Brian, I finally went through the entire thread. A truly awesome car.

I know I won't be going as far as you did, but I really love the look, especially the rear quarter flares for fat tires. I figure with a 1-1.5" wider quarter, I can fit 315/35R17 tires with no problem on a 17x11 wheel with 5.5" backspacing.

Is that all factory metal that was just pounded out to form the flare?

Yes, the quarter panels are all pounded and stretched original sheet metal. If you look at them close, they do not go out much. Just a couple inches. Because the car is so low, most of the flare is room to go up.

Steve,

I am also looking forward to having my car in your magazine.

This weekend will be a big deal as it will be the first autocross on real "street" tires. The rears are larger that what you have already seen. The fronts are taller but just a bit narrower. I will post photos in a few days. They go on the car for the first time tomorrow night. Custom DPE wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

Congrat's,Brian.Now go have a good time,go fast & be safe.:thumbsup: Scott M.

I have 315/35R17 on 17X10 and have no problems with them fitting inside the stock wheel wells.

Really? That's great. I have a 325/50R15 tire on a 15x10 (5.626" BS) rim that I test fit on the car. It was just touching the leaf on the inside and just barely made it on the outside. I don't think I would have wanted to drive it as it probably would have cut the tire. Now I know the the tire's section width is about 11/16" wider and the tire is 2" taller, so that may account for it. But I do want to drop the car about 2" also.

I'm trying to get a junk one now to use for fitment. I have a junk 17x9 wheel with 4.5" BS. That should be close enough so I can get exactly what I need.

But I must say that I still do like the slight flaring of the wheel well. Don't know that I need to go to the extreme that Brian did. As for the front, I'd like to put a 255-275 up there. I'd ditch the inner fender wells, but I'm not sure if they'd fit without some mods to the fender.

I have been looking at cars as I've been driving around and have seen a number of them that actually have pretty good sized flares from the factory. In particular, a 2000-2005 Grand Am's front fender. I'm thinking perhaps I could just "cut and paste" the flare part onto my stock fenders/quarters. But I'm not sure if that would be easier or harder than just massaging the factory steel out. I'm going to pick one up off Craigslist (about $25) and see what I can do and how it would look.

[QUOTE=70 gsconvt;362878]
I have been looking at cars as I've been driving around and have seen a number of them that actually have pretty good sized flares from the factory. QUOTE]

After watching this thread I have been doing the same thing!

My new DPE Wheels are built and installed and I am ready to get the car ready for the Optima Challenge. We are going to have some center caps machined in the next few weeks. I wanted to get the most tire possible under the car. 20 x 13 in the rear with a 345-30-20 and 19 x 11.5 fronts with a 305-30-19. The 305 front is wider than my 315 NItto NT05.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...b/IMG_4079.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...b/IMG_4068.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...b/IMG_4078.jpg

New wheels look great Brian...that polished black lip looks awesome. Every time I look at your Camaro, I just sit in awe. :drool:

I'm really liking this car. One of my guys in the shop that moonlights at Maiers place every once in a while told me about it. Cant wait to see it in person!:thumbsup: