VTO 15X7 Wheels for SV-Pics

[cmaxcliff]

These are the wheels that VTO drilled to spec for my Duratec SV. They are of a nice quality and are a direct fit.The price was very reasonable and they come with lug nuts and valve stems. I had to replace the studs with longer ones that were available at the local NAPA. http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/cmaxcliff/DSC_0011.jpghttp://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/cmaxcliff/DSC_0003.jpghttp://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu173/cmaxcliff/DSC_0009.jpg

[Kitcat]

They look terrific, and match the character of the car. What does it mean that VTO drilled them to your spec? Are they a one-off custom build? If so, what approx cost?

[cmaxcliff]

They stock quite a few popular sizes that are drilled at the factory. They also have a selection of wheels that are finished except for the bolt pattern. I had the 16X7 wagon wheels(which somebody should buy from me for cheap track wheels!) and I wanted a Minilite clone in the 15X7 size which are hard to find. I was racing my '55 Porsche Cabster at Road Atlanta and VTO had a display there showing some good looking wheels. They were able to provide the rare 4X109mm bolt pattern in a 15mm offset 15X7 wheel which is close to the 19mm offset of the wagon wheels. The total price for 5 wheels delivered was $900. That is $180 each including lug nuts, stems and shipping. I had the shop that mounted the tires check the wheels for true and they were great. They didn't take much weight either. They also fit the wheels with steel lug seats. You MUST install longer studs since the nut only goes 3 turns to tight with the stock lugs. In fact the stock studs are not really long enough for the wagon wheels.

Edited August 21, 2011 by cmaxcliff

[cmaxcliff]

The wheel studs that I used are NAPA Dorman part number 641-3216 and are 46mm long.

[MHKflyer52]

Nice looking 7 you have their and the wheels look good also.

 

Where in PA are you located as I grew up just west of Philadelphia (about 30 miles from downtown) off RT 30.

[cmaxcliff]

Hi Martin-I am in Chester Springs which is near Paoli and Exton. Thanks for the compliments.

 

I bought my car 4 years ago in the SoCal area. I liked that it looked vintage but had a modified 2.3 Duratec. It was in need of quite a bit of sorting which should have been done by the "dealer" that built it for the guy that I bought it from. The plumbing for coolant, fuel and dry sump looked like the three stooges did it and the car ran quite hot. After a little re-routing to mimic the Ford factory, the car runs at less than 70C at all times. The SBD fuel injection was so rich that the mileage was less than 10mpg and the car loped and bucked below 3000rpm. The cams were out of time and the ignition trigger wheel was rattling around on the aftermarket engine pulley.

 

It took awhile to learn how the injection needed to be mapped. There are around 20 maps or correction settings in the program and they were all wrong. It took 3 years of fiddling and a few trips to the dyno to get it really right but the car now drives as faultlessly as a Ford family car and gets 20mpg around town while making 235hp. I now love this car and drive it every day that the sky is clear.

[jlumba81]

What tires are you using? How's the fender fitment w/ the different offset?

[cmaxcliff]

I chose the Dunlop Z1 Direzza Star Spec in the 205/50R15 size. The rear tire now looks better in relation to the width of the fender since it is slightly farther out but still under the fender. The front tire is no longer ultra close to the fender supports but the fender is no longer quite centered over the tire. I was going to "adjust" the fender but I am living with it until I am sure that it bothers me. Nothing hits, front or back. I like the tires.

[jlumba81]

Thanks for the tip on the wheel studs. I'll add it to my winter to do list. Do you know how much more clearance you gained on the inner side of the rear tires? I'd like to run a similar setup but w/ 225/45r15 tires and I'm worried about exhaust clearance. I still run the rear exit exhaust. Chose that tire size because I'd like to test out the hankook ventus R-3S and that's their only 15" size.

[cmaxcliff]

The difference in clearance will vary with the model of tire because tires vary in width at the points between the rim and the tread depending on their design. I think the original Avons were wider there because I picked up more than the 4mm increase in offset that the wheels have. Maybe the 16" to 15" put the fat part of the tire closer to the widest part of the fender stays? I will look later and report back if I notice anything.

[trough doctor]

I am also considering the dunlops. How is the gravel intake?

[cmaxcliff]

Adequate! Seems the same as the Avons...not real bad.