asnowsquall

So I picked up this 944, and I rolled it off the trailer and 2 tires were low on air. I put air to them and about 2 hours later I walk into the garage and they are both flat. I pull them off the car so the tires don't get damaged. Next morning I put the air to them and use soapy water. These 2 rims we painted by the previous owner and they are leaking air at the center seam. He used StainlessSteel screws to replace the oxidizing original screws. I want to make sure that using SS screw OK to do and also find out what the torque spec is recommeded for these rims. The tires will need to come off, and the center seam needs to be sealed with RTV.
A couple of questions:
1) What brand of rim is this?
2) What are they worth as is?
Notice the weight that someone actually installed on the face of the rim.

Check out the pictures here:
http://asnowsquall.smugmug.com/galle...Kppk#256160166

J Berk

Not sure about the wheels but I love your tow vehicle!

Seriously, they looks similar to my dad's...which I think are HRE or something like that.

Erzengal

They look like the old BBS style wheels, however made in Japan... replica?

cb951

They look EXACTLY like the Epsilon wheels I put on my Triumph in 1986, except mine still look new

Epsilon is out of business.

PorscheDude1

Maybe Work Wheels?

DVC

Go here, they'll know: http://forums.vwvortex.com/

N/a 944

hahah yeah they know just about EVERY kind of wheel on the PLANET!
And will be more than happy to include pictures of the rims, just to show off their cars

asnowsquall

I love my school bus too, and the kids are nuts about it. Very hand rig and a very dependable International Harvester DT360 diesel engine.

Thanks for the input on the rims, I did post on the VW forum. I'm going to check with a local screw distrbutor for hardend screws today and get their input.

Dave

V2Rocket

replica of a BBS RS1

asnowsquall

Weird. The "original" bolts are 3/8" fine thread. For now, I'm going to get the car running, the tires wil hold air long enough for me to test drive it around the block a few times and see how the tranny shifts and engine performs. After this I will dig into the rims more. It will be interesting to see how they keep the rims from slopping around, like if they are pinned. I find it odd that Made in Japn rims have 3/8" bolts, unless the were shipped to the USA in pieces maybe?? Or built to American spec's??
I can get harded screws for $.37 ea. which seems safer to me.

cb951

Really...
There's no question in my mind that these are Epsilon wheels. This Epsilon wheel was a popular alternative to the BBS "mesh" wheel (probably the RS1) which was so popular in the '70s/'80s. Epsilon made other styles as well, and were priced a little lower than BBS. I believe the quality is at least as good as that of BBS. I have a 4-lug 15 x 7 version on my Triumph, and a friend has the same wheel in a 5-lug 16 x ? on his Pantera. They polish up very nicely. I would think that any good wheel repair operation (like Wheel Enhancement) could repair any wheel, as long as the center casting is good.

M758

I think you are right. I have set of those that came on my 944. I have an old set of 1982 Pano's and they have ad for Epsilon and those wheels look the same as what I have and what is pictured above.

Interstingly you's are 16's and I have 15's. I think 7's and 8's, but I have not been able to confirm. They are not spec legal so I just keep street tires on them for rolling the car around.

asnowsquall

" They are not spec legal " What does this mean? DOT legal?

Check this "Epsilon" site out
I sent them an email https://sv04.wadax.ne.jp/~frontline-...tact/index.php

Darwantae951

No, he's referencing the 944 Spec series. He cannot use them on his car when he races.

-Darwin

M758

Yep.
They came on my 944 that I converted to 944 spec racing. However they are not legal for the class so I can't use them on my race car. They are for storage only. This is fine with me as I have 4 sets of wheels, 3 with race tires on them in various states of wear and the epsilons with a set of old street tires I store the car on. This way I don't get flat spots in my race tires.