Hello all,

I am in middle of major project with 71 BB convertible. Will have 555 cu inch motor, Son of Tranzilla tranny, Tom's rear, offset trailing arms. I am working out doing flares with Road-Race Vette. This will be a magazine car when it is done.

Wheel selection is killing me. I'd like something that looks a bit retro but upgraded and deep dish.

Like the Chip Foose Nitrous II's but can't get them to answer an email.

Was thinking a Halibrand wheel with knockoff spinners but they don't make 'em big enough.

I want 17x8 or 8.5 in the front and 17x11 or 18x11 in the rear.

I don't know what offsets those wheels should have so don't know what to ask for for starters.

I am looking for something distinctive that doesn't smack of retromod because this car isn't one. It will be a bonifide BB C3 with C3 running gear.

I've sold the wheels in the pictures below. They are happy on a C3 coupe nearby.

I'm usually clearer about my requests but in a bit of a quandry at the moment.

Any suggestions? How do I compute backspacing for a C3?

Doug

 

Complete Custom Wheel will make whatever size you want, but I believe they only make the "Classics" for a C-3

 

Yeah, I like John's work, have bought probably 5 sets of wheels from him, but those look more like C5 wheels to me. Good start though. And John knows his stuff. What do you have on your car?

 

Minilite-style (Trans Am type) 8-spokes are period-correct for C3s. Don't know if anybody makes 'em bigger than 15".

 

American Racing makes Torque Thrust II's in those sizes. Not sure if that falls in your retromod category. I have a 69 coupe with fender flares running 16x11 Real Race all around for the track. We are ordering a set of TTII's in 17x11 with 4" back space. Have an extra set of 16x11's but street as tire selection for them is nonexistent.

 

try this link just put you year in and you will get a pic of how they will look on your car


http://www.autowaretech3.net/nextwheels/fountain.htm

Todd

 

OK if you want 17s and you want something that looks period correct there are several choises but not too many styles. There are at least 4 companies to choose from for traditional 5 spokes. American Racing, Vintage Wheel Works, Team III, and PS Engineering all make 5 spokes and you can get them with polished spokes, as cast, or gray finish. If you want "Minilites" except for American Racing they all make them also. If you're going to flare in 17s a 9.5 in the front and an 11 in the rear will work great. If you want to go to 18s the choises narrow in these particular wheels because of the widths available unless you are willing to buy 10s and have them widened. You will also at this time be limited to 5 spokes. Nobody at this point makes "minilites" in 18s unless your are willing to have them made (pm Nick - Liverpool32). Now if you are open minded about billet wheels you can make them look period correct by going the custom finish route. If you find a Budnik, Billet Specialities, or Intro wheel as an example (there are 1000s of others to chose from) you can have the centers brushed or powder coated to create the look you're after. Keep in mind though that the price goes way up when you go past 10 wide in 18s. 12" hoops are very expensive and 18" tires are way more than 17s. If you can narrow it down a little I as well as many other people here on the forum can probably help you a little more . Determine what you like and then we can help find the style in the sizes you're after. If you flare 9 to 10 wide in the front and 11 to 12 wide in the rear. If you don't flare 8 to maybe 9 in the front depending on tire size and 9 to 10 in the rear with limitations also. As far as backspace goes in depends on what sizes you pick and your car. 5" is about maximum backspace. 4" is stock and there are guys that have gone with a little more than that as well as a little less than that (keep wheel bearing life in mind also). I hope I didn't ask more questions than I tried to answer.

 

17 x 8's with 4" backspacing fit my '73 all around with no problems.

Here is a link to a good wheel/tire size comparison calculator.

http://wheelsmaster.com/rt_specs.jsp

Enter -12mm offset to get 4" backspacing.

DC

 

Thanks everyone. I recognized that I gave you too much range to go on. The two websites were very helpful. I am an engineer but electrical, not mechanical and thinking in 3 dimensions is a challenge.

Will update with what I end up getting.

Doug

 

There is a company here in the UK (Birmingham area?) who may still make a Minilite style wheel in larger diameters, it was a built-up three piece wheel with the centres bolted-up to the rims. Was looking at them before I chose Boyd JYD's. I will try and find who they are. I am using 18 x 9" rear wheels with 5" inset and stock trailing arms. 6" inset with offset trailing arms may be a possibility.

 

This sounds like very potent combination and I can't wait to see pictures. Good luck with the build. Keep us posted.

 

I believe much past 5.5" backspace in the rear and the frame becomes the limiting factor not the trailing arm. Check with Gordonm if I remember correctly he knows for sure.

 

I'm sure you are right, I used 285/40/18 and the tyre is very very close to the frame. I guess with similar sized tyre on a wider rim it may 'stretch' the tyre over the wider rim and clear the frame if you are using bigger inset. I just don't think 285/295/315 width tyres look right on really wide rims - the ride quality must deteriate further - kerbing will be more of an issue

The wheel company over here in UK is Superlite and the bolt-up Minilite style wheels go up to 18" diameter. I would have thought that someone over your side of the pond would do something like these too?
http://www.superlite-wheels.com/wheelpage.asp?cat=2

 

Not to get off topic but your car looks great also. Whats the rest of your wheel/tire comination? Do you have any pictures?

 

Thanks. Only photo's currently available easily are on my details here on CF. Front is 255/45/18 Toyos on stock offset 8" x 18", rear 285/40/18 Toyos on 9" x 18" on 5" offset. Idea was to get as close to original tyre diameter as possible (27.2" or so) and get under fender etc without flareing. Suspension is F40. Koni gas shocks to go on soon and 25mm lower springs on front. In the wet I don't hang my arm out of drivers window - all that rubber spreads all the crap off the road surface down both sides of the car.

 

I'd still love to see a set of rally wheels in 16" or 17" - not some CG thing, a photo of an actual car that has them on. I know they're out there.

 

One of our CCCUK members vetteg has 18" billet alloys Ralleye's on his C3, take a look at this gallery on http://www.graemeinglis.com/ Incidently there are better size options with tyres in 18" - you can get close to the original tyre height - avoiding that empty wheel well look that you get with some wheel and tyre combinations.

 

I looked at the superlite wheels before I went with the Vintage wheel works 48's. 1) is that the don't look "vintage" with the three piece design (all the bolts around the center section and the center looks smaller because of the mounting flange where the center meets the hoop) 2) the price! When I called them for a quote earlier in the year, 2 17 x 9.5's and 2 x 18 x 12's was going to be over $4000 plus shipping plus import duty.

I think the V48 Vintage Wheel Works and the LT wheel from Team III are the best looking of the larger diameter (17") minilite style wheels. I needed 18's in the rear because the widest /tallest 17" tire (335/35-17 - 26") is too short, it looks lost in the wheel arch even with lowering, so a 18 x 12 allows me to run a 345/35-18 (27.3"), same height as stock and plenty wide enough. Just meant I had to work with a company to get custom 18" minilites made, cost me about twice the price of a 17x11, but I am much happier with the look.

Nick

 

Still like those Bonspeed Huntington's you were selling Nick!

 

Yup, the Huntington is my favorite looking "billet" wheel, if I where to do a modern pro touring style car, there is no doubt that they would be my first choice, they just didnt go with my vintage race theme and I think the minilite is th ebest looking vintage style race wheel out there.

If any one is interested I will have a pair of 17 x 11 VWW V48's with Kumho 335/35-17's for sale in a couple of weeks (if you don thave flares, they wont fit!)

Nick