Late Model Style Wheels on 1981 Corvette
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
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Late Model Style Wheels on 1981 Corvette
Does anyone know what type of wheels are on the 1981 Corvette shown in the picture below? What are the necessary specifications (wheel size, offset, backspacing, bolt pattern, tire size, etc.) to use these wheels on a 1981 Corvette?
Last edited by JAD81; Jan 25, 2009 at 12:09 PM. Reason: correct pic url
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
I think those are stock GM C5 Z06 Corvette wheels.
The bolt pattern is the same as your car but the backspacing is different by around 2.5" I think.
All you need are a set of 2.5" wheel adapters to use them, and you might have to relocate the parking brake cable brackets on the trailing arms.
The member Bee Jay has a set.
The bolt pattern is the same as your car but the backspacing is different by around 2.5" I think.
All you need are a set of 2.5" wheel adapters to use them, and you might have to relocate the parking brake cable brackets on the trailing arms.
The member Bee Jay has a set.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
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Thanks to you and Durango Boy for the replies! If I buy four 9.5" wheels and the 2.5" adaptors, will I have to make any additional modifications (e.g., move the parking brake) to make them fit properly?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
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2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
depending on how fat of a tire you put on the tires in the rear....my rims (10.5)just barley touched the ebrake bracket when i didn't have tires on them. so with a 2.5" adapter i don't see where you'd have an issue with the 9.5".....but maybe beejay will chime in....i believe he was running 9.5" in the rear for a while.....oh yeah something to think about, I have a shortened rear leaf spring with 10"bolts too.....I couldn't see anyway to run 10.5 without it
good luck and post some pictures when you get them
here's a pic....i can take one with the tires on there now if you want
good luck and post some pictures when you get them
here's a pic....i can take one with the tires on there now if you want
Last edited by bluegtp; Jan 27, 2009 at 05:56 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
I think those are stock GM C5 Z06 Corvette wheels.
The bolt pattern is the same as your car but the backspacing is different by around 2.5" I think.
All you need are a set of 2.5" wheel adapters to use them, and you might have to relocate the parking brake cable brackets on the trailing arms.
The member Bee Jay has a set.
The bolt pattern is the same as your car but the backspacing is different by around 2.5" I think.
All you need are a set of 2.5" wheel adapters to use them, and you might have to relocate the parking brake cable brackets on the trailing arms.
The member Bee Jay has a set.
Last edited by Bee Jay; Jan 27, 2009 at 09:10 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2007
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From: North Royaton Ohio
Also, the wheels in the first picture look to be a bigger diameter than Bee Jay's. I could be wrong, but that's how it looks to me.
Last edited by guitarcrazy02; Jan 28, 2009 at 04:19 PM.
Safety Car
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From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
I did, and I just got really confused. Some people say Corvette Central has them, some say they don't. Some say they all fit, some say they don't. Can anyone give a definitive answer here?
Also, the wheels in the first picture look to be a bigger diameter than Bee Jay's. I could be wrong, but that's how it looks to me.
Also, the wheels in the first picture look to be a bigger diameter than Bee Jay's. I could be wrong, but that's how it looks to me.
18x9.5 w/ 275/40-18 tires out back. Soon, I hope to have 295/35-18 tires on 18x10.5 wheels in the rear.
I think the wheels look larger in the first picture because the car is lowered to fill the wheel wells better. I just lowered mine 1/2" all around with my batwing install. I haven't taken pictures yet.
Check with Tomz wheels, but I think he was getting ready to shut down shop. The C5 parts forum has them all of the time.
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; Jan 28, 2009 at 08:12 PM.
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Bee Jay
Racer
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From: broken arrow ok
im about to get a 81 vette and ive got a stroker LS1 for it but i want to put the 96 grand sport wheels on it. anyone know anything about those, all i know is they are 9.5x17 front and 11x17 rear, what will i have to do to make them fit
2nd Gear
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I know i'm bringing back an extremely dead topic, but this is actually my corvette. Just an FYI to anyone that cares the spacers are billet aluminum i'd have to go measure to be exact but the front and the rear spacers are different sizes. The tires are 255/45/18. This is with factory trailing arms and parking brake location. i went back to a leaf spring rear and took either 1 or 2 leafs out. Plus i had to grind down the edges to avoid them rubbing on the inner rear wheels.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Cocoa FL
I know i'm bringing back an extremely dead topic, but this is actually my corvette. Just an FYI to anyone that cares the spacers are billet aluminum i'd have to go measure to be exact but the front and the rear spacers are different sizes. The tires are 255/45/18. This is with factory trailing arms and parking brake location. i went back to a leaf spring rear and took either 1 or 2 leafs out. Plus i had to grind down the edges to avoid them rubbing on the inner rear wheels.
I do find it hard to believe this is your first post though
But, welcome to the forum
2nd Gear
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Race Director
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