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Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:14 pm

A local guy had a set of Empi 8 spoke style wheels listed on Ebay. I went to look at them and discovered they were made by Rocket Industries.

The wheel spokes are a matte black with the rim of the wheel being chrome. The wheels have a chrome spinner center cap and chrome lugnuts.

There are 5 wheels. Four of the wheels are in good shape with the fifth one being a "spare" that someone removed the paint from.

The guys is wanting $300 for everything. This would save me on shipping since he is local, but is this a good enough deal that I shouldn't pass on it?

I am looking to put these on my 72 Fastback. I searched and found a few negative threads about Rocket wheels, but I was just wondering if anyone had a positive experience with them.

Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:55 pm

300$ for a good set of (5)wheels YOU WANT
isnt a bad price

It always depends on the time and place

I was VERY VERY LUCKY to get my set of
Baby Burners for 200$+75 for shipping

Right Place Right Time

And If you can Save on Shipping by Buying locally
Thats Great

Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:22 pm

I also found a set of Superior Industries "Turtleback" wheels that are within a couple hours drive from me. Would this be a better choice?

Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:32 pm

sharpstick wrote: I also found a set of Superior Industries "Turtleback" wheels that are within a couple hours drive from me. Would this be a better choice?

the biggest issue with the 8 spoke wheels is that the offset is wrong for your Type 3... the Superior Turtlebacks have a better offset for a Type 3...

Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:09 pm

Man they are ugly but Who knows??

Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:28 pm

sharkskinman wrote: Man they are ugly but Who knows??

you just gotta know how to play the game.

as already said the 8 spokes have a awful offset for type3 and if you plan to lower it ANY probably aren't a good choice. the turtlebacks in my opinion are a better choice. drop the flow to have them polished and they take on a whole new look. i passed on a set of og porsche 2litres a coupla weeks ago for $250. wish i would have bought them now.

and just because it's whats on my square i think baby gas burners(mahles) are a good choice.

i did know where another set of gas burners were at a decent price. if the turtles are decent priced and complete and you decide to pass on them please pass the info along. i want a set to polish hahahaha...ken....

Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:35 am

luckystiff... what set up do you have and what tires

can you take a couple brighter pics of your suspension height

Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:05 pm

Quote: and just because it's whats on my square i think baby gas burners(mahles) are a good choice.

i did know where another set of gas burners were at a decent price. if the turtles are decent priced and complete and you decide to pass on them please pass the info along. i want a set to polish hahahaha...ken....

How much was it to get your Baby Burners detailed like that?

Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:12 pm

2 $6 scotchbrite striping disc. about $20 of various grits of paper and about $20 more in polishing supplies. and $10 worth of paint. oh and about 10hrs of my time. having them blasted would have saved time and got me further along but the local blaster wasn't into trying out different blasting material to come up with a good base for polishing. i've since been told walnut shell blasting would have left me with a pretty good base but it's $30 a wheel to walnut blast here.

it wasn't hard it was just time consuming. i did learn ALOT in doing these wheels. they aren't perfect. the paint the guy at the paint supply recommended for alum was utter shit and i spent alot of time touching up where it pulled away with the tape. the last two i pulled the tape as soon as i sprayed the last coat and they came out alot better...ken....

Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:18 pm

sharkskinman wrote: luckystiff... what set up do you have and what tires

can you take a couple brighter pics of your suspension height

car is supposedly 2 outer up front and 1 outer out back. the front looks lower than that to everyone i've talked to. it's surrently binding somewhere. i got the short barndoor shocks so it's not shocks it's either balljoints or the top torsion is to tight. it will be another notch lower front and rear. i've also got a coupla minds working on a TRUE type3 narrowed beam. it will probably only be 2" narrower than stock but will be type3 stuff.

i'll have it out stiping more of the black off in the nest day or so and will take more pics then. it's raining now.

i'm running the 185/55/15 i may be selling soon up front and 195/65/15 out back so far not a single rub with this set up...ken....

Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:07 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...1&rd=1

Hopefully I didn't do too bad.

Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:48 pm

$202 isnt Bad at all
and seeing thats it not that far from you
maybe have them shipped Greyhound
thats how i had my baby burners sent
it cost me about 60$

Good find

On that square with the baby burners...
2 front and 1 back you say

how much space is between the tire and the inside of the fender on those 195/65s
What about the suspension are you really close or a good distance away still

also tomorrow you think you could try to get a couple pics of the clearance of the rear

i was worried about offset with the tires i have but if yours is good i might not have anything to worry about

You dont have spacers do you ?

Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:19 pm

FedEx Ground is the fastest and cheapest way i've found to ship wheels. my Mahles came from across the country and cost $43 to ship.

the only thing i think that sucks about that set is no caps or at least they aren't mentioned or pictured. caps are kind of hard to find. i haven't been watching the bay lately or i would have probably bid on them. like i said i want a set to fully polish..

at the current height i have plenty of space everywhere. i ordered the $50 spacers from CB but so far i don't need them like everyone said i would and looking at it i don't think i ever will. i'll know soon. i'll shoot some more pics when i've got it back out. i may take it down the rest of the way this week if i get done with deblacking it hahahaha...ken....

Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:02 am

The shipping quote he provided was about $31.00. The total for the wheels was under $233.00 including shipping. I have emailed the seller about the center caps so we will see what he says.

I remember reading about someone using horn buttons for center caps.

Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:15 am

$233 shipped to you
Good deal man

have wolfburg or TS horn buttons as center caps HA

Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:30 pm

Last question and I will quit posting in this thread...

The wheels are 4.5 x 15 so I was wondering what would be the best size tire for this size wheel. My Fastback is stock height for the moment. I do plan on eventually lowering it, but it will not be a drastic lowering job.

Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:53 pm

for keeping with the stock ratio for the tranny
165Rs if you dont plan on lowering it that much

my baby gas's are 5.5" wide and i think im still going to use
165s for the rear with prob 2 notches down

the front is a different story
If 165s wont fit
ill probably go for a 175/55 but thats going to be with 3 inner in front
Im at 2 in front and stock back

Top pic is current stance 195/65 all around
(wheels photo shoped in)

Bottom is where i hope im going with her

Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:12 pm

unless it's gonna be a while or something i'd go ahead and get what would be right for when you do lower the car. my square had 145s up front and 165s out back when i got it. the fronts rubbed but it did have type1 offset marathons on it so that could have been part of the factor. with the 185/55/15 i have NO rubbing at 2 splines. i like 195/65/15 for the rear but thats pushing it on a 4.5 wheel. if you just plan a little lower i'd say maybe 185/60/15 up front and 195/65/15 out back or you could just do 145front and 165rear. i just like to use as wide of a tire as possible...ken....

Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:23 am

sharpstick wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=021&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=310043297391&rd=1

Hopefully I didn't do too bad.

I would have been pissed if I sold my set for that cheap! Mine went to the UK for $650.

So yeah you made out pretty well I'd say.