18x8" rims on a GenI?

[JaySHOguy]

I know several members have 18's on their GenI's, but is it possible to fit an 18x8" rim in the rear wheelwells?

I am contemplating buying a set of wheels that are on a GenIII currently and he fits them with no problem.

I know I would need to trim the lips back a little bit, but I am not sure if there is enough lip to trim off?

Thanks for any tips.

 

[ACV1081]

My old Team Dynamics were 18X8" and I had no problem with them on my 91. shrug

 

[GR8WYT]

You have to pay particular attention to tire width and wheel offset. I have 235/45-17 tires mounted on 17x7.5 wheels with a 38mm offset and they just barely fit. The left rear wheel well is the problem and they way Ford welded the fender lip makes it very difficult to roll. Trimming is an option of course, but you should be very careful not to trim off more than 1/4 of the width of the spot welds. The reason for this is that weakening the welds will ruin the structural integrity of the quarter panel. As the body man who did mine put it: "The quarter panel will fold like a taco shell if you get hit from the rear, and the Insurance company will look at it as a custom modification and may not cover you. You could trim off more, but you will have to strenghten the spot welds with more welds and that can get kinda expensive.

An 18x8 wheel with a 40 to 42mm offset and a 225mm width tire will work OK with a bit of trimming on the left side.

Stuff to consider.

 

[Yamaha V6]

Well, after getting rear-ended in my 95 & getting the butt-porking I took from the insurance company, I'd say they're going to go right into pork-mode regardless.

I have my 91's trimmed flush, no welds.

Also, Jay Mansfield's wheels were on Kev Schofield's, with 245/45-17 on TD 17x7.5" Rim2K's at +45mm offset, and fit on those as well. I have 17x8" wheels coming (+38mm or +40 IIRC, have to check), but I'm looking at custom fender flares.


Jay, what gives? Didn't you put your car up for sale, and now you're buying wheels for it? Making up your mind on something is a problem for you, huh? wink

 

[ohioshodude]

I thought you needed a 32-37mm offset for 8 inch wide rims. shrug this has always confuesed me.

 

[speedy91]

Yamaha V6:
I have my 91's trimmed flush, no welds.

Also, Jay Mansfield's wheels were on Kev Schofield's, with 245/45-17 on TD 17x7.5" Rim2K's at +45mm offset, and fit on those as well. I have 17x8" wheels coming (+38mm or +40 IIRC, have to check), but I'm looking at custom fender flares.

Fred,
Can you e-mail me some pics of your rear fender on your 91? I have a set of 38mm offset 17x7.5's wheels in mind with a larger tire than my current 225 Kumho MX's. I would like to run a 245, but I am concerned about the wheel width and the fenders.
Thanks,
Eric

 

[Yamaha V6]

Yup, as soon as I get the fenders on there, I'll take a pic for you.

I don't know for sure how it's going to look when done, but I think it'll be ok, and it'll be different anyway.

 

[GR8WYT]

ohioshodude:
I thought you needed a 32-37mm offset for 8 inch wide rims. shrug this has always confuesed me.

Positive offset numbers work like this:
The higher the number the closer the mounting face of the wheel is to the outside of the wheel. The lower the number, the closer the mounting face is to the inside of the wheel.

A 45mm offset will push the wheel and tire towards the strut. A 32 mm offset will push the wheel and tire ( too far ) towards the fender lip.

The ideal range for the Taurus is 38-45; anything outside that and you will, depending on tire width, run into clearance problems.

BTW, Yamaha V6 I would like to see the flares too!

 

[speedy91]

I gave Adam Varney the idea of putting GEN II rear fenders on his (my old) 91. It turned out very well so far, but it is not painted or finished yet. We just cut a box out of the sheet metal around the rear wheelwell and then his body guy welded it on his GEN I. The GEN II fender is a little more rounded than the GEN I and should allow the wheel and tire more room. I am sure Adam will post pics when it is finished. If it ever gets finished....
Eric

 

[JaySHOguy]

Yamaha V6:

Jay, what gives? Didn't you put your car up for sale, and now you're buying wheels for it? Making up your mind on something is a problem for you, huh? wink

Well, I realized that noone wants to buy a 14 year old Taurus with 160k miles. wink
I had put it up for sale because I wanted/needed a truck for the winter and hauling stuff from Home Depot. I also didn't want to drive it through the winter...

But, seeing as how I love to drive the car and no one else wants it, I will gladly keep it and, unfortunately, may end up driving it through the lovely New England winter.
I will be selling the GenIII wheels to purchase the newer ones I am planning on .

 

[ALWyzBrknSHO]

A buddy of mine flared his fenders majorly, looks awesome, he also shaved all the badges, trimming, rear door handles, he has he said 15x10 Volk rims, but he did have 255 wide, not sure on hiight, pretty tall, 15in tires on there, so its possible.

 

[K-Dawg]

On a SHO?

 

[30footSHO]

ALWyzBrknSHO:
A buddy of mine flared his fenders majorly, looks awesome, he also shaved all the badges, trimming, rear door handles, he has he said 15x10 Volk rims, but he did have 255 wide, not sure on hiight, pretty tall, 15in tires on there, so its possible.

So we're talkin' British Touring Car style here? Or quintessential SoCal lowrider mini-truck style?

 

[ohioshodude]

15x10's! its the goofy quintessential SoCal lowrider mini-truck style as you put it. lol