3.1EyeCandy

iTrader: (3)

A guy on pro-touring with a very nice Grand National has had some custom mesh wheels made that look like dead ringers for 18" GTAs. I replied to his post trying to ask for more details on the manufacturer (don't expect these to be cheap eaither). This is the first I've seen that really do the originals justice...

Thought ya'll would enjoy. Anybody know who makes these?
http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sho...346#post677346

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

Those are awesome.

87350IROC

iTrader: (2)

Oh man. If only I had a firebird.

Tony89GTA

iTrader: (7)

18x8.5 front 18x10 rear.

3 piece forged wheels.

Perfict size to.

SMOKIN Z

iTrader: (4)

Wow! Those are perfect! They would look even better on my Trans Am.....

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

...you have no idea how long I have been waiting.....

I know those style rims on GNs were identical to that on the TAs. My question is, did it match the offset of the front wheels or the offset of the back wheels?

Looks the center caps off my car will just drop right in! sweetttt

BigBadGTA

That looks tight as hell. Take those wheels and stick them on a Black GTA, then they would be the ultimate.. I would like to see them on a black GTA with the centers painted gold! I don't think I like the polished bolts on the centers though, I would paint them black to match, or have them removed some how. I would have all of the spokes that are closed up in the center opened too.

spade

iTrader: (3)

awesome........



if only hed say where he got them....

i like a pair and sell my slps.......

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

did he tell you who made them yet?

norcalz28

iTrader: (13)

looks similar to a BBS wheel, there is a 17" BBS wheel that's similar and stock on some late 90's BMW 5 series

norcalz28

iTrader: (13)

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

I got excited until I saw the bolts/torx/rivet heads in the outer loop. Those are what kill it for me.

I guess painted black like the centers, they wouldn't be so obvious.

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

I still think it's dope. Oh man, a nice gold one, who cares about the torx bolts, theyre polished, so it matches the polished lip. Those are magnificent.
I honestly wonder what it would cost to get those fabbed up. If it was a reasonable price id definitely consider it. But id say well over 3 grand. . .

juanillox8

iTrader: (7)

STEPHEN does lol ....

They look NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCEEEEEEE I want the on my camaro lol

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

I can not imagine how effing good these would look (in gold of course) on my GTA. Am I ever envious right now!

thomas1976

BBS RS are wery similar, see links in https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...yle-5-gta.html the ones on the grand national look a little closer to the crosslace trans am weels.

Edit: BBS RS biggest size is 17 in.

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

I'm not too sure about the BBS RS... Just something about it I don't like.

thomas1976

Hard to beat the classic look of the trans am crosslace.

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

EyeCandy have you found out who did the wheels up for the dudes GN?

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

WE NEED TO KNOW!

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

i would agree if they were fake, but since they are real 3 pc wheels, and those bolts are actually bolts nut just decoration, i can let it slide.

I do like them, wonder if they are "fixed" for brake clearance too

3.1EyeCandy

iTrader: (3)

I haven't heard anything. I'm sending him a PM today.

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

Beautiful. Thanks dude, hopefully he spills!

robertfrank

iTrader: (27)

photoshop pronto!!!

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

....any word?

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

Ya i'm dying to hear

robertfrank

iTrader: (27)

Hell yeah, i'll sell one of my kids for these, lol just kidding

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

wtf.... we wait years for these rims and the guy can't even tell us where he bought them?

3.1EyeCandy

iTrader: (3)

Pretty much. I haven't heard anything.

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

Kudos! You Firebird guys FINALLY got your wish and they do look really nice!

Since the guy is obviously being a d*ck about it, I can ask Boyd if he made them... I'm curious to see who did them and you can bet your a$$ that they cost a fortune. People here see custom wheel prices over $3,000 a set and get offended over it! (probably because a nice set of custom wheels is worth more than many people's cars) - "not being a d*ck, just speaking the truth"..

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

If Boyd built them, of course they will. First there is the cost to make them, plus the normal profit margin (of course) that any manufacturer would charge. Then there is the "add $1000 for the add $1000 for the Boyd Coddington name" to the first price to them.

If he wants to do that? Fine. Its his business, he can do what he wants to.

As for being a d*ck.....It is a guy on another Forum. Maybe he hasn't seen the message? Maybe he's getting a kick out of how people think he's a d*ck for not sharing? Nothing says he HAS to & maybe the manufacturer will not build another set? Who knows? Just no need to start calling him names, just because he hasn't share info.

Tony89GTA

iTrader: (7)

Pretty sure he's being a dick about it, most people would have mentioned the name of the company by now.

