Tons of Lightning guys use Weldcraft to widen the stock truck rims with great results. Just keep in mind that you'll be adding to your backspace as the width comes on the backside.

Raymond_B wrote:

Tons of Lightning guys use Weldcraft to widen the stock truck rims with great results. Just keep in mind that you'll be adding to your backspace as the width comes on the backside.

 
Right now I have roughly 13.25 inches from my roll lip to the inside of the inner tub.   I will need 6 plus inches to fit a 10 inch wide rim and up.  So widening these wheels are a good option for me for a few reasons.   One it’s way cheaper than custom ordering rims.   I like the style of the U111 rim  and I could use them as rollers for now until I get the rest of the funds to widen them.  Also with mounting the rears with tires I can get a much better idea of how much wider I can go.   I did read online where someone mentioned the wheels can not be widened by more than 2 inches.  Not sure how true it is.  Weld craft is who I reached out to.

MS wrote:

The place I used to use (no longer there) always required purchasing or supplying a donor wheel so they could cut the widening ring out of the donor.

 
Well that would have a negative effect on this idea if that’s needed.

I just got a reply back from them.  $275 for 1-2 inch increase.  $300 for 2.5-3 inches. 

As for welding cast rims I guess it has to due with what material they are cast with.  They are not all the same material.   I gave them the model number/manufacture of the rims so I would hope they know.  Lol

6sally6 wrote:

Wonder if...........they do a dye penetrant test on the Alum. welds?!(for porousity) -5 spelling
6s6

They use to zyglo my welds/
 

RTM wrote:

I did not ask them what they use or how they perform the work.  They are the most recommended company mentioned when I search for this type of work.  I was wondering if they clean and re apply a clear coat on the inside of the rim where the work will be performed.

I'm going to send an offer on the wheels today and see how cheap I can get them for.

They won't apply any new paint or clear coat. Here's some pictures of Lightning wheels widened 3"

https://www.nloc.net/forum/index.php?threads/stock-rims-back-from-widening.229594/
 

MS wrote:

The place I used to use (no longer there) always required purchasing or supplying a donor wheel so they could cut the widening ring out of the donor.

Was that Wheels  America in Dallas? They did the wheel narrowing on my 2004 Bullitt wheels.
 

I’m curious as to what the weld seam on the inside  looks.
Is the seam welded and machined?

Last edited by Rudi (4/28/2022 1:49 PM)

RTM wrote:

Rudi wrote:

I’m curious as to what the weld seam on the inside looks.
Is the seam welded and machined?

From the above link it looks to be welded inside and outside.

Prolly over kill to weld inside & out butt (no pun!)....
I'm sure it makes the customer feel a little more warm & fuzzy in his nether regions!
 
6s6

That looks like some killer work.  Sadly the wheels I was looking at sold.  The seller never replied to my offer.  they never replied to my first question I had sent as well.  Maybe they had someone local interested in them and pursued that route.  Not that I wasn't local, less than two hours away but I couldn't get there until the weekend which I had mentioned to the seller.

Bearing Bob wrote:

Eric Vaughn was the king, until he retired in his 70s. Can't believe he didn't train an apprentice to take over for him.

Bearing Bob wrote:

Eric Vaughn was the king, until he retired in his 70s. Can't believe he didn't train an apprentice to take over for him.

Wow.  Haven't heard Eric's name for a while.  Back in '74 he had his shop in Pete & Jake's building and he widened a couple of VW wheels for me an then built the driveshaft for my Model A Speedster.  He was also the king of louvers back then...made his own dies as I recall.


 

Last edited by Bullet Bob (4/29/2022 11:07 AM)

Bearing Bob wrote:

Bullet Bob knows everyone.

Not really.  There's a huge difference between "met 'em" or "encountered 'em" and "Know 'em"  But I do recall that Eric was fairly well respected even back then.  And he seemed to be a decent guy.