Dumb wheel question

[Gerald]

I would love to get some aftermarket wheels, but those prices are just killing me! Dumb question of the month. Is the reason why the viper only has a few vendor choices for wheels because of the 6 bolt pattern? Do they make or can adapters be made????


Gerald

 

[MadMaxx]

Same reason only 3 people make rear wings... people like ME haven't gotten into the sport yet

It ***** that the bolt patern is unique to the snakes.. 5bolt dodge would have been SOooo much easier.

MM

 

[SPARKY]

I THINK IT IS THE BOLT PATTERN AND THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH PUBLIC TO BUY THEM. I MEAN THERES ONLY 12 OR 15,000 VIPERS EVER MADE. IF EVERYBODY BOUGHT A SET (WHICH WONT HAPPEN) THEY WOULD BE OUT OF BUISNESS IN A YEAR, PLUS HOW MANY CARS RUN A 13" DEEP RIM? NONE.

 

[MadMaxx]

Thats not the point. Spending 30K on a work of art that is DLM motified is one thing.. but 5K for wheels, and another 1300 in wheels/ballence...thats some serious jack for 80lbs of aluminum

MM

 

[BYT U L8R]

Some might say the wheels ARE a work of art.
I thought at one time anyone spending over 6G's for wheels and tires was an idiot...then I found out I was an idiot. Thus I have nice wheels that very few others have. And the wheels are a nice piece of art, too.
BTW. I live very close to HRE manufacturing and these are truely hand made, one at a time hunks of aluminum. And talk about overhead! Lots of CRC machines, 12 hours a wheel, bits, polishing...it adds up. Just look at the wheels in person. You will see the differance between $200, $2000 and $4000 wheels.
OK, I've made myself feal better about my wheel purchase...

 

[MadMaxx]

I guess I live by the "chrome don't get ya home" deal.. except this is aluminum

MM

 

[Gerald]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JasonGTS:
Gerald,
There is not a lot of profit in it as far as mass sales, thus they try to keep the prices up to make more money to cover R&D and manufacturing.

I heard you have $30,000.00 in motor upgrades from Doug Levins Level 2+ Intercooled. Whats another $5000.00?


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I don't know where you got your numbers at... Anyways, it's hard to justify , IMO, 5k to 6k for something that doesn't make you go faster...

And that was back when I had money too

Gerald

 

[GTS Dean]

Blame the Dakota 4WD for the Gen1&2 wheel hubs & bearings. A number of Dakota parts bin items can be found on the suspension and drivetrain of the Viper in an effort to keep development costs down. Dakotas have 6-lug wheels and good, heavy bearings on the 4WD versions.

I traded e-mails with a couple of PVO engineers before the SRT ever saw the light of day and one thing I asked about was whether they were going to keep the same ridiculous wheel bolt pattern on a car that was essentially a clean-sheet design. No response from any of them either way.

One small positive to the 6-lug design - you won't likely see your stolen Viper wheels on a Mustang, ricer or slammed mini-truck.

 

[Jim Wilson]

Geees....The day I spend 5k for wheels is the day I spend 70k for a car! Oh...wait a minute.

Jim

 

[Gerald]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jim Wilson:
Geees....The day I spend 5k for wheels is the day I spend 70k for a car! Oh...wait a minute.

Jim

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I hear you guys. But remember, since I don't spend 5k on wheels or 3k on wings is why I have a 70k car...

Gerald

 

[SneakyPete]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gerald:

I don't know where you got your numbers at... Anyways, it's hard to justify , IMO, 5k to 6k for something that doesn't make you go faster...

Gerald
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gerald, did you really spend $30,000 on DLM upgrade? WOW

The viper after market parts are very expensvive, I would of never bought the rims/tires I did, if I had not got a refund on my other car and opted to get a 1997 for $35,000 less.

You could sell your stock rims for about $2000 then you would be half way there.

I think If we all just want to go fast we would get an old Camaro, slap in a 502 crate motor with a blower and you would be there but there are 2 reason why people by these car. Half of driving the viper is the speed and power. The other half is cosmetic look off the car and the show boating. Rims usually make or break the look of the car, aftermarket wheels just make the viper better.

