11Budlite Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I've never had to use wheel spacers before, but on the Birkin I have a serious gap (at least 1-1/4" ) between the outer edge of the rear tires and the fenders. See the following photo: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1947103873_20080410_0022R.jpg The wheels I'm using are 15" x 7" with a 35mm offset. I plan on getting some new lighter wheels/stickier tires at some point, but in the mean time I was thinking of getting some spacers to move the wheel out. Would something like the following be acceptable to use? http://www.ezaccessory.com/Wheel_Adapter_4_Lug_100_To_4_Lug_100_p/4100-4100.htm Any advice or previous experience would be appreciated. Thanks, Bruce :7drive: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 depends on teh strength of teh wheel hubs and bearings. subaru hubs (5x100) are notoriously weak and anything more than a 5mm spacer severely shortens the life of teh wheel bearings. Toyota hubs were fine with 15-25mm spacers. u should contact someone who is more familair with teh birkin hubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 If you get some, I recommend Kics. I've used these as you don't have to mess with your studs. It's a straight bolt up deal (just locktite & torque). Don't know about hub strength but they use them on drift cars and they work fine on my Infiniti G35 coupe. An inch is a pretty big spacer.. though I do have 1 inch spacers on the rear of my 67 Chev Pick Up. http://www.evasivemotorsports.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Kics_Wheel_Spacer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I had a set of spacer/adaptors machined at a local shop to allow me to use my Miata track wheels on the Caterham. They are 28mm thick and adapt the 4 x 100 mm Miata wheels to the Caterham 4 x 4 1/4" hubs. Cost was about $50 each and they are hub centric to the wheels and on the hub side the tolerances are so tight that I have to smack them with a rubber mallet several times to get them off. It turned out that the front and rear hubs on the Cat are different and so I have a front set and a rear set. They look alot like the ezaccessory ones. Skip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davemk1 Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 One issue you might find on a Birkin (maybe other sevens too) is that the rear track is already almost 3" wider than the front. If you add to this substantially I'll bet you add understeer in a big way as the rear grip will go up a good bit while the front will stay the same. I suppose you could consider doing the fronts too but this is project creep in a big way at the fenders would need to be modified...............not to mention the fact that your scrub radius would be huge and the stress on the front spindles might be scary. In the end it might be easier to put on narrower fenders dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 Thanks for the info guys! I still have to do a little more research, but I could have sworn that some of the Birkins had wheels with less offset which would bring the wheel out closer to the fender. It wouldn't be enough to make up the gap but it would help. I'm also thinking of going to 205/50x15 tires because of the better selection, and that should help some as well. "In the end it might be easier to put on narrower fenders " - I thought about that too, Dave! I might just get a set of spacers for a temporary fix for the rear. Maybe the front sway could be adjusted to try to balance it out a little. Right now it seems to be a little loose as it is! Bruce :7drive: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davemk1 Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 FWIW stock Birkin wheels are 15 x 7 with a 30mm offset. dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted June 30, 2008 Author Share Posted June 30, 2008 Could any of you guys with a Birkin measure the rear fender width from body to fender edge? I'm trying to eliminate any other variables. FYI my rear fenders measured out to between 12-3/8" to 12-1/2". TIA, Bruce :7drive: PS: Thanks for the offset info Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted July 9, 2008 Author Share Posted July 9, 2008 Bump for Birkin rear fender width measurement...anybody? I just weighed my wheel/tire combination and it came out to 38.44 lbs. The wheels are TSW and the tires are Firestone Firehawk 690's. Shouldn't be too hard to find a lighter/stickier combination! Bruce :7drive: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Bruce, 11 7/16 in the front of the rear tires about axle height & 11 5/8 at the rear of the tire. I run 225's on the rear with either 30 or 38mm off set wheels. I also run 8mm spacers on all 4 wheels. