Project XTC - The Rehabilitation! (Page 2/47)
katatak MAR 18, 07:13 PM
Mid week update!

Well after much debate, searching, 50 plus phone calls, comparing, etc, etc. I have made a decision on the dilema of purchasing custom made wheels or using spacers on the XTC. Many folks on PFF were dead set against using spacers so I started seaching for custom made wheels with the right backspace and width to get the right look for the car. I did manage to find a wheel manufacturer that was reasonable and would build the wheel any way I wanted. The down fall is that these are steel wheels used mainly in circle track / Nascar applications. However, they would custom design the wheel center any way I could dream up. I was looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of 150.00 per wheel plus shipping. So 700.00 plus just for wheels went beyond my budget.

I started looking at wheel spacers. I found a manufacturer that makes special wheel spacers for off road racing and drag racing applications. The guy that makes them gave me some phone numbers to several of his customers and I made several phone calls talking to people that use these. Not one bad report from anyone. There is a certain design and specific instructions for installation that are critical to the life of these spacers and everyone I talked to said that if you don't follow the instructions and use the wrong design, I would have problems. So I decided to get these spacers. I had to take a lot of measurements of the hubs and wheels and send them wth pics. A week later I had a custom made set of spacers for the XTC. We went with 2" wide in the back and 1.5" wide in the front. Here's some pics. Keep n mind that we will be going to a 245 tire in the back and maybe a 215 n the front. Right now they are 225 in the back and 205 in the front. The boy wants to keep the stock lace wheels and I do have a set in gold ones that we may try out. I think the gold would look good but he wants to keep the all black theme going.

What I learned is this: As for design of the spacers there are a vast majority being sold that are simply lug centric from the spacer to the hub and lug centric from the wheel to the spacer. Everyone I talked to said "do not use these". Others are hub centric from the spacer to the hub and lug centric from the wheel to the spacer. I was warned to stay away from these type too. The kind I am using are hub centric from the spacer to the hub and hub centric from the wheel to the spacer. Most companies that sell these will only build them to order as there is more machine work to do versus the standard type you can get off ebay. Also they could not emphasize enough that you must use proper torque and sequence both on the spacer to hub and wheel to spacer. Most important is that each lug have the same torque as all the rest. One other important thing to look for is that the cheaper ones recess the pocket for the lug and use a standard length lug. The ones I bought do not have a pocket machined for the lug and use a longer lug. The back face of the lug is flush with the back side of the spacer versus recessed. Recessing the lug is the number one cause for the lug's to break.

XTC before spacers:

And after:







I love being able to sit back and watch my son do all the work!


OK - let the flaming begin!
Carver1 MAR 18, 07:45 PM
groovy. I want my car back.

------------------
86 SE 4 Speed 2.8 "The Short Bus"



88 Coupe 4.9 "Hibernating"

katatak MAR 18, 09:43 PM
Yeah sure.....Wait another month or 2 so I can get the power windows,locks and mirrors installed. I checked out installing the stock power mirrors like we were talking about. Looks like it will work great. I will have to fab a backing plate for strength. Still not sure if the stock style Fiero mirror goes well with the XTC body. I'll have to look at it a littl more before I go drilling holes.
Carver1 MAR 18, 10:09 PM
I've been looking at a few sets of mirrors that might match the theme. BMW and volvo seem to look ok if you can get them cheap enough.
I'll wait til the V-8 is running good before I pick it up. Sound good?

I found the remote for the alarm and the rest of the wood trim surround for the shifter if you need them. I'll add them to the parts list I'm gathering for you. Hope you are ready to rebuild some headlight motors!
Tony Kania MAR 18, 10:22 PM
Way better look with the spacers. I was set against them, but I can't argue with a guy that does his homework. I also see that you are becoming quite the pro at headlight motors.

------------------

katatak MAR 18, 10:29 PM
I don't know why but it seems like I have done a bunch of headlight motors recently. I found some "brushes" the other day at a hobby store that I think wll be a good fix for the Gen 1 switch's. Going to put one together this weekend and see how it works.
pavo_roddy MAR 18, 10:51 PM
HI all

Great car, 1 question, do you bottom the nose out at all?

------------------
Me, I sell engines, the cars are for free, I need something to crate the engines in....
Enzo Ferrari....

Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines....
Enzo Ferrari...

Today they are called garage's, yesterday, they were stable's! Eric Jacobsen....

katatak MAR 19, 03:30 PM

quote
Originally posted by pavo_roddy:

HI all

Great car, 1 question, do you bottom the nose out at all?




Well that was one of the problems I thought we would have. The 86 SE and the 88 Formula will scrape the lower valance when backing out of the driveway but the XTC barley clears the same curb. We also were worried that it would not clear the enormous speed bumps in the high school parking lot. First thing we did was drive it down to the high school and run it over the speed bumps - if we are carefull, it clears no problem. It looks low but I think it is an optical illusion due to the length. Probably will have to be carefull going in and out of parking lots form the road if the "dip" is long or deep. Have to take em at an angle.

[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 03-19-2009).]

Frizlefrak MAR 19, 07:53 PM
Hey Pat....the wheel wells look soooo much better now that they're filled up.
katatak MAR 19, 08:01 PM

quote
Originally posted by Frizlefrak:

Hey Pat....the wheel wells look soooo much better now that they're filled up.




Hey Dan, I was not real crazy about this car but my boy had to have it. Now that the wheels look right, I am not sure he is going to get it. I can't believe the difference.