6UL, 15x8, 11.4lb, fit my DIY 11.75" BBK, you can to if you wish I will make it happen

[RAAMaudio]

UPDATE!

Confirmed, you will soon be able to order the 11.75" BBK to fit over 15x8, 6ul wheels, final test of new caliper mounts and new stock knuckles completed 21APR16.

There may be a 4x108 wheel that will fit if somebody wants to run that bolt pattern it will also be available.

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Whew, it was a hard thing to pin down and nobody thought I could do it unless I had custom super deep rotor hats and very custom caliper mounts and then might not clear the suspension, etc...but I made it happen

These are only made in 4x100 but if you read my next post you will see what can be done for a very reasonable price.

I built the BBK, front and rear sets, to fit under 15x9 Konig wheels for my race tires and then bought more for summer only tires, it took considerable effort. I love the ride, performance, etc, so much on 15's I did not want to run the 17 Konig Feathers and Mich PS-3 AS tires, far to harsh. So I looked long and hard for a solution and with some templates and a lot of careful measurements I was able to determine the 6UL would be a very close fit and I could mod the caliper mounts a bit more if needed.

Nice little lip on these wheels

Great news, they fit, not quite so great, have to run 5mm spacers that I run with my summer tire setup caused by the tires having a thick rim protector on the inside edge where it seems an odd place to have it on a directional tire. On my 225 RA1 race tire on the same 15x9 Konig Helix I only have to run a 1mm spacer.

I will run the 5mm for now but when I get the time I will mod the caliper mounts to eliminate the spacer on the 15x8 wheels.

 

[RAAMaudio]

How to have a real performance BBK, super low weight wheels that are made for racing, and wide tires for a very reasonable cost.

If you consider the huge performance gains in all areas with very low weight wheels and lighter but far better brakes this is one of the all time best performance mods for the buck you can do, really it is that big of a deal and why I have a huge amount of time invested into doing this for myself, I just want to share it with others that are interested.

Also the weight savings in rotational mass will greatly reduce the load on the brakes making them more effective and last longer.

1) Wheels, 15x8, 6UL, 4x100, +35mm, 11.4lbs, roll formed so the are very close to being as strong as forged wheels for 1/3 or less of the price.
$159 each, $636, 8 valve stems, $40, dual stems like real race wheels, which these were designed for, racing, $676.

2) Wilwood BBK ordered with 11.75 GT rotors, around $1100 or so, will have to see if can be ordered without caliper mounts which would lower the price. All you have to do is turn the rotor hats 90 degrees and drill new holes for the 4x100 studs, this does not have to be done at a machine shop as the hats are hub centric.

3) Caliper mounts, I will adjust mine to pull the calipers in as far as possible, they are in a bit now but need to make a final tweak on the design then get a new set machined. We need to find a vendor that wants to offer this kit as I am retired and would rather not but if no takers I can have a batch of mounts made up for a GB, etc....then just order the BBK with the 11.75" GT rotors, you can order some less expensive rotors as well, I got my set from 2jr with the 11.75" rotors instead of the 12.19" standard kit. Then I had a machine shop make new caliper mounts to move the calipers in, took two tries to get it all lined up, been on the car for 7k miles and hard core track use, doing just fine.
Approx $250

3) If you can do all the work except drill the hubs, it should cost well under $200 to have them done.

4) Rear rotors, just drill new holes on a drill press, etc.

5) tires to suite your needs up to 225 wide race tires, 15's are cheaper than 16 and 17" almost always, more savings!

Total should be around $2300 with shipping but might come out less if the BBK can be ordered without caliper mounts, plus tires of your choice and there are some great tires available in 15"

I am putting on Nitto Neo Gen 205/50/15s on these wheels for my all season tires, they are the stickiest all season made, they will be my rain tires if I do any track events in the rain.

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I have my dream setup now, six 15x9 wheels with race tires, four 15x9 wheels with summer only super sticky tires and now four 15x8 even lower weight wheels with soon to be order highest grip AS tires but I want to help others if interested in this very fine mod and get rid of the damned 4x108
nightmare bolt pattern.

