Well, after several years we have finally have in hand the first set of production run Grand National aluminum wheels.
These wheels were produced for us by CCI using Aircraft quality 356 Aluminum. I just want to thank Mitch Nunes for making this a reality for us.
Lets get down to what we have here. We have an all aluminum Grand National reproduction wheel, center cap & lugs. The pictures will say the most but this is the detailed information.
Available in 15" x 7", 15" x 8" & 15" x 10". Having rebuilt the steel Grand National wheels since 1998 we know all the off sets. No need to call and ask will this rim fit. We own a lot of Buick's as well as drive and use what we sell. The back spacing on the 7" rim is the same as the factory, 3.75"
8" has 4" back spacing. Perfect if you want to run 8" all the way around. The 10" is 4.5 back spacing. We know and have proven for many years on our cars, that if there is anymore back spacing, the tires will rub.
The wheel is fully powder coated in the back. The inside outer shell is powder coated as well. This is for corrosion protection.
The face is done in the correct factory black powder coat. The paint will not flake off like your factory rims.
One of the toughest things to do when converting from a steel wheel to aluminum is the lugs and caps. What we did was to use a snap in cap. Think about how much you have spent alone on your factory Grand National caps. The new caps snap in. There is not a metal retainer under the lugs any more.
The opening is 3". You can install a T-Type or a GNX cap if you want a different look.
We will show a picture of the rims below with a factory style 8" rim so you can do some comparisons.One thing I made a tough design decision on was to get rid of the inside lip that is on the steel wheels. It may of had a purpose but the only results we found were for it to collect rust & dirt. The water was trapped in this groove. I eliminated that. It looks a lot cleaner.
Ok why Aluminum Weight savings and no more rust. Lets talk about weight.
Factory steel 7" grand national wheel with center cap 28.36 lbs
Aluminum 7" Grand National wheel with center cap 17.76
Factory style steel 8" grand national wheel with center cap 29.76 lbs.
Aluminum 8" Grand National wheel with center cap 19.02
Factory style steel 10" grand national wheel with center cap 33.33 lbs.
Aluminum 10" Grand National wheel with center cap 19.60
The 10" wheel has been modified to accept a 275/60/15 drag radial for ease on mounting. If you ever installed one of these on a 10" rim you know it takes some effort.
All rims are tested & speed rated.
Most important: When you receive your rims they come with caps,lugs, and valve stems. This will put your mind at ease when getting tires mounted& balanced.
The tire store will not be able to tack on any expected prices except mounting and balancing. What other wheel you purchase comes ready to go This gives you a complete fresh look.
We are building 2000 rims which sounds like a lot but when you think about this it is only 500 vehicles.
Ok I'm sure every one is saying "I know the prices are going to be crazy." No not at all...
Individual wheel prices
15 x 8" $299.95
Replacement center caps $29.95 each
Check them out on GM EFI: HERE
NOTE: These will NOT fit the factory GN Rims!
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO INSTALL ALL SNAP RING CENTER CAPS:
Remove the wheels from the car. Remove the snap ring in the back of the replacement cap. Then install the center cap. Then re-install the snap ring back into the cap. Make sure the tabs have the snap ring evenly placed around. At this point grab the cap and it should stay in place. We have pictures of us lifting a wheel up in the air from the cap and the cap not coming out. Reverse the procedure for the removal.
