for long. Backdate coming...
Troy

[cjpani]

Originally posted by Porsche Doc
[B]I have had great sucess with Lindsey wheels.
I have bought about 6 set from them in the last couple of years.
There very nice and very well done.
When I need 17" Fuch look wheels they are the guys I call.

Way Fast Whitey has added another pair of Lindasys; for track use only (16 inch)



cj

[crosby50]

Mike will sometimes return my emails within a few hours, sometimes within a few days. However, you could always call him. If he's not in, the receptionist will usually give you a general time to call back. The two times I spoke with Mike on the phone he was very helpful and willing to answer all my dumb questions.