I spoke with Andy at So Cal Imports last week and he confirmed that they are about 3 months away from producing (as an AC product) a front wide-5 kit disc brake for those currently owning Speedsters having a VW front disc set up. Currently, AC only makes a front wide-5 disc conversion that requires changing the rotor spindle to a drum spindle. The new kit will not only be cheaper for current VW front disc brake Speedster owners, but will avoid a whole lot of install labor not to mention a realignment.
I am going to wait for this new product, and in the meantime have some questions about what a period-correct wide-5 wheel would look like, and the offset of a 15x5-1/2 wide-5 wheel versus a Mangels 15x5-1/2 4 lug wheel.
My car was built in 2000 and has Mangel 15x5-1/2 4 lug wheels. Is it safe to assume that the wide-5 wheel choices that I see out there have an offset that would be the same as my 4 lug Mangels ? If so perfect, as there is pleanty of room in the rear to move to 185x65 15s.
Also, it looks like there are at least two different features that I've seen in the wide-5 wheels that are available. While each have ten openings (as opposed to 8 for the 4-lug wheels), some are shaped differently, i.e., some of the openings are shaped a little rounded while others are shaped more rectangular. The other thing that I've noticed is that some of the wheels only have the 5 lug openings and the hubcap clips, while others have a smaller hole or opening near each of the lug openings (in additino to the hubcap clips).
Which of these variations more closely track the Porsche 356 wheel of the era (1956-1957). I am anxious to get the wheels and tires as my car is screaming for a wide-5 upgrade.
As always, all input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Grant
