Chrome Torque Thrust II Wheels
Member
Joined: 01-23-2010
Posts: 62
From: Switzerland
Hi folks,
The Torque Thrust M with black spokes would be the single best thing i'd like for my black LT. Unfortunately they aren't available in our bolt pattern and also don't have the correct offset. This means that
a) there is no way i can legally drive them here in Switzerland, as redrilled wheels are said to be unsafe and therefore prohibited by law. If i get checked, i risk an insane fine and even the loss of my drivers license. Not to mention if i had an accident with these...
b) even the smallest width of 8J would probably stick out slightly due to wrong offset.
So i've googled my a$$ off to find an alternative and the new Cragar 600 FWD are the closest thing i could come up with. I know - the center seems a bit weird at first, but once you get used to that they become quite appealing.
They even come in (matt) black with a machined lip, but i'd prefer the shiny black with chrome lip look of the Torque Thrusts. So my idea is to get the chrome Cragars and have them painted black, leaving only the lip in chrome.
The Torque Thrust M with black spokes would be the single best thing i'd like for my black LT. Unfortunately they aren't available in our bolt pattern and also don't have the correct offset. This means that
a) there is no way i can legally drive them here in Switzerland, as redrilled wheels are said to be unsafe and therefore prohibited by law. If i get checked, i risk an insane fine and even the loss of my drivers license. Not to mention if i had an accident with these...
b) even the smallest width of 8J would probably stick out slightly due to wrong offset.
So i've googled my a$$ off to find an alternative and the new Cragar 600 FWD are the closest thing i could come up with. I know - the center seems a bit weird at first, but once you get used to that they become quite appealing.
They even come in (matt) black with a machined lip, but i'd prefer the shiny black with chrome lip look of the Torque Thrusts. So my idea is to get the chrome Cragars and have them painted black, leaving only the lip in chrome.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-06-2010
Posts: 6,869
From: Ohio
Very classy and fast looking.
Last edited by ChevyMgr; Mar 8, 2010 at 02:51 PM. Reason: resized pic in quote
Senior Member
Joined: 02-09-2009
Posts: 3,169
From: Downtown Saint Petersburg, Florida
Hope that clears everything up as to changing bolt patterns is aluminum rims.
I know this to be a fact as this is what I do all day long at my machine shop in Largo Florida.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Member
Joined: 01-23-2010
Posts: 62
From: Switzerland
Thanks Harley,
that's actually great news. I'm not a technician, which is why i can only rely on iformation i find on the internet, on forums like this one, etc.
I was told by a local wheelshop that redrilled wheels are extremely dangerous to use, as they lose all stability due to the oval holes. Obviously they were not aware of the steel inserts you describe.
However i asked two American Racing online stores in the US and both offered to send me the wheels in stock condition and handle the redrilling myself. None of them offered to custom drill the wheels before shipping, which i would prefer.
Can you suggest me any onlineshop that customizes the wheels before shipping?
that's actually great news. I'm not a technician, which is why i can only rely on iformation i find on the internet, on forums like this one, etc.
I was told by a local wheelshop that redrilled wheels are extremely dangerous to use, as they lose all stability due to the oval holes. Obviously they were not aware of the steel inserts you describe.
However i asked two American Racing online stores in the US and both offered to send me the wheels in stock condition and handle the redrilling myself. None of them offered to custom drill the wheels before shipping, which i would prefer.
Can you suggest me any onlineshop that customizes the wheels before shipping?
Senior Member
Joined: 02-09-2009
Posts: 3,169
From: Downtown Saint Petersburg, Florida
Member
Joined: 01-23-2010
Posts: 62
From: Switzerland
Hmm, they only refer to their German distribution partner - a company called americanwheel.de
I already wrote them a mail, as they are also the official retailer for American Racing wheels closest to Switzerland (as found on the AR website) and they will not redrill them, as this is illegal in most European countries.
They say if a wheel was not specifically made to fit on your car: forget it.
Where's the spirit of customizing and hot rodding? 
Further to that on americanwheel.de the TT Ms cost almost 400 USD (stock condition), compared to 170 USD offered by Jegs or other US dealers thats a real rip-off.
Wish i could just walk into a wheelshop like in the states, have them fit the rims to my car and buy them - without all that hassle. Because when i purchase a set for around 2k USD, only to find out they might not fit...
Anyway i'll look around some more and see if i can find a US dealer that redrills them properly AND ships to Europe. If not i will go for The Cragars and repaint them. They are still much better than what's available here in Europe.
I already wrote them a mail, as they are also the official retailer for American Racing wheels closest to Switzerland (as found on the AR website) and they will not redrill them, as this is illegal in most European countries.
They say if a wheel was not specifically made to fit on your car: forget it.
Where's the spirit of customizing and hot rodding? Further to that on americanwheel.de the TT Ms cost almost 400 USD (stock condition), compared to 170 USD offered by Jegs or other US dealers thats a real rip-off.
Wish i could just walk into a wheelshop like in the states, have them fit the rims to my car and buy them - without all that hassle. Because when i purchase a set for around 2k USD, only to find out they might not fit...
Anyway i'll look around some more and see if i can find a US dealer that redrills them properly AND ships to Europe. If not i will go for The Cragars and repaint them. They are still much better than what's available here in Europe.
New Member
Joined: 11-06-2009
Posts: 26
From: Shrevveport La.
The Torque Thrust M is a RWD wheel. Even if you redrill or make inserts for them to fit the HHR will they be OK to run on a FWD? I cant really see a lot of differences in FWD and RWD wheels other than offset?
Senior Member
Joined: 06-21-2008
Posts: 1,458
From: SE Michigan
Offset is everything to a FWD car, use a RWD offset and the smallest problem will be evil handling, right up until the CV joints fail.
BTW, Romeo rocks, in the 70's and 80's in the US there were what was known as "Uni-Lug" wheels, which where basically oval holes for the lugs and a special washer and lug nut that would self-center. They quickly fell out of favor because the lug nuts would loosen during normal driving.
BTW, Romeo rocks, in the 70's and 80's in the US there were what was known as "Uni-Lug" wheels, which where basically oval holes for the lugs and a special washer and lug nut that would self-center. They quickly fell out of favor because the lug nuts would loosen during normal driving.
