By natcho (207.20.19.33) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 01:46 pm:

Hey everybody. I contacted Petepaulsen Wheels (mentioned in one of the threads as a possible place to buy cheap 4x120 wheels)and they informed me that they CAN NOT/do not do a 4x120 bolt pattern wheel. (I know what all you 4x100 conversion proponents are thinking- if my CV joints needed replacing then MAYBE- but the kit I'm using is still a much easier bolt on.) I'm doing a brake conversion with Charles' Racecraft kit and I need 14" wheels to clear the caliper. Stock 13's won't fit, and even if they did I'd be sacrificing some braking/cooling by going with smaller rotors. Early Mazda wheels (RX4 etc.) are supposed to be the correct bolt pattern and diameter, but I have yet to find any. Re-drilling a set of wheels has also been mentioned as an option, but then I would be paying for wheels AND machining and there's only so much room left on my credit card. Forgive me for bitching, especially since I just wanted to save everybody the time of calling Petepaulsen themselves, but if anybody can understand my dilemma it's you guys. And hey, I don't suppose somebody out there has a set of 14" wheels they'd like to get rid of...?

By JohnJacob (38.31.113.124) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 02:00 pm:

Here dude I posted this a month and a half ago, let me know what they say:

I found a place online that sells racing rims available in the 4x120 bolt circle. It talks about wheel back space and some stuff I don't know a lot about. Tell me what you all think...
http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/DIAMONDRacingWheels/RoadRaceSeries.htm

By quikrick (63.204.16.66) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 02:09 pm:

K speed America can get Panasports in a 14" x 6" with a 4x120 pattern, special order from Japan. Expensive! I have the # if you need it.

By Charles (137.219.16.107) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 02:12 pm:

Hey John Sh.(not S),
This is the other wheel place I was trying to find for you the other day.

By natcho too many Johns here already? (166.90.33.15) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 04:55 pm:

I've been busy. Called Mazda USA- they never imported a car to the US with 4x120 (it was 4x110) so that's why I couldn't find them.

Called Diamond Racing (sorry I forgot about your post, JohnJacob) and despite being really cool and staying late to answer my questions, they couldn't help me. If I wanted to run really WIDE wheels they might be able to make them, but even then the guy wasn't sure if he could locate a wheel center that would work. Turns out that Civics need too much backspacing for your garden variety Diamond Racing wheel.

Panasports (Hey Rick! E-mail me, would ya?) are enticing but way out of my price range- unless we're talking around $80 per wheel. That's the least expensive wheel/re-drilling combo I could find; but I'm pretty sure that Panasports are only that cheap in my dreams. I'll still take the number if you have it, Rick. I might win the lottery.

I have noticed some of the Aussie/NZ people talking about new wheels drilled to order being available over there...was I halucinating? I'm at home (slooow computer) or else I'd double check. Maybe one of you folks down under could do a little checking for your Civic bretheren here in the states? Finders fee? Good Karma? I would rather have a new wheel for close to $80 US than pay to buy/re-drill a used wheel for the same price. A cheap 14" Aussie junkyard set with the right bolt pattern might even be less expensive with the shipping than re-drilling.

Keep those ideas coming! (Don't worry, Charles. I still want the brakes! E-mail is on the way.)

By ROotUS (203.20.149.5) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 05:56 pm:

i priced a set of drillable wheels and tyres from speedywheels a week or two ago... i think it was about $150per wheel, and another 90-100 for tyre... these are 15".

speedy wheels used to have a catalogue that showed dillable wheels or available stud patterns on the back. not sure on contact number.

By natcho (166.90.33.15) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 06:18 pm:

ROotUS, you're in Australia, right? (I'm guessing from the "y" you put in "tyers"...) Was that $150 USD? Do they make a 14" wheel that you know of? If you find that contact info, send it on over! I'd at least like to give them a call and maybe take a look.

By Charles (137.219.16.107) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 06:29 pm:

Hey Natcho,

I am not worried about the brakes. We (racecraft and performance wheels) had a deal where performance wheels would drill a selection of their wheels to suit the early civic and accords with the correct backspacing. The wheels were about $200 each brand new. Not many people were interested in the deal at the time so performance wheels have offered to continue the service on these wheels and they are now available through just about any tyre/wheel shop in Australia.

The trouble with the US customers is shipping costs one set of wheels would cost a lot to airfreight and to ship you must pay for a minimum 1 tonne ($400AU). If a bunch of you got together and bought a whole bunch of parts they could all be chucked in the crate and you could split the freight. However as you probably want stuff from guys all over OZ and they then have to go to guys all over the US it would be a nightmare to organise. In Australia and Japan the RX4s came out with 4 X 120PCD rims (my car has a set of RX 4, 14 inch enkie minilights).:

By natcho (166.90.33.15) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 07:13 pm:

Thanks Charles. I saw the thread but didn't act on the wheel deal because of cost/shipping. Things would be so much easier if I was in Astralia.

I found Speedywheels on-line. I'm about to contact them to see if they've got anything cheap. They also have an office in the states, but they're closed. I'll post the results of my query as soon as I have them. Maybe the US office will be able to get the drill-able wheels.

By 2low2go (149.99.227.8) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 08:52 pm:

There is a place compomotive..they make custom built three piece wheels..i have two sets of them(13" and 15")but in 4x100....Justin

By chris (209.53.227.7) on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 - 10:33 pm:

justin is compomotive canadian?

By natcho (207.20.19.200) on Wednesday, March 28, 2001 - 02:07 pm:

Compomotive is English but they have an importer in Philadelphia. His name is Alan Paxton, and he's super cool. He can do a 4x120 bolt pattern wheel in 14" dia, 6" wide for $175 USD. The wheels available are under the "motorsports" heading on their website, referred to as the "MO", "ML", and "TH". Turn around is about 4 weeks because the wheels are made in the UK and then sent to the states. All their contact info. is on the web.

Still too rich for my blood (Panasport territory).

Speedywheels, by the way, was also very understanding but unable to help. They do sell drillable blanks, but there is not enough room on the face of the wheel to accommodate a 4x120 bolt circle. 4x100 is not a problem.

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. I'm still hoping for a miracle.