Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Unfortunately, the wheel is slightly bent (supposedly forged wheels are unrepairable I'm told) and it needed an alignment to bring it back within spec (got knocked just barely out). The good news is the suspension is undamaged and the wheel/tire took a good balance. With a replacement wheel being ~$700, plus the tire, alignment, etc. I may file an insurance claim. My agent thinks it shouldn't have much effect on my premiums, but I'm still debating if it's worth risking it over a "minor" incident in the scheme of things.

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

So annoying that something like that could potentially affect your rates. That's why we have insurance, for stuff like this! And here you have a legitimate reason to try and use it, for something wasn't due to any sort of incompetence by the driver but by horseshit roads, you risk a rate increase. Makes no sense to me how they can just do that.

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Agreed! With my fairly clean record my agent thinks I should submit it. I really don't feel like forking over another $700 on top of the tires and alignment so I am inclined to take his advice.

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Forged wheels are totally repairable, take it from the track guys we bend wheels all the time from "offs". This company straightened the barrels on a set of volks CE28n's that Ronnie at RS bent. https://www.facebook.com/Twin-City-W...8398781505533/

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Well, I just messed up one of my wheels on a pothole too. I feel for you. My tires survived, but the wheel got bent. https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=...GKP74FsbF6Mw2c

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Appreciate the insight. Luckily, it's no longer my concern since insurance is writing the dealership a check for everything (alignment, wheel, & labor) and me for 25% of the cost for the set of tires I bought.

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Ouch :( Crazy to think that a tire can survive when a wheel can't!

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Tires are made of rubber, wheels aren't ;)

Glad you got it all taken care of though.

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

True, but at the same time that rubber should cushion the impact before the shock hits the metal.

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Sure, on a 55-60+ sidewall aspect ratio tire, but these days most higher end new cars come with lower aspect tires.

What are your tires? 30, 35 on the front? 30, 25 on the rear? There is no way a vehicle weighing that much with that small of a tire can absorb the impact of a nasty pothole. Even with the suspension, the wheel takes the majority of the hit.

It's basically a lose-lose situation for the consumer for buying the vehicle. I'm in the same boat.

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Valid points! Need to get some old school DSM 205/55-16's for it!

Front: 245/35-19
Rear: 285/30-20

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

LOL! I can only imagine what that would look like

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Forgot to update this last week...

After Thanksgiving weekend in Vegas I returned home to a waiting car. The dealership had everything buttoned back up with the new wheel, front tires, and alignment. It drives perfect one again.

Total cost to me: $1300 ($150 to the dealership + $1150 for the set of tires)
Total cost to insurance: $700

All-in-all, I can't be too upset since my total out-of-pocket was still less than a new set of tires would have been. I'll likely have the rear tires mounted before the spring cruise in March when I'm in for my final free oil change from Chevy.

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Glad you're back to rolling again.

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Some random thoughts rolling around in my head...

A guy I brainstorm with from the CorvetteForum board took pictures of the various stock cat material last week.

First, there are the secondary (unmonitored) cats in the factory X-pipe that I removed already with the Borla unit:
http://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corv...baceebe429.jpg

Then you have the primary cats which are monitored, and reside in the factory downpipes (between the exhaust manifolds and X-pipe):
http://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corv...e0acf38e56.jpg

The difference is quite obvious in comparison as to which is more restrictive!

For reference, here's a picture of the entire stock exhaust system:
https://www.kooksheaders.com/media/w...st_-_Large.jpg

Anyway, he plans on getting some catless downpipes fabbed. While I am not interested in those, what I would be interested in is a pair of replacement downpipes with 200-cell high-flow cats since I want to keep the car stock tune complaint for warranty and OBDII inspection reasons. Thoughts? Feeback? If I were to do it, they would get the full ceramic coating treatment to drop underhood temps even further.

At that point though, it might just make more sense to go with ARH mid-length catted headers ($1500)...but that's a whole other can of worms...
https://enzoperformance.com/wp-conte...ARH_C7_mid.jpg

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

There is no question--give it a try! It will for sure help on the top end!

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Do the mid length catted headers above affect the warranty at all?

What is the guy thinking for pricing on a set of high flow downpipes? (how close in price to the ARH stuff, would it be worth it just to get the ARH instead)

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

To not answer your first question...there is no definitive answer. There is a risk if a major mechanical issue were to arise since so many stock components involving the factory emissions system have been replaced. I would say there is minimal to no risk with my current setup since the factory primary cats are unaltered, but anytime you touch those it's a roll of the dice.

Regarding the second question, pricing is yet to be determined, but I will expect somewhere around $300+ for catless, and $600+ for catted. This is a total guess and I could be way off considering what COBB GT-R catted ($1400) and catless ($1100) downpipes go for (AMS is even more expensive). I do imagine these should me much cheaper though since they won't have any cast components, no "brand name" surcharge, nor the GT-R tax tacked on.

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Let er buck! YEE HAW!

Re: Meet GheyRay: Lower, Wider, Lighter!
 

Do everything pussy!