KWIL

My 80 needs paint, and I've always loved the look of rear flares, so I am seriously considering cutting a couple of inches off the fenders, extending out a couple of inches, and glassing in between. But of course, my existing tires (255/60/15) will leave a huge gap. I have Jegs Centerline Auto Drag knockoffs, which I love, but they are 15x8 with 4.75 backspacing... so I'm looking at buying new rear wheels. Jegs no longer carries these, so I'll have to get authentic Autodrags. They offer 15x8.5 and 15x10, both with 3.31in backspacing.

I'd rather not have to buy a shorter leaf spring and offset TAs/ relocate e-brake, if possible.
With 3.31 offset, will the 15x8.5 wheel with 295/50/15 extend about 2 inches outside of the stock fenders, and fit inside without modification?
Or will the 15x10 wheel with 315/50/15/ 325/50/15 fit?

If I build my own flares, obviously I can adjust to the wheel/ tire combo but I want to be close to 2 inches outside stock, and fit inside without modification (I'll use wheel hub adapters if needed).
Unfortunately, I can't just order the wheels and tires and return them if they don't fit so I'm hoping to get it right the first time.

Anyone with a similar setup?

Dazaa Rafae Aman

Why not get some spacers made up to retain your current wheels?

KWIL

I have a 1/2 spacer/adapter on the rears already. I'd have to add an additional 2 inches of spacer to get it out far enough to fill the flares.

RBrid

Here's a reference point for you:
Front: MINILITE 9x15 ET-30, 265/50/15, 1.5" flares
Rear: MINILITE 10x15 ET-20, 295/50/15, 1.5" flares

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1599974485

Hope this helps

KWIL

Looks great. Maybe I missed it but what's the backspacing on the rear wheels? And did you have to relocate the e-brake, offset TA, shorten spring?
And what flares are those? The only similar flares I've seen are 2 inches, not 1.5.

RBrid

ET-30 for the front means 3.82" BS, and ET-20 for the rear means 4.71" BS (http://www.gtsparkplugs.com/Offset-to-Backspace.html).
relocate the e-brake: No
offset TA: Yes
shorten spring: No, SharkBite system
flares: They are the known 2" flares but in practice they are only about 1.5" more than my OEM 1977 panels

KWIL

If my understanding of wheel backspacing is correct, then compared to your 295/50/15 w/ 4.71 BS, if I go with 15x10 centerlines with 3.31 BS, I'll be about 1.4 inches further out than you, which would mean I'd be looking at about a 3 inch flare to cover 295s, and about a 4 inch flare if I can find 315/50/15s. Does this sound right?

doorgunner

Buy the rims and tires......then cut out the openings/install flares to fit the new. Wheels!

RBrid

"I'll be about 1.4 inches further out than you": Correct.
"which would mean I'd be looking at about a 3 inch flare to cover 295s": Correct.
"and about a 4 inch flare if I can find 315/50/15s": I don't think so. First, would 315/50/15s safely fit on a 15x10 rim? Assuming the answer is yes, a 315 tire would only stick out about 1/3" more than a 295. So your flare would have to be about 3 1/3".
Hope this makes sense. Good luck finding 315/50/15s by the way. Let us know if you do.

cv67

This sounds pretty sensible! Then you get a perfect tuck/fit and know how it will come out.

KWIL

This is definitely the plan. My main concern though was whether or not those combos would fit on the inside without e-brake relocation/ springs/ TA mods. From what I gather, the 15x8.5 with 3.31 BS with 295/50/15 should not require inside mods. Still not sure about the 15x10 with 315 or 325/50/15s.