 

[Gerald]

Perhaps I could part out my car for the rims.. Anyone need a MGW shift knob or a floor mat?

 

[Eddie N]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gerald:
Perhaps I could part out my car for the rims.. Anyone need a MGW shift knob or a floor mat?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

if you can part with your stripes i know someone that would be interested..

- eddie -

 

[Gerald]

yes sir! I have extra vinyl left over... .99c per foot!

 

[CAS]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GTS Dean:
Blame the Dakota 4WD for the Gen1&2 wheel hubs & bearings. A number of Dakota parts bin items can be found on the suspension and drivetrain of the Viper in an effort to keep development costs down. Dakotas have 6-lug wheels and good, heavy bearings on the 4WD versions.

I traded e-mails with a couple of PVO engineers before the SRT ever saw the light of day and one thing I asked about was whether they were going to keep the same ridiculous wheel bolt pattern on a car that was essentially a clean-sheet design. No response from any of them either way.

One small positive to the 6-lug design - you won't likely see your stolen Viper wheels on a Mustang, ricer or slammed mini-truck.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey Dean, I just looked at several SRT pics, including the test mules; they all have the same 6 bolt pattern.

Clint

 

[onerareviper]

Gerald,

Those '98 rims could get you $2,000 (possible more), if in good shape. Many people desire forged old-style 5-stars, to keep the original look and increase strength over 96-97 cast wheels. Therefore, $2,000 + $400 cash = a new set of 17' Purner's. Of course, I would wait till you need new tires, and spend the extra $100 for the 18's ($2,500). For new wheels, you can't beat Purner's price/quality/strength. It's also the most used rim/wheel at Viperdays, so it must be quality.

** Tip: If you go this route, I suggest the EBC greens. The one drawback to these rims is there bare aluminum (no clearcoat), and a beeeiiiaatch to clean. This is the reason I am looking into chrome plating my set.

 

[onerareviper]

Gerald,

Two suggestions:

1.) Look for a used pair in excellent condition. Will save tons of money, and they will be as good as new unless they were damaged.

2.) Check out John Purner's wheels at http://www.ccwheel.com Specializing in custom built forged three-piece street & racing wheels

Street
17: $2400/set
18: $2500/set

Later

 

[Gerald]

Thanks I saw those and was interested... Don't have many choices to choose from... I'll keep an eye on the used market. I think I buy everything used!

Gerald

 

[treynor]

Hmm. Gerald only paid $30K for his 750 RWHP, level II intercooled DLM upgrade? That's $100/RWHP, which is a hell of a bargain in the mega-tuner world -- a comparably-powered LPE TT 'vette would run you $50K, and if you go the N/A route you're looking at 550-600 RWHP for that kind of money. The LPE Viper package runs $38K for 625 RWHP.

BTW, if you ever think Viper tuner prices are bad, try Mercedes. Lorinser will sell you a supercharger package for your 349 BHP E55 -- $18000 gets you an additional 65 (!!) BHP, or about $320 / RWHP at much lower power levels.

Back on topic. Gerald, what size wheels are you looking for - 17" (so you can reuse tires), 18", 19"?

 

[Gerald]

Probably 17's..

haha, felt like I was getting ragged on there. But I guess there's not many ppl here running around w/ nearly 800rwhp on tap all the time.. They just wouldn't understand

If they can find better quality, nicer guy, and more hp, and a better price, let us all know..

No Flames , just an observation

Gerald

 

[JonB]

$5000 - $6000 is list prices.


4 new Kinesis rims from $2400 (17")
4 new BBS from $3300 (18")
4 new HREs from $3600 (18") lip and rim polished
HRE full-meal-deal, full polish 18" $4000 !

See my post in vendor specials: GREAT HRE sale 6/22-7/22

 

[Snake Bitten]

These didn't sell the first time they were listed, and when they were listed previously, they had a "Buy It Now" of $2800...since they did not sell the first time, I would think the price has come down...They are 17's... Kinesis Wheels AND Tires