Let me know

Rick

 

[frankiefiesta]

So much want in this post

 

[RAAMaudio]

For those wanting fender flares and not have +0 or so wheels.....

I might do these sometime in the future, 15x11 with 275 wide slicks.

15x11, 14.3lbs, +20 offset, $219

(I would have some serious suspension work to do for proper geometry)

The make them in 15x7,8,9,10 and 11" wide, all very low weight, great prices.

The 15x7 is just 10.6 lb!

 

[GoMax]

Nice info Rick!
I am tempted! I've been wanting to got with a 6ULsetup, but didn't want to have to solve the puzzle myself.
-- Max

 

[RAAMaudio]

Glad you like it
I probably have a couple of hundred, if not a lot more, hours into this with all the changes, numerous sets of wheels and tires, etc...if I can help others skip the trouble then great but I do have to say it has been a very fun challenge.

I have 4 piston rear brakes with 11" rotors, the calipers have ears to mount the parking brake cable but I have not designed that part yet, it was far more work to fit 15x9 and the BBK in the rear than the front, not many will likely do it.

 

[twolf]

I need to see this with tires and on the ground.

The 6ul comes in a 17x8 as well, +45 offset. Would be verrrrrry nice!

 

[RAAMaudio]

Problem with 17x8 is you gain weight, pay more for wheels and tires, harsher ride, not to many tires to pick from but I can look as will always help as much as I can if for performance that is

That is why I am all for the 16x8 wheels for those that do not want to go to 15's.

Here are my recommendations in 16"

1) Enkei RPF1, 14.8 lbs, flow formed, will not fit the 12.19 BBK, it will fit the 11.75 BBK I built and am working to make available by a vendor, I hope. $219 per wheel.

2) Rays forged wheels, $450 or more per wheel.

3) Konig make Advanti Storm, around the weight of the RPF1, more modern design, possibly stonger and should fit the 12.19" BBK and be around $159 with 4 colors to choose from. I was at the final meeting of the company having them made which was very cool
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Not many made in the right width, diameter, weight, compound, etc in 16"

205/45/16 Hankook RS-3, 20lbs,older design but still pretty good all around sticky tire, $129
205/50/16 Dunlop Star Spec II, 21lbs, a bit tall at 24.1" same 7.5 tread width as the RS-3, $136
205/45/16 Federal 595 RSR-R, 21.34 lbs, 23.2" tall, 7.4 tread width, only around $75 each on some sites!

I have heard great things about the Federal but never tried them, never had the size I wanted to run.

If you want a tire that holds up well on the Octane cars, not sure on multiple laps, pretty decent tire for the money but not as fast as the above tires, might be quite a bit slower but I just do not know.

205/25/16 BFG Sport Comp II, 23.2", 21lbs, 8" tread width, $85 each, they are a bit wide for an 8" wheel but will work fine from what I have seen. There are likely other tires from other manf what will work about as well but I never run this type of a tire so not the one to ask. You can read the reviews on tirerack.com, this tire did quite well.

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FOR 17" wheels and tires, again costs more, rides worse, adds weight.

Advanti storm, 17x8 (they make a 9 but it will not fit the rear), 16.8lbs, $179
6UL, 17x8, 14.8lbs, $219

205/40/17 BFG Sport Comp II, not super sticky but a good all around tire
205/45/17 Star Spec II, it is a bit tall at 24.3"
205/45/17 Advan ADO8 R
215/40/17 Federal RSR-R

 

[TempeST]

Absolutely love it Rick, great job. I'll be on that horse soon enough, with the 6UL as well. Can't wait to see full pics of the wheels with tires on the car.

 

[twolf]

Absolutely, I was just saying for brake kit fitment for those who aren't as skilled as you, it's still lighter than stock at 14.8lbs per wheel

I would definitely rather have a 16" though. Which is why I'm liking the RPF1s!

 

[RAAMaudio]

Thanks

I might like the 6UL enough to sell off the ten Konig Helix and buy 10 of the 15x9 6UL's

I would save a whole big ton of weight, .6 lbs per wheel

OR, some 15x10 with 245 slicks for the front and 15x9 with 225s for the rear, it would get the power down better on track

Or as mentioned, 15x11, 275 wide slicks, that would be fun!

