I have been looking at wheels on ebay, mainly Cup and C2 in 17",such as this set here:

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1824502230&r=0&t=0" target="_blank">Ebay</a>

Will these directly fit a 1986 951? Is there a chart somewhere that cross references back spacing and popular take-off rims?

Thanks,
Robert

 

No they wont. You can see all the charts for each year and model on "the" 944 faq.

 

Uh, I recommend not using that table from the 944FAQ at all actually. It has numerous errors that will leave you more confused than before. Just say no...

Those wheels will fit perfect with spacers and studs and the procedure given here:

Also see the results with some C2 Cup wheels here:

Recommend reading, these threads here:

• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=002465" target="_blank">Topic: Wheels</a>
• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=001305" target="_blank">86 944 Wheel upgrades</a>
• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=001215" target="_blank">86 944 na - Turbo wheels</a>
• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=002296" target="_blank">Who makes nice 951 aftermarket wheels?</a>
• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=18&t=000144" target="_blank">'86 951 wheel upgrades</a>
• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=20&t=000106" target="_blank">Volk Racing TE37</a>
• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=001274" target="_blank">Max rear tire width on 944T 951</a>
• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=001277" target="_blank">Biggest, widest tires/wheels on 1987 944???</a>
• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=20&t=000095" target="_blank">Wheel spacers for early offset</a>
• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=20&t=000116" target="_blank">'87 wheels on an '84</a>
• <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=002201" target="_blank">Why are 18" wheels not recommended??</a>

 

Danno,
Can you recommend a place to get these parts? I found the 21mm spacers on pelican parts for ~$51 each. Is there any place cheaper I can get the 28mm and 21mm spacers? Also I found ten-packs of studs for $49.40 for 67mm and 72mm. Funny thing is, they have ten-packs of 50mm for $10.49.

Robert

 

Danno, some of the links to the threads are not working.

 

Rob - I just bought design 90 wheels off ebay and installed them on my 86 951 car with 25 mm spacers/adapters(they have studs in them) on each corner. I bought them new from Wheel Enhancments in CA because I wanted someone I could return them to if they did not look right. I tried to note where the old wheels were in relation to the Design 90s and I think that it looks right. I have been looking for another car to compare to just to double check.
Also Wheel Enhancements said to use 96 lb torque on all the lug nuts. The car rides fairly smooth since I did the conversion. I think my tires are little out of whack and they are causing a little vibration.
The new wheels look great on the car and really update it as now it looks like an 91 S2 (except for the turbo badge
Just make sure that any wheels you buy over ebay are in real good shape. It is just not worth it to deal with scratches and curb rash when so many wheels go over ebay at good prices.

 

[quote]Originally posted by Robwsup:
<strong>Danno,
Can you recommend a place to get these parts? I found the 21mm spacers on pelican parts for ~$51 each. Is there any place cheaper I can get the 28mm and 21mm spacers? Also I found ten-packs of studs for $49.40 for 67mm and 72mm. Funny thing is, they have ten-packs of 50mm for $10.49.

Robert</strong><hr></blockquote>


I had to use some spacers on the back of my car. Pep Boys sells generic/universal 5/16" for $7.50 ea. 3 of them stacked will get you 24mm for about half of Pelican's price. FYI......

 

"Danno, some of the links to the threads are not working."

Whoops sorry, those messages were from before the server change-over. I fixed all of them so that they work now, some judicious changing of 'scripts' to 'cgi-bin' in the URL.

"Can you recommend a place to get these parts? I found the 21mm spacers on pelican parts for ~$51"

Helps to call around a couple of places. Oklahoma Foreign I've heard is good at $25/ea for the 21mm. Viking Motorsports has good deal on studs at $40 for the whole set. I got my 21mm spacers for $15 from:

• Adirondack Auto Brokers
• www.germanautoparts.com
• Order toll-free 877.4.GERMAN
• Tel. 518.882.6534
• Fax. 518.882.1914

"I just bought design 90 wheels off ebay and installed them on my 86 951 car..."

Photos please! I haven't seen D90s on a 951 yet. Thanks

 

[quote]Originally posted by Danno:
<strong>Photos please! I haven't seen D90s on a 951 yet. Thanks</strong><hr></blockquote>Look at any stock S2 and you'll see what they look like.

BTW, I have a set of 17" 996 twist wheels with S-03s for sale in the Rennlist Classifieds My son also has a set of '89 Turbo forged 7-spoke wheels he'd like to sell (no tires).

 

A PO of my '86 944 put late offset phone dials on the car. I have no idea why. Anyway, I finally bought some spacers (the kind with built-in studs) to space out the rear wheels. I bought the spacers from Crow Automotive (http://www.crowautomotive.com/), and I am super happy with the quality, service, and price--about $140 for a pair of 1.25" spacers.

You can buy cheap spacers without studs, but you won't have enough thread on the studs coming out of your hubs to do much. The alternative is to buy longer studs to put in your hubs. I wonder if this is perhaps safer than using the spacers with built-in studs, but it involves removing your wheel hubs.

Josh B--So you have the spacers w/studs all the way around? Do you feel safe with them on your front wheels?

I'm very happy with the spacers on my rear wheels, and I'm thinking of buying another pair from Crow for the front.

Mark

 

Just finished the conversion to late model wheels on my '86 951 (see <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=005750" target="_blank">Topic: On the Road Again - Photos of the new wheels!</a>). I used Danno's recommendations and went with 21mm front spacers and 28mm rear spacers. Both were purchased from <a href="http://www.oklahomaforeign.com" target="_blank">www.oklahomaforeign.com</a> - I spoke to Gary when I called. The rest of the items were purchased from Viking Motorsports in Houston. I pretty sure he didn’t make much on the studs and only sold them to me because I bought the wheels from him. So, your price may vary. Anyway, here’s what I had to pay for the parts.

Parts list for the conversion:
$ 37.00 – Set of 10 new 65mm Front Wheel Studs (Stock is 45mm) - 911.331.671. 10
$ 36.20 – Set of 10 new 72mm Rear Wheel Studs (Stock is 45mm) - 901.331.671.01
$ 50.00 - 2 used 21mm Front Spacers (82-85 944 Rear) – 477.501.701
$100.00 - 2 used 28mm Rear Spacers (911-Turbo Rear) – 930.331.611.04
$800.00 - Used 17” (8 and 9 inch) 993 Wheels – No Center Caps
$436.00 - Refinish Wheels – Wheels of America

Total came to $1459.20, or $364.80 per wheel. Of course, that doesn’t include the price of the new tires (Bridgestone SO3’s from Tire Rack - $760), or mounting and balancing ($80), or installation of the studs ($360). So add another $300 per wheel and you now get a grand total of $664.80 per wheel (average of course).

Justification for the expense came from the fact that I needed new tires anyway, so I might as well go to 17” now and save the cost of the 16” tires. For me, keeping the car all Porsche was also important – at least from the outside, so I didn’t want the aftermarket wheels.

I love the look of the 993 wheels. Here in my area, 944’s with Turbo Twists are pretty common – mines the only one I know of with 993 wheels. Your area may differ – it’s all in how you want the car to look. <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />