C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Spacers on front wheels

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 24, 2007 | 01:42 PM
  #1  
BigBadRed's Avatar
BigBadRed
Thread Starter
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 14,376
Likes: 1
From: Check this riff........
Default Spacers on front wheels

The guy I bought my car off of put some big $ boyd rims and tires on my 76. He said he was postive that the offset was correct, but they look to far into the front wheel well by at least an inch or two. Can I put a spacer between the hub and the wheel to push the front wheels out? Or will this do something horrible to the bearings/knuckle.



Car in question.

Last edited by BigBadRed; Jan 24, 2007 at 01:47 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2007 | 02:33 PM
  #2  
Durango_Boy's Avatar
Durango_Boy
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Default

You can in fact install spacer/adapters on the front to bring the wheels out further. Ebay is a good place to look, but make sure you are getting hub-centric adapters.

Now, with that said, it would be a good idea to pull the wheel after 50 miles, and re torque everything. The lugs that hold the adapter can loosen or seat in the adapter, and by re torquing you avoid problems.

They will put extra strain on the bearings...but it's nothing they can't handle unless you drive and turn hard.
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2007 | 03:06 PM
  #3  
lvrpool32's Avatar
lvrpool32
Safety Car
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,637
Likes: 27
From: Norwalk Ct
Default

I have 1.5" wheel adaptors (these are the ones you bolt onto your original hub and mount the wheel to the spacer) on the front of mine to push the wheels out to fill the flares...had no issues with them.

In fact I think I have another pair of 1.25" spacers on my workbench ..$30 if you want 'em
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2007 | 07:54 PM
  #4  
gyopp's Avatar
gyopp
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 5
From: Paducah Ky
Default

It is hard to tell how far in your wheels are sitting in that pic but I can't believe that your wheels are sitting even an inch too far in and your able to get any turning radius to speek of. I have Boyd smothie II's and they cant make them with the proper backspacing. They were in 1/2" further than they should be and I had to put spacers behind them as even that would have been a problem. Another thing I noticed is even with the backspacing right the modern tires have a much squarer corner and will rub the sway bar if you turn really hard.
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 12:22 PM
  #5  
BigBadRed's Avatar
BigBadRed
Thread Starter
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 14,376
Likes: 1
From: Check this riff........
Default

Originally Posted by lvrpool32
I have 1.5" wheel adaptors (these are the ones you bolt onto your original hub and mount the wheel to the spacer) on the front of mine to push the wheels out to fill the flares...had no issues with them.

In fact I think I have another pair of 1.25" spacers on my workbench ..$30 if you want 'em

Thanks for all the tips, and lvrpool32, let me measure to see how much I need, and if its 1.25" I will email you
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 12:38 PM
  #6  
Durango_Boy's Avatar
Durango_Boy
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Default

Originally Posted by lvrpool32
In fact I think I have another pair of 1.25" spacers on my workbench ..$30 if you want 'em

Are your spare spacers hub-centric? Are they bought or did you make them?
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 12:55 PM
  #7  
Wuttin's Avatar
Wuttin
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
Default

Originally Posted by BigBadOrange
Thanks for all the tips, and lvrpool32, let me measure to see how much I need, and if its 1.25" I will email you
1.25" works well with the original studs on the hub.The entire stud will fall below the flush outer edge of the adapter. Anything less than this and you will either have to replace the original stud, or carefully grind down the exposed top of the stud until flush with the top of the adapter. This assumes your new wheels need a flush mounting surface. The only risk is the lug nut may not capture as much threading as they should (as per the experts) if the billet is thick at the lug seat. I used 1.25" and some 721 Loctite to secure the adapter to the hub...no probs at all.

Also, be aware that hubcentric adapters, ones that fully contact and engage the cap at the center of the bare hub, are not all the same. They can be different for the front and back. If the front has the "ice cream cone" bearing cover the standard sets you can buy for the rear will not work unless you machine the center opening a tad wider. You will need a set that is slightly larger in the center and will probably not fully contact the hub. Again, I got 'em on mine , no probs.

And $30 for a pair is an absolute steal...
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2007 | 02:49 PM
  #8  
Durango_Boy's Avatar
Durango_Boy
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Default

I agree, front and back can be different. It's best to be in contact with the person making the spacers, so you can make sure all the measurements are correct.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jan 27, 2007 | 03:06 PM
  #9  
MEGALADON's Avatar
MEGALADON
Safety Car
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 1
From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
Default

BIGBADORANGE, it might help a whole lot to be more
specific about what size wheels you have!!
That can also make a world of difference of
what you need. A spacer is completely different
from an adapter. Post some better shots of your
wheels while they are straightend out kinda like a side
shot.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2007 | 03:09 PM
  #10  
Durango_Boy's Avatar
Durango_Boy
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Default

Originally Posted by MEGALADON
BIGBADORANGE, it might help a whole lot to be more
specific about what size wheels you have!!
That can also make a world of difference of
what you need. A spacer is completely different
from an adapter. Post some better shots of your
wheels while they are straightend out kinda like a side
shot.

Sorry, I do tend to use the same word for both when there is a big difference. I think he is clear that he wants adapters.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Spacers on front wheels





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:03 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE