2013 Viper Photo Shoot - with Forgeline GZ3 wheels!

Nine Ball

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Now that a few more new Vipers have hit the streets, it was time to personalize the car to differentiate it from the rest of them. In keeping with our "TRAK IT" theme, we decided on Forgeline wheels, because of their pro racing experience and history. These black wheels, with the Forgeline "Flush-Loc" centerlock conversion kit, really make this Viper appear like it came fresh off of the roadcourse. www.DV8Motoring.com measured the 2013 Viper for the exact offsets, and spec'd out the fitment. Here are the details of the combo:

Forgeline Performance Series - model "GZ3"
Reverse smooth lip option
Titanium hidden hardware option
Gloss black outer lip
Satin black center and inner barrel
Flush-Loc centerlock conversion kit with black anodized centercap, clear anodized GT splined nut
19x10.5 Front
19x13.0 Rear
Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires - 295/30-19 Front, 345/30-19 Rear
Mopar TPMS sensors ( part # 56029400AE )

The Flush-Loc system is a complete kit, consisting of steel hubs that bolt onto the factory lug nuts. These steel hubs are custom made for your specific vehicle, and are hub-centric. The special lug nuts provided convert the factory lug nuts into drive pins. The backside of the wheel has holes drilled into it, to engage the drive pins. Then the GT splined nut is used to secure the wheel to the hub, with a hefty 300 ft-lbs of torque. The 2-foot breaker bar is provided, so you only need to apply 150 lbs to the end, in order to achieve that torque value. Then the centercap is installed, which has a different thread pitch than the GT nut. This makes the centercap become a lock-nut, keeping the GT nut from coming loose.

All full-sized 30+ photos posted here: http://motorhed.com/xf/threads/2013-viper-photo-shoot-forgeline-gz3-wheels.6055/

Whenever you guys are ready to personalize those 2013 Vipers, I've done the critical measurements. We are ready for you!

Tony

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Capt Van

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Tony,
those are stunning. Ball park figures?
What about carbon fiber and black chrome?

PS your link says you have to be logged in.
 
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Nine Ball

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Tony,
those are stunning. Ball park figures?
What about carbon fiber and black chrome?

PS your link says you have to be logged in.

Sorry about that, I fixed the link. Should work now.

Forgeline doesn't do carbon fiber or black chrome. Only a handful of brands do either of those finishes.
 

SRTviper

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Ooooo those center bolts look super nice. I always liked that better than lug nuts, it makes the wheel look more exotic.
 
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Nine Ball

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Tony, that is an absolute home run!!! Perfect combo.

Thank you. This Viper was actually the first car I've bought that I didn't have a set of wheels sitting here waiting for it when the car arrived. I usually plan my wheels pretty far out in advance, about the time I decide on the color of the car. But, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted for a long time, on this car. I had to get to know its personality first, and ponder the wheel choices out there. I really like the centerlock conversion, and only Forgeline offers that. Then it was just a matter of picking out the spoke pattern and colors. One thing I really like about the Gen 5 is that you can get the same size lip front and rear on this car, since the nose is wider now. The wheels shown here have 2.5" lips front and rear. Had I gone with a regular lug nut mount wheel, we could have gotten 3.0 inches front and rear. This makes the car look very aggressive. Not many cars out there can pull that look off, they simply don't have the room up front.

Another cool thing I learned, the TPMS tire pressure monitor system in the Gen 5 is a self-learning system. I put brand new TPMS sensors in these wheels, and the car learned/sync'd them on its own. No dealership visits, no scanner tools needed. Doesn't get any easier than that!

Tony
 

NastyGTS

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:2tu: Looks awesome!

What is the "proper" name of the black or charcoal chrome? I believe it was an SRT option on the charger or challenger
 
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Nine Ball

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Did you weigh the stock wheels vs these for comparison?

The factory Track Pack wheels are the lightest factory wheels I've weighed, on any car with similar sized wheels. Especially the front wheels, with the short 25" tall tire. That being said, no 3-piece wheel will weigh less than the factory Track Pack wheels. The only wheels lighter in construction would be 1-piece forged monoblock wheels. These black Forgeline wheels are larger up front (19 vs OEM 18) and run a taller front tire (26 vs OEM 25). They weigh a little more, but they should also be tougher than cast aluminum spoked factory wheels. We did it mostly for appearance, as we wanted a lip on the car. They should be lighter than the non-Track Pack wheels, however. We could also build them with stepped lips and 18" fronts to keep them about the same total weight. Stepped lip wheels weigh about 2-3 lbs less than the same wheel with a smooth lip, due to the stepped lip using a smaller diameter center.

What is the "proper" name of the black or charcoal chrome?

It is called black chrome, or midnight chrome. That is a PVD process applied finish, and most high-end wheel brands do not use it. You'll generally find more cast aluminum wheels produced overseas with that finish.

Tony
 

Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

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Hmmm..............noticed you put the Forgeline on a set of Michelin Super Sports!

Nice looking wheel, but then Forgeline has always done great work, appreciate you sharing the pics!
 
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Nine Ball

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We really like the Super Sports. Great all-around tire. Keeping the Corsas and Sidewinder II's for our track days. Those are now the "******" wheels :)
 

SnakeBitten

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Car looks great NB. Always liked center lock wheels ever since I saw them way back in the day. I think it was Toora Sports wheels or something like that. Loved the racing car look of centerlocks. Cant wait to see it with the carbon accents added.:2tu:
 
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Nine Ball

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Perhaps a dumb question, but would the center lock set up work with a Gen II? I would think so, but I wonder about caliper clearance.

No problems building the centerlocks for a Gen 2 (or any Gen) Viper. It is a $1700/set upgrade, and can be done with just about any of their wheel styles.

Tony
 

SilveRT8

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Hi Tony,
I'd be considering getting an extra set of wheels for my Gen5 and save the Corsas on Sidewinders II for the track.
I would go with the same size as you did with the Mich PSS. Besides the GZ3 what are the other choices with the 6 bolts ?
I like a deep lip and hidden hardware, light weight too. Polished lip and either gloss black or silver machined center
 

pumpgas

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I think flat black mirrors would really stand out on that car. I have seen the 2014 Stingrays with them and they looks great on a white car with black rims.
 
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Nine Ball

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I don't like the black mirrors on the Corvette. It just seems like they forgot to paint them, and it was cheaper to make them all 1 color.

SilverRT8, I'll send you a PM.
 

Junkie

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Saw these this weekend, holy crap want a set of center locked wheels now!!!
 
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