Time to pick out wheels for the Fiat 128 project car. I have a few options so let me know what you think. Here are the options shown: Panasport AR Spectre 2 Cosmic MK3 Speedline CD-16
With the suspension there are some problems that are difficult to get around. The 128 was designed initially to be much lower than they eventually were made , but that must have meant quite stiff springs , and no doubt the harshness of the ride was too rough for peoples liking , so softer longer travels springs were decided upon. That also had the effect of adding significant positive camber at the front which was not great for handling. Lowering makes a huge difference to the handling , but of course stiffer springs must be part of that plan. The problem though is lowering with wider wheels and tires. The rear wheel arches simply cannot house wide tires when low. The inner rear wheel arch is curved inward , meaning you can go low , or you can go wide , but you can't do both at the same time , or else the tires will foul the inner wheel arches. There is also the problem of the very vertical'ish struts on the front and back meaning that wheels and tires can't go too far inward. Some then use wheels from the rear wheel drive Fiats of the time , which have more outward offset , but that doesn't work well as it puts the center of the tires tread too far outward of the steering pivot line of the suspension. This too is bad for handling , and makes the car tend to dart from left to right under hard breaking , also the torque steer effect is increased. The only way to get big meats under a 128 is with serious fender and wheel arch modifications and suspension changes rarely found on a street car.
Good wheels. It doesn't seem like the front of the car would raise that much from just removing the bumper. Originally, I believe that the spare tire went inside the engine compartment, so that would have added more weight to the front.
![1971 Fiat 128 replica - Hill Climb / Street build [ENG SUB]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2hwE62x6LwY/mqdefault.jpg)
AR Spectre2! beautiuful wheels
I think they are my favorite out of the 4 for this car.
With the suspension there are some problems that are difficult to get around.
The 128 was designed initially to be much lower than they eventually were made , but that must have meant quite stiff springs , and no doubt the harshness of the ride was too rough for peoples liking , so softer longer travels springs were decided upon.
That also had the effect of adding significant positive camber at the front which was not great for handling.
Lowering makes a huge difference to the handling , but of course stiffer springs must be part of that plan.
The problem though is lowering with wider wheels and tires.
The rear wheel arches simply cannot house wide tires when low.
The inner rear wheel arch is curved inward , meaning you can go low , or you can go wide , but you can't do both at the same time , or else the tires will foul the inner wheel arches.
There is also the problem of the very vertical'ish struts on the front and back meaning that wheels and tires can't go too far inward.
Some then use wheels from the rear wheel drive Fiats of the time , which have more outward offset , but that doesn't work well as it puts the center of the tires tread too far outward of the steering pivot line of the suspension.
This too is bad for handling , and makes the car tend to dart from left to right under hard breaking , also the torque steer effect is increased.
The only way to get big meats under a 128 is with serious fender and wheel arch modifications and suspension changes rarely found on a street car.
Great information. In the future I will be installing wider wheel arches.
Nice. I put BWA's on my 131 BITD and loved them. Wish I went to 14 or 15 rather than 13 though. Hard to imagine there was a day 15 was considered big!
The P6's I used were the cat's arse though. Tons of stick but when they let go you'd better be paying attention.
I love the BWAs
Good wheels. It doesn't seem like the front of the car would raise that much from just removing the bumper. Originally, I believe that the spare tire went inside the engine compartment, so that would have added more weight to the front.
Good point!