316 replies to this topic

[SmacT]

Great answers all, this is why I put things like this here and not on FaceAche - considered answers from people with experience is what I was after and received! Obvs personal opinion flavours it all, but that's a good thing.

 

I took something from everyone, overall I agree on the black outers being weird. There is nothing polished on the car, and I am not a fan of polished stuff (anything metal is painted or brushed), but agree it could work here. I need to change the outers anyway to fill the flares better, always on the cards with these wheels as I bought them as-is. So the option is to try the polished outers on them and see what difference it makes. I am not a fan of black wheels, and I love the OMs centers more than other Simmons, black would hide the detail (and look like spare wheels to me... ha ha) 

 

I also remember one of the many awesome cars that flavored my build was this thing, wheels and all, from another forum member. Sorry I can't remember who (though they didn't stick with the wheels I seem to remember). So maybe Simmons Gold isn't a bad option after all... I only have me to please, but all those answers helped my thought process. Thanks legends.

 

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[Shiney005]

I reckon you are on the right track.  Out of the options you put up, I reckon the bronze looks nicest.  

 

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[Bruiser]

What about removing the black paint somehow just on the bead area of the rim,
where it comes from the flat inner part starting at the 90 degree bit parallel
with the tyre?
Could be a compromise with only a little bit of shiny stuff.
Thinking it could break up the blackness that’s on there now
Might end up looking like a set of trim rings, though.
Can’t quite visualise it completely myself, though
Do the rim sections come in the brushed alloy look, like centrelines?
Would match your droptank then

[SmacT]

What about removing the black paint somehow just on the bead area of the rim,
where it comes from the flat inner part starting at the 90 degree bit parallel
with the tyre?
Could be a compromise with only a little bit of shiny stuff.
Thinking it could break up the blackness that’s on there now
Might end up looking like a set of trim rings, though.
Can’t quite visualise it completely myself, though
Do the rim sections come in the brushed alloy look, like centrelines?
Would match your droptank then

Yep, could work mate, though I am changing the outers anyway (for wider rims), so may try polished. If I don't like them, I can brush them. Ha ha.

[yel327]

Great answers all, this is why I put things like this here and not on FaceAche - considered answers from people with experience is what I was after and received! Obvs personal opinion flavours it all, but that's a good thing.

I took something from everyone, overall I agree on the black outers being weird. There is nothing polished on the car, and I am not a fan of polished stuff (anything metal is painted or brushed), but agree it could work here. I need to change the outers anyway to fill the flares better, always on the cards with these wheels as I bought them as-is. So the option is to try the polished outers on them and see what difference it makes. I am not a fan of black wheels, and I love the OMs centers more than other Simmons, black would hide the detail (and look like spare wheels to me... ha ha)

I also remember one of the many awesome cars that flavored my build was this thing, wheels and all, from another forum member. Sorry I can't remember who (though they didn't stick with the wheels I seem to remember). So maybe Simmons Gold isn't a bad option after all... I only have me to please, but all those answers helped my thought process. Thanks legends.

205d0c81fd5b8b49ab0cec23ef24dba5.jpg

I like those, but I also like the chrome bars. My taste is lose the black text too, but that’s my personal taste!

[SmacT]

Chrome bars one day - couldn't afford them back when I bought bars. Ha ha.

[Ice]

Looks good the way it is imho 

[yel327]

I reckon just try the polished outers. Wheel centre might look totally different with them.

[SmacT]

Well, it took a while, but I finally changed my wheel outers. Pretty stoked. Fronts are now 17x9 5in backspace, rears 17x10.5 with 5.5in backspace. I need to go wider rubber up front (225s on now, will go to 245s probably). Thanks for all the input above, the centers look good as-is (as predicted YEL), so will wear out the rubber on them and add newies, but that's it. Amazing how wheels completely change a car...  I might go to chrome bumpers down the track (if anyone wants to swap) and play with ride height a little (it's spot on with two people in the car), but nothing urgent.

