Ralley Wheels
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,564
Likes: 658
From: Virginia Beach VA
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Ralley Wheels
I have searched this forum with no luck on answering this question. Will 1968 and 1969 ralley wheels work on a 1965-1967. I think the 1968's are 1 inch wider and the 1969's 2 inches wider. I love the rally wheel look but those skinny wheels from a rear angle make the car look so dated. I am thinking the 68's should not be a problem but there would be clearance issues with the 69's. Any help would be appreciated and if anyone can post pictures that would be great.
Mark
Mark
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
We have mounted stock 7" rally's on a '65 with red-lines and had no clearance problems at all. With the car in the air and full droop on the swing arms, the wheels will sometimes touch the end of the spring, but as soon as you put it on the ground, there's more than enough clearance.
I think you'd have problems with 8" wheels without flares.
Good luck... GUSTO
I think you'd have problems with 8" wheels without flares.
Good luck... GUSTO
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
The ralleys will mount to your 65-67. And it will depend on what size of tire you choose and if the tire will come in contact with the frame when the steering wheel is turned. You should not run into an issue in the rear...but it also depend on how much rubber you have coming out past the bead. IF you car is not power steering...having these wider tires can make it a bit "fun" in turning the steering wheel when it is NOT rolling. And in turn this will put added stress on your "rag-joint" or steering coupling. I have installed this set up before on Corvettes for pretty much of the same reason. And when I ran into the tire scrubbing of the frame. I welded in steel on the lower control arm to create a stop (in the same area that has the stop bracket)...that would keep the tire from scrubbing on the frame. This might and often will lessen your turn radius...but "trade-off's" are expected when design changes are taken.
I am talking about the 7" ralleys.
"DUB"
I am talking about the 7" ralleys.
"DUB"
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 17
From: Saratoga Springs UT
See Rally Wheels on a C2
The short answer in my opinion is this:
1. 68 Vette rallys are 15x7 w 3.75" backspace - work on back if tire size is nor over 215 to maybe 225 and camber slightly in at the top. This is to clear the fender lip and retain the stock parking brake tab.
2. 68 Vette rallys - I believe they are not so good on the front - puts tires too close to the fender lip.
3. Front wants 4 to 4.25" backspace. to get away from the fenders. That makes the front wheels 71 Monte Carlo or equal.
4. Here is the look w this wheel combo and 225/70x15 tires.
Note the deeper 3" rings on the rear.
5. Here are your choices:
FW 15X7 B-4 1/4 71-up most any GM
AG 15X7 B-3 3/4 68 Corvette (will take 15x8 Beauty rings)
YH 15X7 B-4 1/4 L72- ZL1 Z28 Rally 69 narrow drop center
AD 15X7 B-4 1/4 L72- ZL1 Z28 Rally 68 wide drop center
AV 15X7 70, 71, 73 CAMARO Z28 5 spoke wheel
AZ 15X8 B-4 69-82 Corvette
6. The best fit for the same front/rear in a 15x7 wheel would be a 4" backspace, available as an aftermarket item.
Hope this helps.
The short answer in my opinion is this:
1. 68 Vette rallys are 15x7 w 3.75" backspace - work on back if tire size is nor over 215 to maybe 225 and camber slightly in at the top. This is to clear the fender lip and retain the stock parking brake tab.
2. 68 Vette rallys - I believe they are not so good on the front - puts tires too close to the fender lip.
3. Front wants 4 to 4.25" backspace. to get away from the fenders. That makes the front wheels 71 Monte Carlo or equal.
4. Here is the look w this wheel combo and 225/70x15 tires.
Note the deeper 3" rings on the rear.
5. Here are your choices:
FW 15X7 B-4 1/4 71-up most any GM
AG 15X7 B-3 3/4 68 Corvette (will take 15x8 Beauty rings)
YH 15X7 B-4 1/4 L72- ZL1 Z28 Rally 69 narrow drop center
AD 15X7 B-4 1/4 L72- ZL1 Z28 Rally 68 wide drop center
AV 15X7 70, 71, 73 CAMARO Z28 5 spoke wheel
AZ 15X8 B-4 69-82 Corvette
6. The best fit for the same front/rear in a 15x7 wheel would be a 4" backspace, available as an aftermarket item.
Hope this helps.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,660
Likes: 7
From: DFW
The most common 15x7 rally wheel is from Monte Carlos, Chevelles and Camaros, with a back spacing of 4 1/4". It will help you with fender clearance in the front but will hit the parking brake cable bracket in the rear. Since the C3 chassis is essentially the same as C2, you should have no trouble with chassis clearance for any C3wheel. However, C2 strut rod brackets are different, so Gusto14's advice to check spring clearance is good. On dub's note on rubbing, you'll notice that all of the surfaces it rubs on are smooth (including bolt heads which are carriage bolts). I think the engineers anticipated this. The bolts are the give away.. The rubbing is benign. Mine has had custom wheels that caused rubbing for 35 years and it has never caused any tire damage. Welding the stop will fix it, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort.
Harry
I see Larry posted just as I did.. I agree with him that 4" BS is probably optimum, especially if you want to run the same size all around...
Harry
I see Larry posted just as I did.. I agree with him that 4" BS is probably optimum, especially if you want to run the same size all around...
Last edited by 66since71; Apr 12, 2011 at 06:24 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
I run 7" wide wheels and 225/60/15 tires with 3-3/4" BS with disk brakes and have no clearance issues on front. My only issue is that the inner sidewall rubs the carrage bolt on a locked left turn, but more BS would make this even worse (as BS tends to do). I actually run a thin spacer for the brake calipers so actual BS is about 3-5/8".
Last edited by toddalin; Apr 12, 2011 at 07:49 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 24
From: Simcoe Ontario
i've been running 15 x 7's Chevelle style rallys with 215-70's and like 66since71 mentioned the only problem is a slight rub between the inner front tire and the frame, other than that there's no problem, you can always install a 1/4" spacer on the front to help but i try to stay away from them.....just to further complicate things you can get rally wheels in 16" & 17" now but trim rings might be a problem
Last edited by vt65; Apr 12, 2011 at 09:16 PM.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,564
Likes: 658
From: Virginia Beach VA
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Thanks for the response. Larry, nice looking car. Todd, your car is really nice.
Mark
Mark
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 17
From: Saratoga Springs UT
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,660
Likes: 7
From: DFW
Harry
Anyone comment on tire size that works with th 8" and shave fender lips?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,965
Likes: 419
From: Melbourne FL
I have never run them, as they will require cutting on the fender, even with a modest size tire. A lot of the guys I used autocross with did run them however. At a minimum the fender lip must be shaved away. A few of the guys brought the fender opening up to the "belt line". You had to look twice to see it. As far as frame clearance, it's a 4" BS wheel... It fits, with the few caveats already mentioned.
Harry
Anyone comment on tire size that works with th 8" and shave fender lips?
Harry
Anyone comment on tire size that works with th 8" and shave fender lips?
