Enkei Wheels

[akzbob]

Purchased my second Z, a 1977 280 Z with Enkei wheels as shown in the picture. Can anyone fill me in about these? Are they an aftermarket wheel or are they stock?

Appreciate your input!

[Arne]

Enkei Style 92. Aftermarket, not stock. Available in black, bronze-gold or (rarely) silver-machine-faced center. Lip was roll-forged and anodized, then the center was welded into place. Sold here in the US from about '85 through the early '90s. Available sizes that would fit a Z were 14x6, 14x7, 15x7 and (towards the end of their availability) 16x7 & 8. May have been a few 15x8s, but I can't recall for certain. The 15x8s weren't common if they existed at all.

Still relatively common to find on older Zs today. Center caps are plastic, somewhat fragile, NLA and hard to come by.

Edited March 29, 2011 by Arne

[akzbob]

Thanks for the information. I debating whether to put them on my 78, sell them or?

Appreciate the information.

This is a awesome site! Appreciate all the help from everyone and the quick responses.

[Willoughby Z]

Thanks for the information. I debating whether to put them on my 78, sell them or?

Appreciate the information.

This is a awesome site! Appreciate all the help from everyone and the quick responses.

Sell them? Keep them? Your choice, depends what you want.

Some consider whether a wheel is period correct, others could care less. They like what they like. As said previously, they(wheels) were produced in the 80's, Not unusual for a PO to buy new wheels after they have owned a car for awhile, either upgrading from stock or going with the newest bling. Again, your choice. Search Galleries for photos of other car/wheel set-ups and find something that makes you go 'wow!'

I have seen those wheels offered for $100. a piece-don't know what they sold for, just what was asked.

Enkei still sells them, albeit larger sizes. Maybe they can source/direct retro caps if you decide to keep them.

http://enkei.com/enkei92.html

I have a '77 and the PO started with stock steels w/hubcaps, mounted since new, surviving 28 years and two other owners and replaced them with Koenig Rewinds, didn't like the look as much as he thought he would, scored some dogged-out ZX OEMs and had them bead blasted and powder coated black. Some people looove 'em. Me? Ehhh. Wish I had Rewinds. So it goes.

[Arne]

Enkei still sells them, albeit larger sizes. Maybe they can source/direct retro caps if you decide to keep them.

http://enkei.com/enkei92.html

Same look, but not the same wheel. Enkei discontinued the original years ago, is just now using this style as an entry into the retro market.

But while the originals were a welded 2 piece wheel with a cast center and an anodized roll-forged rim, the new ones are 1-piece cast, with a machine-finish lip. Despite the picture on their webpage, the new ones are not available in RWD offsets to fit a Z either - at least, not without using a hefty spacer. Not sure if the new cap will fit the original wheels or not.

Edited March 30, 2011 by Arne

[SSuspect]

I do still see these show up from private sellers on a regular basis. Classic look for many cars, but definitely not "period or OE style".

If anybody is interested, I have 2 old school 14" Enkei centerline style wheels sitting in my shed. Will let them go cheap ($40 for pair + any shipping). Just let me know.

Tim

[Willoughby Z]

Thanks Arne, I wasn't attemping to make a direct comparison, as much to point bsnedigar to a source, to start his research. Kind of a "let me google that for you..."

Appreciate your knowledge, you led me, from a past thread to seek out online sizing tools for wheel/tire combos using bolt/offset, etc.

[Arne]

I do still see these show up from private sellers on a regular basis. Classic look for many cars, but definitely not "period or OE style".

Style 20. True 3-piece construction, but fully seam-welded after being bolted together. (You can see the two welding beads in the last picture between 2.5 and 3".) Rim halves were anodized, not clear-coated. But the center was machined and clear-coated. Metal center caps. Pretty sure that the 4 lug ones were only available in 14x6 and 14x7. Might have been some 15x7s late in the production run, but nothing bigger in 4 lug. High quality aluminum in those - once the anodizing was stripped off they would polish like a mirror.

Similar wheels (same 3-piece welded construction and sizes) were Style 32 (same as 20 but with round holes in the center part), Style 30 (same as 32 but gold painted center) and Style 26 (the original "sawtooth" style, actually available in left and right side applications).

Thanks Arne, I wasn't attemping to make a direct comparison, as much to point bsnedigar to a source, to start his research.

Yup, no problems with that. I do have a bit of a problem with Enkei using a Z in their promo materials though, since the new sizes aren't appropriate for Zs. The 15x7 has a 38mm offset, and the 15x8 a 25. Not even close. That was the real purpose for my clarification there, to let people know that these new wheels won't simply bolt up and go on a classic Z.

[Unkle]

Yes true regarding the center caps - they fit but slightly loose and will spin easliy on the 92's - I use a dab of silicone to keep 'em in place - watch out at car shows or parking anywhere , they're easily ripped off.......:pirate:

[akzbob]

Thanks for all the responses! As Unkle stated, the center caps do rotate freely and are in excellent shape. So much to learn about the history of the Z. My hiking buddy bought a new 240 in the early 70's and I can remember what a great car and ride it was!

Thanks for all the info.

bob

[rx1308]

I'll buy the style 20s off of ya if they are still for sale