I spoke with the metal shop that does water jet cutting for me. They can roll steel plate the width I need to make the rings to widen the wheels. I just need to determine exact width and diameter I want. I need to decide if i want to widen it in the drop center or the larger diameter

I managed to knock the center out of the wheel. It took a bit more effort than I had anticipated. First I cut the four 4" long welds with a cut off wheel. Then i heated the joint and started smacking near the joint with a piece of 1/2" round bar and a BFH. It took a while but the weld seams finally split and the center popped out. I wanted to make sure not to over grind and cut into the rim. Next week I'll swing by the metal shop and have them make up two 16.5" ID rings about 8" wide.

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/wheels005.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/wheels006.jpg

The rims will end up right about 15" wide , which is what M/T specs for the tires. The aluminum wheels M/T offers have 5" of backspace, so I am going get as close to that as I can. Ironically, the center will end up almost exactly where it was in stock configuration. It needed to come out because where I am adding to the width starts right under the edge of the front surface of the center. :unibrow:

The steel rings for widening the wheels have been ordered - 16.5" ID x 8" wide.

Here's a video i took with my phone.
engine video

Not much more progress on on wedged but I figured I post a couple of pics anyway.

The D100 (dubbed "the anti-christ" by it's owner) has a 451 low deck stroker which I need to pull out. It seems the thrust bearing is wiped out allowing the crank to move around. Hopefully it won't be too involved to repair. The owner gave it that name a few years ago after a seemingly endless string of problems... which are obviously continuing. I think the short block might be cursed ?

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/junk-001.jpg

There's a build thread of the satellite that's probably lost at this point due to lack of updates. Quick rundown: 6.1L hemi, a518 OD trans, 8 3/4 rear, 13" Baer brakes on all 4 corners.

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/junk-002.jpg

Picked up the steel rings yesterday. Now I just need to cut the wheel in 1/2.

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/junk-005.jpg

I'm highjacking my own thread....I've been side tracked with the D100. Pulled the stroker 451 and found the crank to be junk and the block damaged. Crank thrust bearing surface wiped out, 1 spun rod bearing and 1 badly scored piston and bore. I'll be dropping in a 383 that the owner had laying around. Before I do, I have fix the "reinforcements" that someone else did on the C4 front suspension. The upper control arm mounts were tipping in at the top because the welds on the coil over brackets, which doubled as a reinforcement, had broken. In order to stop it, the owner had an off road truck shop add some bracing and some huge booger welds. Let's just just say the engine was in the way when they did it, and leave it at that...

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti009.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti014.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti008.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti020.jpg

Made more progress today on the anti-christ. I resorted to the torch to cut off the braces then spent some time with the grinder.


http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti-021.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti-022.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti-023.jpg

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti-024.jpg

The driver's side had tipped in about 1/2" at the top. I used a reciprocating saw to cut through most of the weld along the base. I was just going to realign it and re-weld it. The huge booger welds on the shock upright were taking too long to grind out with a die grinder so I just cut the whole thing off. I then cut the welds off using the band saw.

http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti-025.jpg

lined it back up where it had been...
http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti-026.jpg

...and welded it back on.
http://www.bigblockdakota.com/anti-027.jpg

The next step is to reinforce them.

Much better!

I have some welding on my 37 chassis (the old one not the new one!) that makes the booger welds you cut out look like a pro did them... :rofl:

Hey Greg
After hearing the story of the old 37 chassi I think you should write a book called How to not build a street rod chassi. :unibrow: :unibrow:

That's right Tonny -- I showed you the photos didn't I!! Ever seen such an amazing mess?!

:rofl: :rofl:

Wedges truck was actually "welded" -- whereas I don't think I could say the same thing.