 

[twolf]

Rick... can I just say you're insane and I'm glad. I'm glad we have someone with your experience and thirst for performance... and the wallet to support it

Do you ever venture to the East coast? I absolutely have to ride in your car one day, especially with the quick spool kit, and shake your hand. Haha.

 

[RAAMaudio]

As for brakes, the 16x8 RPF1 will not fit over the standard BBK WW has for this car, I just had a new set here last week I shipped back to the shop so I have tested them and there is not enough space to go to that wheel

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The 11.75" BBK will be an easy mod if I have the caliper mounts made then you just have to drill new holes in the rotor hats and the RPF1 wheels fit just fine

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Doing the 4x100 swap is pretty labor intensive, after that, brakes pretty simple, then bolt on the wheels that fit your taste and go have fun

I have the info, a bit more tweaking, can get mounts made so this is a bolt on solution, 11.75" rotors and will fit the 16x8 RPF1 and these 15x8 6ULs.

The only labor difference is drilling holes in the rotor hats which is easy and

 

[RAAMaudio]

For those staying with stock brakes it is nearly the same amount of work, 4x100 conversion, drill the rotor hats, bolt on the wheels and a few more to choose from.

The lighter wheels, tires are all pretty close in weight, 15,16 and 17 but you are moving some of that weight inboard more, the stock brakes will work much better with so much rotational weight removed.

 

[RAAMaudio]

My wallet is usually pretty empty, even when I used to make 3 times the money, it all went to being nuts about cars

The most important thing I learned decades ago, there is little to be discovered but we can sure come up with new ways to do things others have not done yet by just looking around and seeing how things are put together, etc...and that I will never know nearly enough, there is always something to learn from somebody that knows more than I do.

We had planned to tour the country this year but plans changed, family issues took most of the funds, etc...but we just might next year, looking into going from the big trailer and dually to a motorhome and smaller trailer, easier to travel that way.


I got to hit the rack, been under the weather all day and got very little work done but had some great fun on this site, see you all tomorrow
Rick

 

[LT Berzerker]

I want to see the tires mounted and on the beast!!!

 

[RAAMaudio]

Me too, I have not ordered them yet, just doing the 15x8 with 205 NeoGen for now, my other setups have been posted before

15x9 Konig Helix with 225/45/50 Rival S, stick like glue!

 

[RAAMaudio]

I ordered the NeoGen tires, will be here on Monday, will get them mounted if I have the time and take some pics, $367 mounted, balance, tax, not bad.

The look like a summer tire more than an all season and have pretty soft rubber so should be pretty sticky, sure will be useless in snow but I am cool with that, I just need rain and cold weather use out of them.

 

[RAAMaudio]

I looked and looked but could not find the actual tread width of this tire but found pics of them on a 15x9, I could of done that as it looks like the same stretch as the 225 Rival S tires on my summer wheel and tire setup, this is one of those really wide 225s it seems.

Good news though is by finding the only 15x8 likely to fit over my BBK I can help others that cannot run 15x9's which is everyone on stock rear camber or without flares.

 

[RAAMaudio]

Got the NeoGen mounted today, pretty wide for a 205, the rubber is quite soft so should have very good grip for a shorter canyon run, etc but not likely to take heat to well but I did not buy them for the track.

Next to my 225/45/15 Rival S summer tires on 15x9 wheels, the NeoGen 205/50/15 is a bit narrower but it could be on a 9" wheel though a bit more stretched than I prefer still not to bad.

The NeoGen on a 15x8 has an effective contact width right around 7.5".

The Rival S on a 15x9 has and effective contact width around 8.25", part of why it works better on a 9" wide wheel as on a narrow wheel the the width is likely a bit less, tirerack posts them as 7.8".


Looks pretty beefy on an 8" wheel.

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The GeoGen/6UL setup weighs 32.0 lbs, mounted, balanced, dual valve stems.

The Rival S/Helix setup weighs 33.8 lbs with around 7/8 tread depth left.

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I ran into something I overlooked on the BBK fitment, worked on it today but tweaked my back a bit so hopefully OK in the AM to get back at it, will take a bit longer but not a big deal in the end.