ppw350z

Can anyone reccomend a machine shop in the South Jersey or Tri-State area that would modify my H2 wheels. I've called several shops and have had no luck.

Raspy

Just do it yourself with a router. Or ask a carpenter tp do it with his router.

dmaxnomore

Not sure where to look for a machine shop down there, but be careful on the cost. It took the machine shop 20 minutes to do 4 wheels for me and they wanted to charge me $45ea. I ended up paying $25ea so it was ok. They also said the wheels center by the studs and not the hub so doing them yourself is an option.

D45

I am very glad I had a machine shop mill out the centers, as it looks SO much better and SO smooth!

Patriot2500

Have you tried a custom truck place or a wheel shop? Not sure where in South Jersey you are, but there is a place in Toms River called Monmouth Truck Accessories, maybe they could do it for you or point you in the right direction.

ppw350z

For those of you that used the flush trim router bit! Was it for metal surfaces or laminate? I was told by an associate in the hardware store that a laminate bit would not work on the wheels. HELP!!!

Raspy

A flush trim laminate bit with carbide cutters will work perfectly. Those bits cut aluminum like butter and the finish looks as smooth as the pix above. Also, before cutting, spray the bit and the wheel with WD40. Go slow and make several passes to get all the material you can. Spray WD40 before each pass. This process takes about 1 minute per wheel and there is no need to remove the tires.

ppw350z

Sweet, thanks John.

Mike Wood

Not to offend anyone but why would these H2 wheels be preferred over the nice forged stock wheels that come on the truck? Are they wider, more preferrable back spacing? Especially if you have to machine the centers out to fit.
MW

Raspy

Mike,

If you have the stock aluminum wheels, want to run stock size tires and like them, there is no big advantage. But if you have steel wheels or want bigger tires or want a second winter set ready to bolt on and go, the H2s are nice.

A couple years ago the H2 wheels with new 315 takeoffs were available for about $400. What a deal! And the 315s won't rub with the H2 wheels but they will on the stock wheel.

I like the '08 H2 design better than the Dodge design, it is 8.5 inches wide instead of 8 inches and it has a bit more offset to give more clearance. The H2 wheels are a better size for our trucks in my opinion and they appear to be just as strong.

Other aftermarket wheels look nice too, but the H2s are the perfect size in every dimension (except the center hole), they are cheap and easy to get if you need another one.

Mike Wood

I wonder if being a GM factory wheel they are forged like the ones they're putting on the 2500/3500 trucks?
MW

jamesbfishin

Where are you located? I'm having the outer lip on 2 of my H2's that got customized by UPS during shipping repaired, When I get them back I'm going to do the centers myself with a router, being a custom woodworker I have access to routers and bits and I'll be saving myself $60 per wheel in the process. If it comes out ok and you're near by I could do yours too.

Mike Wood

I just called a shop here in Chesapeake VA and he told me $80 to ream all 4. I don't really like the looks of these H2 wheels but the design appears to be strong. I don't think you can go wrong with factory wheels anyway. I may powder coat them or something. Only problem is Vanwin wants $100 per wheel. I'll see if I can get a better price.
MW

ShaneCTD600

This is what I did and it worked great. Took only 10 miutes to do all the wheels. Laminate bit works great on aluminum.

Mike Wood

Are you doing this with a hand router? If so how do you ensure it's centered? I never use routers, what is a laminate bit?
MW