Aluminum 356 wide-five replica wheels

Yes, they are available. CNC centers machined from aluminum welded to 5.5'x15" aluminum rims. Everything is done in precision jigs to insure correct offset, trueness, and concentricity.

The wheels are very nicely finished (but may not be clear anodized) and weigh 10 lbs. (a Porsche 914/911 Mahle magnesium gas burner weighs 9.9 lbs). They do not have the hub cap spring clips installed but you can do this yourself if desired. Wheels are $550 each plus $12.50 shipping in the USA.

I will be eating hot dogs or beanie-weenie and maybe ironing my own shirts for a while but I figure a set is worth it - you get the authentic 356 "look" AND very light weight.

(Message Edited 3/26/2003 3:56:50 PM)

Who makes them? I saw those at a show like I said earlier but have yet to find the maker. Yes they are light. My only gripe is that the holes (outer) do not have the same section on them thus it looks a little cheaper to the steels but they are light. The holes in the steels have a return lip on them and the AL one just have a simple hole. Far away they look good but they lack a little detail. I am a real picky person though and this may not matter to you. George you should take a real good look at one of these before you buy.

J-P

You know the wieght saving is really great. Nine pounds per wheel is pretty good. George, can you post any pics of these wheels?

J-P

I emailed pics of both types to Theron and asked him to post them.

Jean-Paul which wheel were you looking at? He makes one wheel for 356A and 356B, and a different one for 356C, and of course they look different. If they look OK for general looks and look OK from 15 feet for authenticity then I'm happy (especially when you consider the weight savings).

If anyone wants pics email me and I'll email them back to you; please don't ask unless you are serious about buying a set as Theron will probably have the pictures posted in a day of so anyway.

The maker's name is Alex Bivens, email is alex@bivenssurfside.net. Please don't flood this guys email with questions unless you are a serious buyer. Lead time is a minimum of three weeks from receipt of order with full payment; I think he makes each set to order.

(Message Edited 3/26/2003 5:50:50 PM)

I agree with you. Wieght with these cars is a big thing especially if it's unsprung.

J-P

I have a guy here in Sydney that spins aluminium rims and will rivet wide five steel centres into them. I'll get more info and images.

Peter, that's what Porsche did for their optional racing wheels. There are two problems with this method - the first is that the rivets can loosen over time and the second is that steel and aluminum bonded together corrode - especially the aluminum (Austin Healey 100s had this problem with steel and aluminum body parts bolted together).

The Bivens aluminum wheels have hubs CNC machined from solid aluminum billets tht are precision jigged up with spun rims and TIG welded together.

More on these wheels - if you want to order a set you must specify your backspace - this is the perpendicular distance from the inside mounting surface to the outside edge of the inner wheel rim. Anything between 4.0" and 4.5" backspace can be had. Also, the stock mounting stud diameter on Bivens' wheels is 14mm but most replicas use 12mm diameter studs, so order accordingly.

Alex also says that since his wheel centers are not EXACTLY like a 356A/B wheel (he used a Porsche Spyder RS wheel as a pattern), if you drill and fit hub cap clips and hub caps the hub cap fit will be kinda/sorta OK but not PERFECT as the wheel centers are slightly different.

Alex has a 356B Roadster and said that by changing from stock steel wheels to his aluminum wheels, road surfaces that used to cause "bump-steer" now DO NOT cause bump-steer. Evidently the reduced unsprung weight is a major factor in this difference.