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 My measurement was to the inside lip of the fender to the body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted July 10, 2008 Author Share Posted July 10, 2008 Thanks Gary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Bruce, I, like Dave would not be concerned with how much excess you have between the tires & inside of the fender lip. I run 225 / 45’s on the rear and to fit them in I need that extra room. I sure would not cut the fender just for aesthetics. I like the grip the 225’s have. With the either the Toyo R888 or Kumho V710 slicks it is outstanding. The Falken RT 615 205's won't hold even close to the other two. They are much better in the wet though. The compound is much harder and should wear better if that is what you want. The Rt 615 is stil a great tire for the $$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 Thanks again Gary. The Falken RT 615's have been at the top of my list for what I plan on using my car for right now. Still undecided on the wheels, but I do want to get back to the 30mm offset as well as a lighter wheel. I've been thinking of these: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/444393794_images.jpg They're a little less than 10 lbs in a 15 x 7 size, but would require a 5mm spacer to get the 30mm offset. It's one of the few modern wheels that I like the looks of. I would really like some Minilite/Panasport type wheels but most of them are a bit heavier.... Bruce :7drive: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birkin42 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 I have a set of RPF1's for my car. The quality is great and I hear they are pretty strong with the rolled rims. A pretty good value too for the weight compared to forged or 3 pc wheels. Just need to make or find a center cap since they don't make them for the 15" size. I went with 15x7x35mm offset for the front and 16x8x38mm offset for the rear and plan to run 205/50/15 ft and 225/45/16 rears. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 Thanks Jack. When you get them on your car would you mind taking a picture for me? Thanks, Bruce :7drive: PS: How's your car coming along? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birkin42 Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 Bruce, No problem taking a picture of them once on the car, but you will likely be waiting a while. Progress was good through the winter but life has been busy with work, stuff around the house and a baby 6 weeks away keeping my occupied. The chassis mod's are done and am currently working on the rear suspension. Still a fairly long list of things to do after that. Having fun working on it when time permits though I can't wait to get the car on the road. I'm getting a small shop set up at work with a lathe, mill and CNC milling center so these will come in handy as the project progresses. If in the mean time you want any pictures or measurements off the wheels, let me know. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 Jack, "Progress was good through the winter but life has been busy with work, stuff around the house and a baby 6 weeks away keeping my occupied." - I hear you on the busy part. Nancy and I have just recently become "parents" again with our 4-month old granddaughter that we're watching. I thought I forgot all that feeding, burping, changing diaper stuff, but it's just like riding a bicycle! :ack: Thank goodness she's been (for the most part) sleeping through the night! :blueangel: You are really in for an amazing experience and I wish you and your family the best!! As far as your Birkin, weren't you putting in a Honda drivetrain with IRS? I really hope you're documenting your build because of the changes you're making....would love to see some pics if you get a chance. No problem with the wheel pictures, I think whatever wheels I get will be a Christmas present. Bruce :7drive: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birkin42 Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I figure it is going to be a life changing experience. I have a few friends that are in the same boat with having their first when they are in their 40's so that should help. Yup I'm putting an S2000 engine and trany in a Birkin and building my own DeDion rear suspension. I'm not aware of anyone else who has tried to put this engine/trany is an original size 7, but I assume there are others out there. It's a tight fit. The engine and transmission now fit in the chassis and the stock hood will just clear once I trim down the valve cover. The diff and rear suspension mounts are now also in the chassis and I'm working on the axle and other rear suspension pieces. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davemk1 Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I just recently put new wheels on my Birkin............ it sure is nice having wheels that are actually round. Crazy I know. I'm running 215/45's in the rear and 195/50's up front and they fill the fenders pretty well. I got them from Good-Win Racing and they are Team Dynamics wheels meant for a Miata. They are 15 x 7 with a 30mm backspace. They are fairly light at 12 or so pounds and they are pretty cheap. The center bore to fit the Spec Miata is too small for the Birkin (needs 60.1mm front on my car) so Good-Win had them bored out for me for $10 a wheel and he did a nice job. So there are aren't too many 30mm BS wheels out there but there are a few. Dave http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/906589361_DSC_9996.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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