 

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I also added VT ribbed pullies (cleaned them up with a vinegar soak and satin black), the v belt liked to jump off at high revs. 

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I also re-did numerous earth and power leads with a proper hydraulic crimper, just for peace of mind, I had used a mechanical crimper at the start, but wasn't happy with the result. I also ditched one catch can (went to one) and moved the overflow bottle out of sight to clean up the engine bay.

 

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All I want to do now is a proper detail, buff and polish (finally, it's all still off the gun), then ceramic coat it. 3000kms so far, loving driving it. I have a few driving events this year, which I can't wait for.  

 

 

[FLY_LX]

nice.

now you can see more dish in the wheels too.

and a nice job on polish, would've taken a bit of effort.

[hanra]

Looks great with those wheels.

[LXCHEV]

Beautiful transformation, looks a million bucks! Really brings the car colour and the whole car to life (sharper, poppier). Great work.

[SmacT]

Thanks all, your opinions are valued. Took her for a spin with all the above just done. I had trimmed the inner flares, the right rear needs a bit more, but otherwise no scraping and can get full lock etc. Having said I just want to ceramic coat it, I realised last night I also want to satin black the rocker covers, air filter housing, etc now I know the plumbing is final - the wrinkle finish has not aged well!

Some great cars at Cars Under the Stars last night, the red car on the right is a genuine SLR (non matching engine, but is an ex Group C 355!) and is for sale if anyone is interested.

 

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[Heath]

Looking great. Call me boring but I never really liked anything other than silver/chrome type colours on the dish of wheels, on any car.

 

I think this is a huge improvement, and yeah a bit more tyre on the front (weird that it has so much stretch for only a 225 on a 9.0"? I feel like mine looks less stretched and it's an extra inch wide!) would be another step forward when the time is right.

 

Absolutely loving this, anyway.

 

The 4PK belt upgrade should serve you well, also. Been very happy with mine.

[RallyRed]

H u g e improvement with the shiney wheels!

Well done.

[Hatchback13]

Awesome looking torana, nice wide rubber. How wide is the rubber on the rear? Have you changed the bump stops on the front to take in such a wide front? And for clearance? Cheers 

[SmacT]

Thanks all - you're right on how it brings out the colour better LXCHEV. I was always going to change them, but wish I had done it sooner now. Ha ha.

 

Looking great. Call me boring but I never really liked anything other than silver/chrome type colours on the dish of wheels, on any car.

 

I think this is a huge improvement, and yeah a bit more tyre on the front (weird that it has so much stretch for only a 225 on a 9.0"? I feel like mine looks less stretched and it's an extra inch wide!) would be another step forward when the time is right.

 

Absolutely loving this, anyway.

 

The 4PK belt upgrade should serve you well, also. Been very happy with mine.

 

Yeah, weird eh? Different brand tyres can vary a little in actual width versus claimed width, or how they roll from sidewall to tread, but I was surprised, I thought a 225 would be fine on a 9in rim. A bit too much stretch for me on a Torana. My Subie-driving oldest son reckons they are great though. Ha ha (And yours look oarsum Heath). Good to hear the 4pk belt works well, I was going to go the excellent ReidSpeed pullies, but found a VT set in my spares, so used them instead. So far so good.

 

 

Awesome looking torana, nice wide rubber. How wide is the rubber on the rear? Have you changed the bump stops on the front to take in such a wide front? And for clearance? Cheers 

 

Thanks mate - 275/40s on the back, I would go to 285s if I can find a good option, but I can't find any decent rubber that size (17s). ANy 17in tyre recommendations gladly received. Up front, I had cut the guards almost up to the bolt holes and flared them out a little, cut/welded the firewall seam and re-glassed the flares to allow for big rubber way back when I did the bodywork. I have also trimmed inside the Wilsons flares front and rear, the rears are still touching somewhere occasionally on straight line bumps (not in corners) so I need to get into that this week before the weekend cruising.