3000GT Brakes and Wheels

[Lugnut]

Hello there! I've been a member for almost a year now and I've read the board constantly in this time, but I haven't done any posting. I have been following the Bargain Basement Big Brakes thread and I thought I understood what was going on on the first 5 pages, but once it got to number 6 I started to think my understanding may be incorrect.
My goal for my little Laser is NASA Time Trial. I am not planning on making crazy power with the car, but I am trying to take down the weight as low as I can and stiffen it up a bit. The whole thing is being done on an incredibly tight budget (make that a VERY incredibly tight budget). If I can get this car done and make it reliable, safe, and track-ready and still bring it down to compete in the Grassroots Motorsports $2007 Challenge I'll have hit all of my goals.

Ok well, now that you know a little about the car, let me get to my question.
I am interested in the 3000GT brake upgrade described in the thread but I really don't have the budget to be testing out all of these rotors. I read in the thread that the VR4 rotors will fit if you use VR4 wheels, but I've also read that if you use the VR4 17x8.5" wheels there will be rubbing and all kinds of other problems. I'm not sure about all of the fitment issues here and I really can't afford to buy this whole mess of parts if they aren't going to work.

Does this really seem like the ticket for a 4 piston big brake and 17" wheel upgrade for under $600? Is there another equally cheap way to go?

Thanks! I hope I'm not here, but thanks for the help.

 

[projecTSI]

I will also be doing this upgrade on my 1g, and for the price it seems like an excellent setup. I have pieced together everything that I will need for the front (calipers, pads, 13.1" rotors, and brackets) for $300. As far as the wheels go, you do not need to buy the vr4 wheels, I would suggest going with something lighter, because from what I hear those rims are extremely heavy.. Unfortunately I dont have my brakes installed yet, so I couldnt tell you what you would be needing as far as offset goes, but they should be going on soon, and I will be seeing how they fit with my 17x8.5 rota slipstreams. Anyways, I would suggest giving this a try, because for the price you cant go wrong. Hope this helps.

 

[Lugnut]

As far as the wheels go, you do not need to buy the vr4 wheels, I would suggest going with something lighter, because from what I hear those rims are extremely heavy.. ... I will be seeing how they fit with my 17x8.5 rota slipstreams.

Slipstreams would be great, but again there is the price to consider. OEM wheels are great because people get rid of them cheap. What about the 16x8 3000GT SL rims? Again, I've heard both that they will and won't fit over the VR4 brakes. It gets rough figuring out who is speaking from experience and who is just guessing as to what fits and what doesn't.

 

[projecTSI]

Well I got lucky and got my slipstreams for $300 shipped brand new . But if you go with the 13.1 rotors, I am pretty sure that it will not fit. Obviously that is just a guess, but I would suggest pm'ing one of the guys from that thread who is actually running those brakes now and seeing what they say about it.