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

Well, you obviously have no clue how much billet stock in that size is, or the cost of the programmer to program the CNC machine and / or water jet to cut it to the pattern he designed (which also takes billable labor time for computer art), the labor for that, plus the cost of the forged billet hoops in that particular size, plus the labor for the guy to polish each one, plus the guy to run the laser welding machine (if your wheel is a welded 2 piece wheel).... and or the hardware if it is a 3 pieces bolted/riveted etc... plus the charge for testing the wheel once it's completed for balance and gov't safety standards and don't forget shipping if you dont pick them up in person..

So, I called Boyd.. He said "those wheels sound familiar"....

As far as the guy being a douche, he was asked several times who made them and has posted on that thread after this particular question was asked. If they were one-offs that will not be available to the public, he should have and could have easily stated so..

If I was a Firebird guy, I would have had Boyd make a set of those for my Bird, I would have proudly said who made them in the very first post that I had pictures on, AND I would have made them available to all you!

But, since I have a Camaro, I went a different route.

No company is going to make a custom set of Billet wheels for cheap.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

No billet wheels are fully machined out of just 1 block of aluminum. As an ex-CNC machinist myself, I do know about costs & labor. The only billlet is a 19" x 3" (or whatever thickness) for the center section. The hoops are a stamped steel section that are generally mass produced & the manufacturers just choose which center section to bolt or weld between an inner & outer hoop.

Design cost for just 1 set does cost. But not for a design that is either put into production of many copies are made. Design costs are a certain # spread out over how many sets the designer builds. To build just ONE set? Not cheap. I guarantee your wheels woulda cost you more, if you had only built the one set & had some sort of "exclusive ownership" of it for Boyd not to sell any more.

Bottom line is like I said before, yet you want to "argue" with me over costs. The manufacturer can set whatever price he wants, that he thinks his company's name will bring him. Some names are able to charge more money, for an 100% identical part, from another company. I don't know why you wanted to argue it. Charge what he wants. Won't change my pinion of why he charges what he does. Nor will it change the facts.

1989GTATransAm

iTrader: (3)

Just a reminder that the wheel offsets are different between the GN and the Trans Am. So if one was to order a set be sure to get the correct wheel offset.

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

Well the hoops are actually forged, then polished (at least that's how Boyds does them). But that's besides the point.

What I don't understand is why you have a stick up your butt for Boyd's Wheels?

Look at what year-one charges for their 17-20 inch (or whatever size) replica Firebird snowflake wheels (and they are mass produced)!

I get it. You want these 18" crosslace wheels for cheap. Who wouldn't ?!! (That includes me too!)

But I challenge you to find ANY company willing to make you a set for "your" ideal price range for a wheel like that. Ain't gonna happen.

ok, I'm off the soap box..

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

After contacting a half dozen manufacturer's about 17"/18" snowflakes, they wouldn't do it AT ALL. Much less at a price that I liked. The Year One's are the 2nd gen design & yes...I considered those until I saw the price.

Nothing is "up my butt" towards Boyd's in particular. I do think they are way overcharging, just based on their reputation & name. You do get a good reputation for doing god work, but I also believe in honest pricing. Not "just however high you can charge, do it".

Forged is still STEEL, not billet.A full block of 19" x 10" billet carved into a 1-piece wheel carved into a wheel, would end up wasting like 3/4 of the original block, if not even more. I've been there, done that. My 4lb block ended up at 1/lb & only was that high because that was my goal. A 1lb finished product & I could have very easily removed more material.

Keep this in mind.....Most manufacturer's sell whatever they make, at 75% to 100% profit. So if 1 fails? The replacement is already paid for. Good luck trying to find a company that will admit that though. Until you are on the Bookkeeping side of things, you won't even realize your own company does it too. Having been there....It makes it hard for me to buy things, knowing their profit margin!

89_RS

Actually, I've seen Foose on Overhaulin do 1 piece wheels out of single pieces of billet. And they were big wheels at that, IIRC 20"x8" wheels.

So it has been done, but its obviously not cheap. I'd bet the material alone was in excess of $4k.

I've talked to several machinists, and they all say that they do huge markups for custom one off stuff because they aren't ever going to make it again. Now if they were to do production, they do it for bare costs plus O&P.

I've made several custom one off CNC items for FSAE cars and you hardly ever use the same tool twice with those cars. And thats on small stuff that you can fit in your pocket. I know if our team had sent that stuff out, it would have been at least $500 for a hub that could be made from a 4lbs piece of aluminum. So, I can only imagine what its like to have someone ask you to make a custom one off wheel for DOT legal standards.

