I've seen a couple sites offering the service to widen aluminum wheels. I have a tig welder, and a vertical band saw thats accurate enough. I'd like to widen a set of wheels I have by 2". Anyway, hows done this as a DIYer?


Heres the site offering the service at $200/wheel. From what I can tell, they are taking aluminum sheetmetal, and cutting a strip of it, forming it into a circle, and welding it on.

http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/Wide.htm

Justin

 

That would be extremely difficult to maintain tolerance the way aluminum pulls when welded. Then you would have to temper the wheel afterwards. I would just buy wider wheels.

 

james of jg-fab widened the rear oem wheels on his s2k a couple years back. this is not something that you can do with a band saw and a tig welder.

sure you can cut the wheel, but can you cut it straight within a millimeter all around? probably not. you will have to spin both sides flat on a lathe after cutting. this should also be done with the ring you add in place. i would absolutely not use a flat piece formed round and welded. i'd cut a ring out of another rim if i couldn't find the right size ring/pipe to be added.

you should also measure everything before, during and after the whole process with an accurate indicator to check roundness, concentricity and proper width.

i think $200 is a good deal to have something as critical as this done.

 

yeah this is definitely not a DIY task. I would have a professional, or a tleast someone with the right tools do it. Our shop's race car had widened wheels on it and just last week one of them popped in half when we were loading it back on to the trailer (thank god it wasn't on the track lol).

 

No, your bandsaw is not accurate enough, turn them on a lathe, and when you weld them, turn them on a positioner. On second thought, this is one of those things that if you have to ask about, you shouldn't be doing it at all.

 

Well I have access to a lathe and mill as well. Just curious who has done this.

 

I've done it, to me its no big deal, but that is because I have the tools and experience. I would seriously consider what I said earlier or you may have some significant issues in the future. Best of luck.