71 Vert LS1

All,

I'm considering the Year One 17" wheels for my 71 vert. Per their web site the 17" wheels are 8" wide with 4.5" backspace.

I'm thinking 255 wide tires all around. Will the 4.5" back space cause me issues? I don't want any type of wheel spacers.

I have offset trailing arms. Stock spindles in the front.

Second question. Any quality issues? I assume they are made overseas.

Thanks

mikem350

What ever you do don't get any wheels smaller than 17 inch. There are very very few performance size 16 inch tires avail now.

I just bought a 71 vert with offset TAs with chrome 16 in Rallye rims...has 295/50/16 rears and 265/50/16 fronts...they barely fit (no rubbing) and all obsolete now! The backspace is standard either 4.25 or 4.5. BTW if your wheels are steel the combo will be VERY heavy!!!

AND..they even shimmed the TAs off center inboard to get clearance for the 295's...

So I would feel OK with the 255's, and others will add their comments

ddawson

To stay with a 27" tire I only see two options for 255/50-18 tires.

zwede

4.5" BS will look goofy. You need 4" BS.

Yes 255/50-17 tires are getting hard to find, but still available for now. 18" is the new "normal".

Barry's70LT1

I have 245/60-15 (stock 4" BS) and they do touch the frame on a hard left turn, just enough to keep a shiny spot.

With a 4.5" BS there would be a definite interference. On the rear, there may be clearance issues as well.

The year-One wheels would need 1/2" spacers and also longer wheel studs. Not real expensive, just more work.
http://www.summitracing.com/int/part...7701/overview/
and something like this for a spacer.
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/aaf-all44121

Don't forget the controversy that goes with using spacers.

71 Vert LS1

Thanks guys.

The reason for the rally wheels was to cover up the good performing but stock small front disc brake rotors.

I've used spacers in the past but since this is a new build I don't want to go down that road.

I don't dislike the 18" wheel. Have them on my 73 Z28 LS3 Camaro. Also my 99 BMW 323 LS1/T56 swap. Please don't think less of me for that swap but it's great swap. It's like a M3 with 150 more HP.

The reason for the 17" wheel was for a little bit more side wall for pot hole resistance.

I will keep looking. Thanks again.

ddawson

a 45 ratio 18 still has a lot of sidewall compared to modern cars.

The calipers do look a little small though.

FLYNAVY30

How did you go about painting the tires??

76Rat

What size tires and rims are you using ddawson? They look sweet!

Zoomin

Here's a pic of the Year One rally's. These are 17x8 with 4.5" backspace, running 235/55's. They come with plastic rally caps and the lug nuts too. At $1,000 for the set, the quality is very good. Would definitely recommend. Right now they have a special for free shipping.

No spacers, no rubbing on either car.

Zoomin

You don't paint the tires. Great to tredwear.com - they make the letters for any tire, if they don't have it in stock, you can send a stencil by rubbing the letters onto a sheet of paper with a pencil and they will make them. You glue the letters on, very much like applying a patch to an inner tube.

ddawson

As Zoomin said tredwear.com. They had the Goodyears in stock and are an exact match to the Goodyear side walls.

Tires are 255/45-18

71 Vert LS1

What do you think with the rallyes and 255 wide tire. Rubbing? The Torque Thrusts look great. Done a couple sets of them. Hard to beat.

FLYNAVY30

Im actually looking at running a 255/40/17 on the front but with 4" backspacing...I want the wheels/tires as flush as possible with the fender but without sticking out. 4.5" backspacing on those year one wheels might be a bit close though. Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in

ddawson

with a 4.5 the wheel moves inward 1/2".

Will be closer to the brake bracket and you may rub the frame up front when at full lock.

I see American Racing makes a Rally in 17 and 18 with the correct offset they look pricey.

Randyh80

Zoomin did you have to relocate the E brake bracket?

Zoomin

No modifications on either car. Just bolt them on and go.

Chappie

Hello Zoomin'. Resurrecting an old thread here. That is a fabulous wheel/tire combo, I LOVE the look of those Rallyes! I've got a '79 that had AME Ramblers (Gramblers?) on it and incorrect research told me that it originally came with the optional aluminum wheels, so I bought a set with 255/60/15 BFG T/As and loved the way it looked. Still do, but as it turns out our car came with the Rallye wheels and I'd like to duplicate exactly what you have. They look awesome and the car has a great stance.

Did you upgrade steering or brakes? I have the VB&P GT suspension with Bilsteins and stock brakes. I'd like to go with bigger brakes and convert to rack-and-pinion.

Chappie

PS- Do your center caps say "Chevrolet Motor Division"?

Barry's70LT1

Year One 17" x 8", 4.5 BS with 1/2" spacers. 245/50 Michelins.

Zoomin

Thanks Chappie

My car is pretty original (Regional Top Flight 2 years ago) although when my left front brake locked up I decided to change the front brakes and rotors to Wilwood's. The originals are a darn good setup especially for the era, but I really don't like all the issues they have with leaks and bent as I drive this quite a bit I wanted to do the improvement. My car has manual steering too and I'm really tempted to change it, but since it's still tight I'm standing pat on that.

As you can see in Barry's post above, the caps do say Chevrolet Motor Division. Interestingly enough, the originals won't fit on the wheels.