vettebuyer6369

If someone was going to order a set of new Cragar SS wheels for a basically stock 1969, for use with 225/70 /15 tires, what would the correct offset/back space/ part number be? I'm getting conflicting info.

Are spacers absolutely necessary?

Zoix

4.5"

vettebuyer6369

Info I'm getting is that stock offset was -10mm. The only Cragar wheels that seem to fit are the 61C583442, 15x8, 5x4.75 bolt pattern, 4.25 offset, -6mm offset.... This is not enough, and they require a 1/2" spacer.

Is this info correct? Some people insist they can be bought without spacers. I'm not seeing it.

The13Bats

VB,

I am under the "impression" that a stock BS ( 4" ?) on a 7-8" wheel will fit all c3's
However,
Some aftermarket wheels and I just cant recall if the SS is one, do require a small spacer so the calipers do not rub, the fake centerlines on the back of my 69 at the moment do that and I have a spacer less than 1/4" in there, not thick enough to take too much threads of the studs out of the nut.

The wheel you listed with the 4.25 BS puts the wheel 1/4" closer to the trailing arm side and I see people say this works fine other say you have to bend/relocate the parking brake bracket.

I want different wheels for my build and plan to run 10" 4" backspace and an adapter that bolts to the hub then the wheel bolts to it to get the wheels right where I want them to be sticking out, do not know yet how thick it will be between 1-2" I am guessing.

To run a 1/2" spacer would take really long studs and I do not believe I would try it....

Sorry didn't help much at all.

C3 Stroker

That info is correct. (I've had Cragar SS's on my '69 forever). You can fit 15x8, 15x7, or 15x6 if you want front skinny tires, but all are 5 x 4.75 bolt pattern with 4.25 offset. They require a 1/2" spacer to clear stock Corvette calipers. I didn't have to change the studs, but I did have to get longer shank lug nuts when using spacers. (Mine now has Wilwood thin calipers, so no spacer needed. See my sig pic for Cragar fit on car.)

Cragar has these spacers available for C3 applications...
https://www.summitracing.com/oh/parts/crr-29102

The13Bats

curious, how long was the original stud, the 1/2 went to spacer but didn't loose any with the long shank nut at the wheel mounting area how much stud do you believe was actually threaded into the nut....

augiedoggy

Stock was 4" backspacing for sure.
I went with 8 1/2" wide rims so even with the common 4.5" backspacing (0 offset) on 8" wide wheels The ones I got were (-6mm) they still fit and stick out just as much as the factory wheels.. The catch is mine are 18" diameter and I dont know if the small 15 rims would clear everything with 4.5BS. I have 1/4" spacers just incase and the research I recently did shows that with extended lug nuts like these that I have. http://www.ebay.com/itm/272071949329?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT you can safely go as 1/4" thick with the original studs. anything thicker and you need to change the studs to have the minimum amount of thread catch and still be safe. (thats what the discussion says in one of the wheel threads anyway with a lot of comments that seem to back it up.)

I havent mounted mine on the car yet.

C3 Stroker

You can change to longer studs, or.....

Use long shank lug nuts like these...

https://www.summitracing.com/oh/parts/rce-601-1416-10

The13Bats

okay...I get it, the long shanks keep it for loosing any stud length,

augiedoggy

Those arent the correct type for spacers... those are long but thats because the are designed to stick way out in thicker wheel castings... look again at the beveled cone edge that contacts the wheels... theres no extended shank. They are just long head lugs..
I made the same mistake when looking for a set and found those myself before buying the ones above for a quarter of the price.. summit does have the same ones as the ebay link though (they appear identical) but they want the same price for 5 as the ebay seller is asking for 20 plus free shipping. Well see it they rust on me I guess

vettebuyer6369

Thanks for that help C3 Stroker.

Cragar tells me the correct wheel is the 15X8 61815 with 4.25 offset and 1/2 " spacer 29200.

Jegs told me the same, with their 65050 spacer and Cragar 260-27792-4 .800 lugs.

Summit sent me a link on how to measure my old wheels!

UPDATE: I was confused as Jegs suggested .800 lugs and others stated I needed 1 inch to avoid changing studs. Cragar just came back and explained the Cragar 29200 spacer kit comes with correct .935 lugs.

C3 Stroker

Cragar's look like those, but actually do have extended shanks. I have a set. (I just used that pic for an example of what they look like, you can buy Cragar brand that will work).

This is a pic from "the old days", not much of a close-up, but the SS's are installed with the spacers and the long shank lug nuts supplied by Cragar.

C3 Stroker

Glad to see that Cragar now sells the kit needed to fit SS's on C3's. They used to years ago when I bought my first SS's and the "Corvette Kit" as they called it to go along with the wheels. The "Kit" was discontinued for several years. You no longer have to piece together the parts.

The13Bats

so VB you are running cragars on your 69?!

augiedoggy

I believe I just removed some long crager style lug nuts from my vette today when replacing the old 15 American racing? wheels they are not beveled though . Instead they go through larger holes in the very thick aluminum wheels and have a built in washer on them that along with the head holds the wheel on. I didnt like how they didnt seem to be perfectly centered on my car since the center hub on my wheels were larger than the original corvette rims. I had a vibration in my steering wheel I suspect were caused by them.

I did end up installing the 1/4" spacers with the lug nuts above and all went well with plenty of threads in the lugs...I now have 4.25" backspacing and I clear the emergency brake line by more than a fingers thickness.



I find it odd that crager told vettebuyer the cars came with 4.25" backspacing when all I heard over and over on three different long wheel threads was 4" including the "show us your wheels" sticky here.. I know its only .25" but..

vettebuyer6369

Cragar did not tell me the cars came with 4.25 backspacing. Tire Rack told me the cars came stock with -10mm backspacing and that I needed that as a minimum. Cragar and Jegs both said the Cragar S/S wheels that were correct for use on my car were the ones that had the 4.25" backspacing.

vettebuyer6369

I'm considering a different look. I've had the car done since 2009 and I'm ready to shake it up a little, just for awhile.

Kind of a Day 2 look. I got a great deal on a newish set of TA Radials from my buddy so I figured now is as good a time as any.

augiedoggy

I understand now... Crager doesnt make them in the 4"BS. Sounds like you will need the spacers to have them flush with the outside of the car like stock. I didnt think the 1/4" would be noticable but it was for me. It made the wheels look smaller without them. and mine already stick out .25" further than an 8" rim with 4.25 bs would without the spacer.

71 Vert LS1

Just note on the Cragars.

I ordered a set from Summit a couple years back and when I took them in to have the tires mounted the tire shop always spins them on the balancer before mounting the tire to check run out. All four were bad.

Hopefully you don't have a problem but I would check the wheels before mounting the tires.

Summit took them back without a problem.

rays699

yes, I had them on my 69 vette with 1/2" spaces. with ta's [ATTACH][/ATTACH]