My wheels...
 

Got a call from Forgeline today.. fun stuff.

The previous owner ordered the wheels with polished centers then decided he didn't like that.

So, what did he do?

Pulled out all the fasteners and painted the centers grey. Then in an act of sheer genious put the fasteners back in and torqued them down to 80 ft-lbs.

The spec calls for 12 ft-lbs per a bolt. Man, can people do anything right?

Now I get to aquire all new hardware to be safe. lol.. lets see.. 44 grade-8 bolts per wheel times 4 wheels.. :willy:

Was tempted to upgrade to the titanium bolts for an extra $80 per wheel. Saves two pounds (when used with the jet nuts) per wheel.

For the centers I can go with a gun metal grey color that has a shine to it or a low gloss black. thoughts?

It's mandatory at HRE that you get new hardware. They won't re-use any of it for liability reasons, or so they tell me.

I like the color that you have now, Steve. Deep grey to charcoal.

To hold up I want powder paint rather than paint. For powder I can have a glossy deep grey metallic or a flatish black. For a flattish metallic grey I would have to paint and with how I plan to drive I don't think it would hold up.

I think HRE has that policy to sell more hardware ;)

I loved the color they were Steve. But if you're going to change color, change it to the manifold color. That would look so awesome on your car, as if it needed to look better. :hail:

Just my opinion but....
I would only do metallic if you intend on having a high gloss finish. A nonmetallic dark gray looks really nice when it's flat.

Flat Black never actually looks black in a lighted environment, only when you add the gloss does it create enough contrast between highlight and shadow to make it "almost" black. Bottom line is, I agree with Scott. :thumbsup:

Steve, I would try to match the color you did your valve covers and supsension components in. I think that would add a nice touch. However I wouldn't do a gloss, maybe flat or semi glass powder coat. My $.02 :thumbsup:

Wow...I'm really surprised that the fasteners didn't yield at 80 foot pounds, even if they are G8.

What are they, 1/4-28?

....I'm also surprised he would even be able to have the hex socket heads withstand the 80 ft/lbs, without deforming/stripping out.

Are you sure that he didn't put the fasteners in at the recommended torque, but with locktite, or similar? I could see that requiring an immense amount of torque, to break them loose...maybe that's what HRE experienced?

Well, the wheels WERE a flat gray metallic color. The prob is I want powder paint and they don't do flat metallics (doesn't hold up). Than means it's a glossy grey metallic or a flat black.

I though the low-gloss black would look killer. Especially with the titanium bolts and I get a 2-lb per a wheel weight savings.

No, they saw no locktight on the threads. Some of the fasteners were a bit deformed and it took 80 ft-lbs to break them free. So maybe they were tightened down to only 60.. either way they were WAY over 12 ft-lbs.. lol

I like that color, but I'm not sure on a wheel.. in bright sun it has some blue in it that doesn't show up in the engine bay and such.

I though the low-gloss black would look killer. Especially with the titanium bolts and I get a 2-lb per a wheel weight savings.[/QUOTE]


I think the black with titanium fasteners would look bitchin'

I guess I didn't notice that in the photos I've seen, whoops! Well, which is easier to maintain? That's always the tie-breaker for me...LOL

lol.. lazy!

Here's a link to the bolts and finishes..

http://www.forgeline.com/wheels/accessories.html

After looking at the link to Forgeline's page, I would go with Onyx black centers and titanium fasteners. The carbon black centers may look good too. Decisions, decisions.....

I would pop for the light weight bolts
 

do gloss grey centers.

I like the way they were before. I also saw photos of the car when the centers were silver. I liked that too. I know that is not the look you are going for...

I talked to Forgeline about the Onyx.. he said it's really just a shiny black center but in the pic it looks charcole.. so think shiny black.. lol

I'm digging the carbon black though.. like you said, decisions. It's between the carbon black and the gunmetal (gloss).

My dad has always said choosing the right wheel is the hardest decision to make during a build. I am starting to think he is right, because I too, will soon be in the same predicament. I am not sure what wheels I want to go with for my Elky, I was actually throwing aroung the idea of going with polished Forgeline SP3P's or Intro Vista 5's.

Carbon black, black center, titanium fasteners....final answer Regis!

I like the gun metal finish, pretty cool, but I don't think it'll work with the paint you have as well as the carbon black.

And yeah, I'm lazy as hell.... :D I'd rather be drivin than cleanin.

Enough brake dust and they will be flat anyway.

I just chatted with Forgeline.. nice they put up with my anal rententive nature. lol

He said the carbon black, if handled, shows up finger prints and oils more due to the flatter finish. He says the color is pretty cool though. Just a bit tougher to keep looking perfect.

I think I will pay the extra $$ to upgrade to the TI fasteners. Seems like cheap HP.

So now it's between the gun metal with TI fasteners or the Carbon with TI fasteners..

Carbon/Ti... :yes:

'Nuff said.

Another vote for carbon/Ti

There's now a poll over at pro-touring.com (spreading out the love and trying not to be redundant)

Seems like Carbon/TI is the favorite here and GunMetal/TI is the favorite there.. lol

If you're a member here then go there to vote or just voice your opinion here.

Decisions, Decisions...

Guess I'm the odd man out over here........GunMetal/TI gets my vote

Do Gunmetal/Ti....I've got the Carbon look covered with my Fikse Profil 10's in Race Black.....

The gray always set your car apart anyways...don't change a good thing!! :thumbsup:

After I decided on Forgelines and placed my order with Frank at Prodigy, I spoke to Scott at Forgeline about the finish I wanted. I wanted a flat dark grey similar to what Penny has. I really did not want a "shinny paint " look. In speaking to Scott he said the finish on Pennys wheels was probably a custom paint. After looking at their website pictures of various finishes I decided that the black would not show the spoke definition in certain light. Scott sent me a paint chip of the gun metal finish and I decided to go with it. Different light makes the gun metal look very dark at certain angles. Whichever finish you choose I am sure it will look great.

Yea, it was custom paint done by the previous owner.

The black had me a bit concerned over how easy it is to clean without causing "shiny" spots on the surface. It's somewhat porus and baked on brake dust might be a challenge to clean off.

So, the choice is GunMetal with Ti bolts..

Glad to see that not only are you smart
 

but have good taste as well. LOL

Now hurry up and drive that thing, It is not my car and I am dying to hear how it runs and handles.

black with TI bolts

http://www.tusonic.kattare.com/media...The_South).JPG

gotta have dem T.I bolts.. and gloss black