------------------ 4.9 Caddy ON CRADLE in Garage! Car in Driveway! ACK! **************************************** http://home.cfl.rr.com/fierose Central Florida Fieros http://www.centralfloridafieros.org Proud Member and founder of the DOWN SOUTH SUNNY WINTER PICK ON SNOW PEOPLE COALITION!
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05:43 PM
Feb 4th, 2005
THE BEAST Member
Posts: 1177 From: PORT SAINT LUCIE,FLORIDA,USA Registered: Dec 2000
I know the wheels you are looking for. They weren't stock. the 17" wheels that look just like fiero wheels were an aftermarket wheel that is no longer made. To my knowlege, no lace wheel larger than 15" was ever made to fit the 5x100 pattern by GM. The ones mentioned are 5x114.
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04:03 PM
F-I-E-R-O Member
Posts: 8410 From: Endwell, NY Registered: Jan 2005
I’ve got a set of Lebaron turbo GTC 16” rims on my coupe. They fit without any problems. I don’t know the offset of the rims, but the front fits nicely on my 88 coupe, but the rear does not come out far enough for my taste. I’ve got 225/50/16’s all around and the sidewall of the tire is bowed out just a tad around the outer diameter of the tires.
The rims look sort of like the Fiero’s diamond spoke rims. The outside has a polished lip and the spokes are sort of a pewter color. They look pretty stock in my opinion.
Anyways, I hope this helps. BTW: I weighed a set of Formula rims I had and the GTC rims with 225/50/16’s weighed almost exactly the same as the 15-inch Formula rims with stock tire sizes (205/60/15 front 215/60/15 rear.) If I recall, it weighed somewhere between 40-44lbs.
I have the same rims that Phantom is describing. They are a close match to the stock 15's. I have used 225/55 's on them for over 2 years now without any problems. I think they only made these for 2-3 years so they are kinda hard to find. I got mine from a used tire place for $80.
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06:49 AM
Rodney Member
Posts: 4715 From: Caledonia, WI USA Registered: Feb 2000
I have spent some time looking into 16" rims like the 89 had. It is way too expensive to start from scratch and create a rim like that. The price would be way too high for anyone to want to buy a set. One option is to look for an existing aftermarket 16" rim and have the mold modified so they fit the Fiero. If anyone knows of any aftermarket 16" rims that look very close to the Fiero rim let me know and I'll see what I can do.
Has anyone thought of cutting the outer rim off a stock GT wheel and welding a new larger diameter rim onto it. On some current car TV programs they often make there own wheels (Chip Foose for one). They have started designing only a new center - mating it to an off the shelf rim when a new wheel is wanted. I don't see why that couldn't be an economical way to make a retro yet contemporary wheel for the Fiero.
------------------ RickN White 88GT 5spd White 85GT Auto
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09:12 AM
THE BEAST Member
Posts: 1177 From: PORT SAINT LUCIE,FLORIDA,USA Registered: Dec 2000
Ok, I've found out the Lebaron GTC Turbo rims are only 6-inches wide. Also, the Plymouth Laser RS Turbo had a set of OEM 16-inch rims that look almost identical to the Lebaron GTC Turbo rims, but the bolt pattern is "not" 5X100, so be careful.
I believe Aok-GT is correct in saying the rims only came 2-3 years. I believe the years are 1989-1991, but not 100% sure.
I've tried to make the Daytona show ever year, my parents even live there, yet for some reason I have yet to go. Hopefully, I can make it this year
I sort of have a problem getting a hold of a digital camera so I grabbed this picture of the web and modified to not include the Lebaron I hope the quality is ok.
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06:50 AM
THE BEAST Member
Posts: 1177 From: PORT SAINT LUCIE,FLORIDA,USA Registered: Dec 2000
The old BMW M1 had some really sweet wheels. I can't seem to find a good pic of them, but they were certainly along the lines of what I'd like to get ahold of..
ehh.. I found an 'in-action' shot..
------------------ --1986 SE V6, Wild Custom Notchback --For Sale Click Me! --1984 SE Modified Notchback
[This message has been edited by Jncomutt (edited 02-07-2005).]
