Where is the best place to look for Saleen 5-spoke wheels that will it fox body?

[92redragtop]

Where is the best place to look for Saleen 5-spoke wheels that will it fox body? Can be new or used.

Picked up a set (17x9) from American Muscle but they stick too far out in front.

Offset: 24mm
Backspacing: 5.945 Inch, 151.1mm


TIA

[fast Ed]

Does anyone offer them in a 17x8”? 9” is somewhat aggressive for the front of a Fox unless you have a fair amount of negative camber dialed in.

[ZR]

Yes typicallly 8 fits front the best. Not sure ever seen 8" Saleen either.

[92redragtop]

Yeah, agree on the 17x8 but I've never seen that size in this style. I am running AM 17x9's now (2003 10th Anniversary Style) and they fit quite well considering the size but the offset/backspacing are different on those.

I've seen Saleen's on fox bodies before but I think those were 18's however there were 17's available a few years ago....not sure what the offset/backspacing on those that fit versus the ones I have that doesn't fit under/within the fender.

[Laffs]

Assume we are talking about the 99-04 Style Saleen wheels not the Saleen stern replicas. If so those come in 9 and 10" widths only unfortunately, however the problem is more offset than width really. Wheel Replica brands (the ones with the ZR looking logo on center cap) if you can find em. They used to have 30mm offset ones as well as the standard 24/22mm fitments. They've been discontinued so eBay/used is the only option. You could have you wheel hubs milled down 5mm on the hubs by a machine shop to increase the positive offset but that has other implications and hurdles to overcome.

The other option if you car has been 5 lug swapped with the conversion rotors, you can go to the Sn95 94/95 spindles and brakes which IIRC drops your track width down to stock vs the thicker conversion rotors.

[92redragtop]

Assume we are talking about the 99-04 Style Saleen wheels not the Saleen stern replicas. If so those come in 9 and 10" widths only unfortunately, however the problem is more offset than width really. Wheel Replica brands (the ones with the ZR looking logo on center cap) if you can find em. They used to have 30mm offset ones as well as the standard 24/22mm fitments. They've been discontinued so eBay/used is the only option. You could have you wheel hubs milled down 5mm on the hubs by a machine shop to increase the positive offset but that has other implications and hurdles to overcome.

The other option if you car has been 5 lug swapped with the conversion rotors, you can go to the Sn95 94/95 spindles and brakes which IIRC drops your track width down to stock vs the thicker conversion rotors.

Yes, 99-04 style. Good point on the conversion as I forgot to include that info - front end has been converted to 5-lug with 95/95 spindles and 2003 Cobra brakes.

The current 17x9 wheels fit fine and have 30mm offset and 6.18" backspacing.

[Laffs]

Yeah milling the hubs of what you got would be path of least resistance. I check all my sources and can't find any 17x8 in that style or anyone still making the 30mm 17x9s

[92redragtop]

Thanks - I guess I could go back to 03 Cobra style wheels which are available in 30mm offset.

The Saleen style 18's appear to be available in 30mm offset still if I stepped up in size...have to buy new tires anyway.

Would milling the hubs of the wheels weaken them?

[Laffs]

Thanks - I guess I could go back to 03 Cobra style wheels which are available in 30mm offset.

The Saleen style 18's appear to be available in 30mm offset still if I stepped up in size...have to buy new tires anyway.

Would milling the hubs of the wheels weaken them?

That's the big caveat of this. Many people have done it with no adverse affects, but yes technically you are removing material from area that takes a great deal of load, problem is not exactly easy to get engineering data on rep wheels so no one is going to call it "safe"

Personally I'd either go with a different wheel or size in this instance instead of modifying the wheel.

FWIW it's worth a friend ran 18" saleens on his red fox vert, looked bitchin, but now he's on period correct 17" Sterns and WOW do those look perfect on that car

[92redragtop]

Yeah I'd prefer not to gamble with wheel strength especially with replicas. I have seen fox bodies with 18's and some look good and with others it looks like too much wheel....they're not big cars.

[Laffs]

Yea I think a big face 17" wheel is the best for them

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/285931600669?epid=8059015562&itmmeta=01J30ASFPE0JZRAD6EMSQH5QWJ&hash=item4292d9fb1d:g:VFoAAOSwo1Nmf1di&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8MjOqN8yRShYwA%2FOvJITJKGDXSI Q56CAGAXgP%2B8b2VfPhkwM1liJnnt3bNv2A9VDqFckcS1Q7cf aJUXxYiIzeVF7PiYRLn25Lof37DsTdGom9LB%2Fd43kgSlaL%2 FK3PuTiPTQ1GBrGllajwcgrPcLtUAfXMeCuiGo%2Bsocy3dMem YeQtmHW78XSv97hQ%2BdmQ1sUQwyQiX9MMIG%2FR%2FqNz0CrL q%2Bp2MT97YOa17chQZFUQXAmiaxBW06VhKEMFqPDIJ96YzcW1 oTXqFthZuDmPa1ifwrKfDXYToXSVYbrzSzsJKm%2FUm7jBD%2F sp%2BMMrvps%2Fb4Glg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6b75YqYZA

Those are peak fox wheel IMO

[hsousa88]

Yeah I'd prefer not to gamble with wheel strength especially with replicas. I have seen fox bodies with 18's and some look good and with others it looks like too much wheel....they're not big cars.

They don’t look good imo. Been running a set of ‘temporary wheels’ for maybe 8 years now and I don’t love them. Spacers out back helped a bit.