InfiniteReality

iTrader: (6)

There's basically 3 companies that are frequently talked about on here to widen wheels.

- Weld Craft
- Erik Vaughn Machine
- Wheels of America

Sounds majority of people used Weld Craft or Wheels of America. Wheels of America doesn't widen wheels right now, they don't have anyone to do the work. Weld Craft and EVM both do, charge the same $250/wheel, 3 week turnaround time. Weld Craft uses just a spacer with 2 welds, where as Eric uses 1 weld and I believe a Budnik rear drum. My first impression talking with Eric is he'd be my first choice, but most people here use Weld Craft.

Which would you use? Any bad reviews on Weld Craft work?

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

I did a lot of research on this and Weld Craft is certainly NOT where you want to go. Their wheels after they are widened will FAIL auto manufacturing tests.
I don't know what a Budnik rear drum is, so I cannot comment on EVM.

My wheels are going to "Team 3", they use a full donor wheel hub and replace a large section. And they all pass every test all car manufacturer wheels must go through.....Weld Craft does no testing, especially side load tests.

Its too important of a car part to be messing around with.

Call Team 3 ....510-895-8880 He will explain it all to you. He will also only widen certain wheels, not all wheels can safely be widened. Weld Craft will widen any wheel because its just a spacer strap they weld in there.

http://www.etmags.com/production_wheels.html

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joeformula

iTrader: (11)

This is good to know since I have some wheels I want to get widened.

InfiniteReality

iTrader: (6)

Good to know, thanks. Budnik wheel is a brand of wheels, in paticular they take the barrel of 1 of their 3 piece wheels and use it instead of a donor. I'll give them a call and talk to them before I do something. I have a spare set of 01-02 WS6 wheels that got delivered last night, so they're getting shipped some where Monday for sure.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

And IIRC the price is about the same for Team 3 to widen them properly.

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StealthFormula

iTrader: (35)

FWIW, no personal experience here but my best friend had Weldcraft widen his WS6 wheels a couple years back. They turned out great, balanced very well and he loves them. Never heard a single bad thing about them except for what was posted above. If I decide to widen my wheels I plan on going to them.

InfiniteReality

iTrader: (6)

I ended up going with Eric Vaughn Machine. The guy is extremely nice and doesn't mind answering questions. I honestly don't believe either of those other 2 places are a bad choice. If one of them either had a quicker turn around time or was cheaper, I wouldn't have hesitated to send them their way. Random fact I discovered, though never figured out the reason. EVM is the only person that will widen Shelby Alcoa Super Snake wheels, other places stopped doing it for reasons unknown.

Anyways, for what it's worth... Here's the reasons I went with EVM:

- 1 weld (vs Weld Craft's 2 welds)
- Uses a Budnik barrel (vs the use of a donor wheel or in Weld Craft's case just a spacer between parent wheel)
- People have done land speed passes (200-400+mph) with wheels he has widened

Shipped them out Monday, should have them Thursday. 3 week turn around time plus 4 days for shipping. They won't get here soon enough, it's starting to get a little sketchy on bald drag radials. Now just need to figure out which normal street tires I want to go with, think Nitto 555 or the 555 G2's.

ramairetransam

iTrader: (18)

so he can widen my ws6 wheels to 17x11 and change the back spacing so i dont need to use a 1inch spacer to make them work ?

InfiniteReality

iTrader: (6)

Oh man, I wish. the hub still remains the same, he just doesn't cut your wheel and put a 2" piece of a spare wheel between the OEM pieces.

1" adapter still required. If you were concerned about the spacer, I wouldn't hesitate running an adapter or widened wheels, ran the one's on the old hawk 4-5 years with no issues.

blueday

Still can't believe you sold that car!

joeformula

iTrader: (11)

I wish someone would widen the wheels on the front of the wheels to have a wide lip

InfiniteReality

iTrader: (6)

I use to regret selling the hawk, but now that I have another I don't anymore!

The front of the wheels can't be widened... I asked, even though I knew the answer. Eric said it can't being a 1 piece wheel, widening the front of them would not allow a tire to be mounted on it. Only way to widened the fronts is if it's a 3pc wheel

carlos64030

iTrader: (5)

It's been done before and I wouldn't recommend doing it.

InfiniteReality

iTrader: (6)

Man those look awesome, but I see what Eric was talking about for mounting tires.