Buick LeSabre T-type Wheel Mod

[Guest Regalwizzard]

If you belong to the Lesabre Forum you have already seen this article. However, I thought this would be another great venue to showcase these wheels for my BLT. The original wheels were 15 X 6 and I wanted something a little bigger for improved handling. These started out as normal Bonneville 6510's, 16 X 7, 5 X 115mm pattern w/70.3mm center bore. I had them tested true, blasted, powder coated black, outside flange machined/polished, and clear coated.

The GNX style wheels are finished with "one-off" center caps & black lugs. The center caps was a collaborative effort between myself and another board member, "Z-type". I furnished the design idea reminiscent of the WS6 T/A center caps using the BLT RPO code “WE2” with the circumference reading “Buick Motorsports”. Z picked out period correct font, added the small power 6s (a stroke of genius – don’t tell him!) and performed all the heavy lifting of painting, appliqué, and applying enough clear the lettering is now under glass!!! The wheels are wrapped in BF Goodrich Radial T/As 235/55/16s.

[Barney Eaton]

I love those LeSabre 2 door cars....... have owned 2 T-types. I think it would be a real sleeper with a late 3800 supercharged engine.

[Centurion]

Looks great, regalwizard! Thanks for posting the photos and details. I like this idea, and actually prefer this treatment to the stock LeSabre T-Type wheels.

Beautiful car, by the way!

[smithbrother]

Looks great, I do think though the car needs to be lowered an 1", IMO. At least in the front.

Must be done right though.

Dale in Indy

[Guest Regalwizzard]

Thank you Barney, Brian & Dale! Up until present I've done soft mods - the wheels, amber front turns, & the custom power "6" decals on the front fenders. All of these are, of course, reversible without much work. Given the car has only 28K on the clock & the previous owner went to great lengths to maintain the originality of the car, I'm torn when it comes to any other mods.

My last car, a 2005 Pontiac GTO which I sold in the summer of 2011, was the same. It had only 5K on it when I let her go with tasteful, yet completely reversible mods. Notwithstanding, I certainly miss the "seat of your pants" power! If I could find an OEM looking turbo set-up & address the trans weakness for handling the added horses, I would certainly give it serious consideration!

Edited December 29, 2012 by Regalwizzard (see edit history)

[JohnD1956]

I like those wheels. Can you describe what goes into the machine polishing for the rims?

A few years ago we tried to polish road haze from a set of Redwind89's original T Type wheels. Here's what they looked like before we started,

and here's how they currently sit, although they were never used.

[Guest Regalwizzard]

Thanks John! I started locally & found Blackburn Wheel, a large wheel refinisher. However, I wasn't very happy about the price they were quoting. I then found Pro-Wheels in Detroit and through some negotiation, they provided complete services for $540. This comes out to $135 @ wheel, which included Pro-Wheels providing the core wheels, refinishing to my specs, & shipping/handling to my address. Here's the link to their site: Pro-Wheels The gentleman whom handled my order is named Mark and can be reached at 313-342-8300. Feel free to use me as a reference. -Dave

Edited December 30, 2012 by Regalwizzard (see edit history)