I installed a set of Cragar SS wheels (15x8 with 3/4 billet alum wheel adaptors)...and talk about a living nightmare!!!!! First set I ordered from Jegs....3 of the 4...OUT OF ROUND!!!!. Jegs took all 4 back with no problems but they weren't going to get any more in until May 5 (apparently they were having problems with Cragars quality). So I ordered a set from Summit Racing. They came in today and I attempted to install them. 2 of the wheels needed 8oz to balance them...even after breaking down the tire and rotating it on the wheel!!! I called Summit, and they were willing to over-night 2 new wheels. I then decided to temporarily mount all 4 wheels (2 good ones and 2 bad ones) just enough so I could get home and wait until the morning (already spent 4 hours on this project today). After mounting them on the Vette, I started to back out. As I turned the wheel (while backing out)....GRIND!!!! The back part of the front fender CRACKED from the tire hitting it!!!!! A HUGE ONE !!!! DAMN! So the hell with it and went back to my stock wheels. I really liked the look of the Cragar wheels BUT the quality...... Summit is picking them up on Friday. Any recommends as far as American Racing Torque IIs?? By the way, I am taking her to Sport Car Specialty (Corvette body shop)in on Monday for them to fix the crack.....$300!!

 

yikes what a horror story.....and this just before bedtime....i can see the nightmares coming. i think that each vette is different in how tires and wheels fit them....some guys can mount the 255s in front, other guys they rub on the inside, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. sorry to hear of your misfortune.

 

I had the 15x8 Cragar S/S on a 75 vette with both the 245 60R15 and then changed to 265 50R15 on the front with no rubbing at all. All I needed was a spacer so that the rim didn't interfere with the caliper.
Sorry to hear about your problem vetteguy75.

 

I appreciate your thoughts....I have 255 60R15 all around...what size spacer did you get. I measured the caliper to be 3/4 out from the wheel pad...so 1" would clear it by 1/4"...so instead of spacers, I got 1" adapters... would I need the spacer if I went with Torque Thrusts.....

 

I'll check the size tommorrow and get back to you.

 

I totaly agree, I could not get Cragar rims to fit for anything, and I also agree the quality is not what it was in the 70's. I took another route altogether once I saw how many people are using Cragar SS or Tourque Thrust II wheels. I like a little originality in my cars, It's what makes them mine, so I went with custom built Intro wheels for that look you don't see on too many other cars.

 

I went with TTII2 that are 15x8 with 3.75 BS. These push the wheels 1/4 inch out from OEM rim location for a great look. Bought them new off Ebay for $550 approx from a small dealer in Tennesee I think. They balanced up with minimum of weights with my existing relatively newer tires.

-No issue with brake caliper clearance.
-No issue with rubbing with 255/60R15s. The 80-82s have larger front fender openings than earlier models.

Didnt want to make the $$$ leap to 17s/18s yet.

I tried hard to go with different types of rims, but just couldnt get around the caliper clearance issue or my desired backspacing set-up. I gave in and went with the TTIIs and havent regretted it for a minute.

See pics under Avatar.

Brent...

 

What is wrong with the wheels in the pic...looks sharp. I would save the bucks and keep what you have.

BTW...wrong section

 

The spacer is 1/2" and it's made by Cragar. Hope that helps vetteguy75.

 

I had 265-50-15 tires on 15x8 wheels with a 1/4 inch spacer on the front of my 69 with no problems. My 82 is running the same size tire on the front but with 15x10 rims and the same size spacer. It rubs very minimal at the very front lip of the fender if you turn sharp and hit a bump. THe 82 has a bigger wheel opening than the 69. I think that the 1 inch adapter is part of the clearance problem.

 

Got a set of American Racing Torque Thrust II... No Spacer problems....they fit FANTASTICALLY!!! and the looks...WOW Thanks for all your help!!!!!

 

These rims go very nice with the C3 body lines!!

They look great on your vert.

B....

 

I think you are better off with the ARs instead of Cragars. Thanks for posting this as I was contemplating getting Cragar, now I won't.
I am thinking about going with the Chrome Coy's like I have on my 82 for either my 79 or 77. Pics on webpage.

 

Thanks for the heads-up... I am just about ready to order a set of wheels and was actually thinking about the SS's. I guess I will look at something else... I personally don't like the Torquer's as well as the SS's.

 

Ahhhhh the beauty of Ralley Wheels. I love them!

 

try some different style rims. everyone runs TT2. I went with some boyds.

 

I just purchased Gragar 61C and they rub against the caliber, what size spacer did you get for your and did you need to insatl new wheel studs. Thanks Mike

 

There’s no need to add this question to a thread from 17 years ago. Please start a new thread.