mpprice

Anyone remember the good ol days?

In 76 I purchased a 74 coupe that had Cragar SS mags installed. Had to give that lady up a few years later to make room for the kids. Now the kids are gone and our new 74 (vert this time) is back. I love it – and what wonderful memories. Only major change I would like to make is to replace the rally wheels with Cragars. Here’s the problem. I purchased a set with spacers as directed and they don’t fit. They hit the calipers. As I researched the problem – all the wheel gurus have told me that the current Cragars are not made like the ones 30+ years ago. As I attend cruise-ins and Corvette meets – I see very very few C3s with anything but Rally Wheels. Seems to be a patern here.

So what’s the story? Other than the very expensive American Racing wheels – the only alternative seems to revolve around getting out a grinder and doing the calipers or somehow turning the wheels??? I still have pix of my old 74 and I remember taking the wheels off - don’t remember spacers then?

Any thoughts?

Vette-4-Life

i purchased the 17" cragars and they bolt right on. Not much brake caliper clearance so i put the thinnest spacers on i could find just for a measure of comfort.

mpprice

mine were the 15" and needed a 1/2" spacer. That left very little for the lugs as well - around 3/4". Didn't seem like enough to be very safe.

Fastbackl48

I have the same problem. I want to mount the American Racing Torque thrust Ds on my 73' but they hit the caliper. Going to settle for the american racing torque thrust IIs. They don't require spacers, and I won't have to worry about the lug stems breaking off at 100mph.

VETTEVIC

I was disappointed when I found they stopped making the SST's.
vic

vetteguy75

I had massive problems with trying to install Cragars on my Vert. Their quality has GONE OUT THE WINDOW.....(out of round, warped, etc, etc,etc) plus the fact it had to use 3/4" spacers to clear the calipers.....decided to scrap the whole thing and installed American Racing Torque II. Fit like a dream....did not need any spacers! Totally satisfied! Good Luck!

LIQUIDDRAGON

you can always get the TTII in 17" with four in back spacing and they are a direct bolt on with NO spacers

wnjlt1

I had a set of cragars on my ride back in the late 80's but the chrome on the center sections started to peel off after a few years. That's one reason why I went with the tt ll's. Hey...nice car LIQUIDDRAGON


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...87911f-med.jpg

wnjlt1

I had a set of cragars on my ride back in the late 80's but the chrome on the center sections started to peel off after a few years. That's one reason why I went with the tt ll's. Hey...nice car LIQUIDDRAGON

jake1

I used to work at Discount Tire in school, and everytime I had to work with a Cragar wheel something always F up. Those wheels strip more lugs and studs than I can count. Very crapy wheel. Thats why they were cheep and were on every bubba mobile that looked like a police magnet.

jake1

Your car is awsome, If I could repaint mine and cut the top off, it would be yours. very good looking car. well done.

vetteonr

I've had cragars on my car with a 1/2" spacer for 2 years now with no troubles at all.



I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

SharkAttack

- Great pic!

mpprice

I was told by someone in my research, that Cragar used to be all steel in the old days. Now they are steel rim with aluminum inserts. Looks like TTs are the only way to go - and at twice the cost.

mrjbq

Count me as one of the "sheep", but they look great and fit great!

mpprice

Anyone ever work with http://www.newstalgiawheel.com/default.asp ? They were very helpful and seem to have great prices. Way lower than Corvette Central.

MidShark

I just put a set of Cragar SS wheels on my '66, and used 1/2" spacers. BUT, you have to get a set of extended lug nuts to make up the difference. I got those through Discount Tire.