They can charge any price they want to, but if you follow basic economics, you charge what the market thinks is acceptable. Boyd caters to a market that will pay anything for his wheels.

jordanandrewkay

oh that would be perfect for racing tires and swapping for street track use.
gold preffered too but i would want the bolts on outer rim gold as well....idk too much flash on an already gold wheel kinda makes me sick to my stomach lol.

why is everything an argument???????
i would not tell anyone either (whether he did or not) where i got my custom one off rims so they would stay that way....one of a kind.

no doubt some wheels are made differently with different materials and they would all pretty much cost alot (whatever the material) if they are custom order.
point being: HOLY SH*T THOSE ARE NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

I could get them made in any size you want. I've told you that before.

BUT, you're gonna have to let go of some of those clams that you're holding onto too tightly. Live a little!

If those are the wheels you want and that is what will make you enjoy your car more, then just do it! Make the payments on the credit card and enjoy it!

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

And right there is the kicker....DOT standards.....You might build a fully billet wheel for a show car, or something that sits around, maybe Sunday driven on short trips to a car show & back, but most likely driven on to a trailer, then off the trailer & parked to show. Nobody will ever make a fully billet aluminum wheel to meet DOT standards. They'd hafta built several sets, subject them to crash/stress/strength tests to certify them, yet ruin them for any future use. Then wait for approval. No gonna happen. Really wanna spend $50,000 to certify a $5000 set for DOT?

Exactly. Just because he ain't telling, doesn't make him a dick. Maybe he just wants o be exclusive!

You say you can, but you apparently couldn't. We talked about it, but no.....You never could come back with a manufacturer that said they would make them.

I got my ROH Snypers and had 2 of them widened to 11" & am perfectly happy. They are the only aftermarket wheel that I have ever wanted over the stock crosslaces. I MIGHT be interested in a 18" crosslace, but not at (what i would consider) ridiculous prices. My desire for them is not strong enough to get me to open my wallet up wide enough (or pay interest) to pay for custom CNC prices. My GTA is a daily driver, & if something happened to one, it would be relatively easy to replace one (or more) of my Snypers. Short of a "Declared Value" insurance policy, no insurance company is going to pay for a custom CNC wheel of any kind, be it one-off or "limited run" like yours are.



I just can't believe peoples panties are getting so bunched up, over my comments. Do y'all work for Boyd or something? Does he need y'all to jump up & defend 1 persons OPINION on his prices?

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

That sir is an incorrect statement.

Boyd will make them for you or anyone else. But you're not going to get them for what you are willing to pay for a wheel...

I don't work for Boyd. I'm just trying to tell you and everyone else that when I got my custom set made, not only was he willing to make them, but he also gave me the best deal.

No one else was even willing to make these for you. He was and still could.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Show me....Show me where you posted or PM'd me saying that you had contacted Boyd & that he was willing to make them. Make me eat my words.....

The closest I ever got to having them made, was "Pay up UP FRONT, for a full set, then we'll start the design work." And they wanted to sell TEN SETS! $16,000 up front, before any deign work was even started beyond "Yes, we can make them.". No....I'm not dropping $16,000 just to pen to paper/pixels on a computer screen. $1600/set isn't that bad. $16,000 just to start is......


Just like in your thread about your wheels when they were made. I made a simple post about the cost or design & people comes down on me because *I* do not like the price. Wow. I don't like it. Big deal. I can't believe so many people put so much of their effort into about my dislike for stuff. Move on people...It's not that important that I don't & have zero effect on you or your life.

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

Boyd will make you those wheels, but they are going to cost $$$.

You are right about a $16,000 order being ridiculous.

You are not going to find ANY company to make an individual run for $1,600 a set.

If you can find ten people to cough up the dough to have your company make a ten set order, then by all means, set it up and get your set for $1,600 each. (Good luck with actually finding 10 people willing to put up the money at the same time)!!!

But, like I said before, I could facilitate having a set made. The money thing is upto you.

If you really think it's necessary, I will dig up the back and forth posts where I told you that I could have the crosslace wheels made in order to "show you".

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

Well, I'm really not trying to be a *****. I'm only trying to help people get the wheels they REALLY want so they don't have to settle for what's currently on the market.

So don't take offense, but if you feel like "eating words"... here is a print screen of a PM that was going back and forth between you and I. Note the date of PM. See .jpg attached.

Point is: I can get them done.

And don't take offense, I'm not trying to ruffle your feathers. I'm just offering a means to an end.

The Project

iTrader: (6)

In the first post the GNX owner states they are custom wheels.

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

We know that, but it's obvious that the owner did not make those wheels himself in the garage with regular old hand tools!

The Project

iTrader: (6)

Here you go....google is your friend

Only $3444 for a set....what a bargain.

http://www.dragtimes.com/parts/18-GN...504734843.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...4843&viewitem=

Tony89GTA

iTrader: (7)

Well that explains why he didn't want to give out his source, lol.

NY3RDGEN

Subscibe..

Man those would look awesome on my T/A..
I really hope i will be able to buy a set of these.