I have a set of WB Lobsters with Pirelli Sotozero 295/30-19s that I'm considering modifying to fit my 99 C2 Cab.

I've seen the NB Lobsters on a 996 (rolled fenders) with 295/30s and 10mm spacers that look great. So I thought I could mill down the mating surface of the WB for the same effect.

Offset are as follows:

WB ET 51
NB ET 67

Modification:

WB ET 51 minus the 6mm CNC cut equals ET 57
NB ET 67 plus 10mm spacer equals ET 57

Am I doing the math right? Any thoughts on taking


​​​​​​​ 6mm off the mating surface of an alloy wheel? There seems to be a lot of meat on there, almost like the casting is the same for the NB and WB but that might not be accurate.

Appreciate any inputs, positive or otherwise. Thanks!

 

Are you lowered? Or have plans of lowering? It might fit perfect without any modification if the car is lowered. The top of the wheel tucks in when ride height is dropped.. more than you'd think. Def worth test fitting before cutting.
Good luck and post pics.

 

I really don’t think standard 19x11 et 67 will fit with a 10mm spacer. When I mounted mine, I ran a 10mm spacer in the front. We tried the same spacer in the rear and it rubbed. Car is on H&R springs and B6s. These are the rear wheels with no spacer at all the I think the fitment is just fine.







Regarding modifying them, they are easy to find and not a lot of money. I would just buy the correct wheels and sell the ones you have.

 

I agree with the last statement. There is a bunch of things to worry about...like is there enough material left to provide strength when wheel bolted on. Also you have to shorten the standard bolts as well. Finally, if you do that the wheels will be hard to sell.

 

DON'T DO IT!!!! You will detrimentally decrease the strength of the wheel when you remove that much material from the mating surface. The distance between the bottom of the recesses of the bolts holes and the mating surface will be compromised by a lot. You should never remove any material from the mating surface.

 

I have always heard the machining wheels to change the offset is no-no.

 

copy, sage advice. Beautiful car!

 

I personally have never liked the look of the lobster fork wheels on any 996 or 997, but they really look perfect on Diddy2003's Aerokit 996!

 

I agree, I've never liked them either, but they work on THAT car !!!

 

Definitely.
If nothing else, think about how long the lug bolts are now and how much meat there is between the bolt head and back of the wheel. In other words, if the bolt is 3 CM long and 1.5 CM sticks out the back of the wheel and into the hub, what is left for the head to hand onto if you cut 10 MM off the wheel?

 

I think it's the same story for all of us....not a fan of lobster claws but on a aero it's my second favorite wheel with mk2 GT3 being the first. That silver aero with lobsters is just perfect.

 

Fork. ;-)

 

Thank you for the kind words. I love the way it looks. I keep telling my fiancé that I want some E88s or LMs, and she refuses to let me take off the lobsters! And Skip, I was the one asking about the UAOS. Thanks again for the help.

Not to hijack the thread, but it will be getting some nice additions over the winter. Winter projects. .5 quart LN deep sump oil pan, UAOS, water pump/chains/guides, phenix engineering toe links to replace frozen originals, lower control arms with solid bushings, new transmission bushing and RSS engine mounts, and a center radiator with LN low temp thermostat. Thanks a lot to my friend theDeckman that owns Phenix Engineering. This project will require many cases of beer.





OP, FYI, I bought my lobsters for 350 bucks on Craigslist. They were far from perfect, but I had Automobile Associates, Canton CT, refinish them. They came out great.

 

^^^^ You need your girlfriends permission to change your rims?

 

🤣🤣 Nope, but she loves the car. It’s the least I can do, until I find my future BBSs 😎