There was one year of Grand Prix that could be had with 8" wide "lace" wheels that were virtually identical to ours, but I cannot remember if they were still 15" or if they were 16". They were the 5x115 bolt pattern, though. Will has adapted them for the rear of his car, and it may be possible to do it for the front as well.
The 16x8 Trans Am wheels have a very different offset than the Fiero wheels, so even if you change bolt patterns they still might not work on a stock body Fiero. The mid-90's Grand Prix had 16x8 (or 16x7?) lace wheels on a 5x115 bolt pattern. Since that's a FWD setup, it would probably be easiest to convert to that bolt pattern and use those.
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09:24 PM
Feb 16th, 2005
THE BEAST Member
Posts: 1177 From: PORT SAINT LUCIE,FLORIDA,USA Registered: Dec 2000
the best wheels to get are the trans am rims. exact same rim in a 16" all you have to do is convert to a rwd bolt pattern
if you have a pre 88 car, you can put those on the back by swapping out spindles and hubs with a Pontiac 6000HLE's gear to get 5x115. As far as the front goes, see what BubbaJoe did to get the Corvette wheels on his latest project.
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10:43 PM
PFF
System Bot
lou_dias Member
Posts: 5348 From: Warwick, RI Registered: Jun 2000
I have spent some time looking into 16" rims like the 89 had. It is way too expensive to start from scratch and create a rim like that. The price would be way too high for anyone to want to buy a set. One option is to look for an existing aftermarket 16" rim and have the mold modified so they fit the Fiero. If anyone knows of any aftermarket 16" rims that look very close to the Fiero rim let me know and I'll see what I can do.
Rodney, how's about developing a custom hub and spindle that uses F-body or Corvette gear?
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10:45 PM
The Aura Member
Posts: 2290 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2001
if you have a pre 88 car, you can put those on the back by swapping out spindles and hubs with a Pontiac 6000HLE's gear to get 5x115. As far as the front goes, see what BubbaJoe did to get the Corvette wheels on his latest project.
Trans Am rims were 5x4.5.... Although it's close it's different from 5x115... Other car forums I'm on strongly suggest against mixing the two because of the shearing forces end up on the studs instead of the centerbore.
I still say contact Will. He's "been there done that" with the 16x8 grand prix rims, which look alot more like fiero rims than the trans am rims do.
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12:34 AM
THE BEAST Member
Posts: 1177 From: PORT SAINT LUCIE,FLORIDA,USA Registered: Dec 2000
if you have a pre 88 car, you can put those on the back by swapping out spindles and hubs with a Pontiac 6000HLE's gear to get 5x115. As far as the front goes, see what BubbaJoe did to get the Corvette wheels on his latest project.
did a little more digging. the 6000 has 3 possible hubs. one is the same as the fiero (light duty brakes). one is the same as the olds ciera (medium duty) and another is for heavy duty breaks. I know the ciera one is a 5x115 pattern but the hub is a good bit bigger and the spline much larger. The only way I could see using it was if the CV joints were interchangeable. Use the transmission side from the fiero and wheel side from a 6000 or ciera.
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05:23 PM
Apr 9th, 2005
THE BEAST Member
Posts: 1177 From: PORT SAINT LUCIE,FLORIDA,USA Registered: Dec 2000
no I still don't know if it will work. I am asking if anyone knows/has the CV joint from these others. I would go to junk yard to check but in AL you are not allowed in the yard. I don't really want to spend $50 just to find out it won't work.
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03:44 PM
Will Member
Posts: 14250 From: Where you least expect me Registered: Jun 2000
If you step up to a 5x115 pattern, there are 16x7 wheels from a bonneville available and 16x8 wheels from a Grand Prix available. I am running 5x115 and 16x8 rear with 5x100 and 16x6 LeBaron wheels front. The three different types are all virtually identical.
------------------ Turn the key and feel the engine shake the whole car with its lope; Plant the gas pedal and feel in your chest neither a shriek nor a wail but a bellowing roar; Lift and be pushed into the harness by compression braking that only comes from the biggest cylinders while listening to music of pops and gurgles. Know that you are driving an American V8. There are finer engines made, but none of them are this cool.
Luck, Fate and Destiny are words used by those who lack the courage to define their own future
