to increase track width with oem rims:spacers?adapters?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 753
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to increase track width with oem rims:spacers?adapters?
I would like to increase the track width about 1" per wheel but keeping my 15" rims. the car have to go on a racetrack. heard not good things about wheel spacers and instead wheel adapters suggested.
would this fit on oem rims too?
http://www.vbandp.com/Wheel-Adapters...ters-Pair.html
would this fit on oem rims too?
http://www.vbandp.com/Wheel-Adapters...ters-Pair.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
Yes, spacers would not be a good idea. Those adapters would work with your 15" wheels. You might have to cut down your studs a little or clearance out the back of your wheels so the wheels will sit flush on the adapters. I've been using 3" adapters with 84-86 16" wheels on my autocross car for about 12 years now with no problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
If possible, and relevant rules aren't otherwise available, I'd try to inquire of the safety techs ahead of time what they find acceptable so you don't show up ready to have a go only to be turned away. Different tracks and organiziations have varying standards, but there may likey be specific requirements about wheel attachment, especially regarding the use of spacers or adapters (if not prohibited altogether). IMCO, this is more critical on a road course, so I'd be surprised if they didn't have anything to say on the subject.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
If possible, and relevant rules aren't otherwise available, I'd try to inquire of the safety techs ahead of time what they find acceptable so you don't show up ready to have a go only to be turned away. Different tracks and organiziations have varying standards, but there may likey be specific requirements about wheel attachment, especially regarding the use of spacers or adapters (if not prohibited altogether). IMCO, this is more critical on a road course, so I'd be surprised if they didn't have anything to say on the subject.
When you bolt the adapter to the spindle and Tq it to 85 pounds the adapter aluminum creates a strong mechanical bond. A few years ago when I replaced my outer spindled I had a heck of a time getting the adapters off.
So anyway 4 different types of race techs have looked at my set up.
NHRA, SCCA, NASA, speedventures
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
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I've been at the racetrack on saturnday ( not with the Vette but with my Porsche) and no controls at all on the cars... I think I can use whatever i like.
I don't like the idea of cutting my spindles studs to have them flush with the adapter...and btw in Italy wheel spacers are widely used without issues...possibly just a matter of keep them tight and check ,retorque often.
since i need just 1" or less spacing, possibly spacer and longer studs are not that bad. btw , who sells them ? Summit for spacers and studs? who sells wheels adapters instead?VB&P has just 1 wheel adaptor and a poor quality picture
I don't like the idea of cutting my spindles studs to have them flush with the adapter...and btw in Italy wheel spacers are widely used without issues...possibly just a matter of keep them tight and check ,retorque often.
since i need just 1" or less spacing, possibly spacer and longer studs are not that bad. btw , who sells them ? Summit for spacers and studs? who sells wheels adapters instead?VB&P has just 1 wheel adaptor and a poor quality picture
Last edited by elle88; Oct 4, 2010 at 10:46 AM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 270
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From: Chapel Hill NC
I love wheel adapters.
The 1" adapter (no pattern conversion) will cover the existing studs with no modifications required. These come with open ended lug nuts, too. Direct bolt on.
I like the ones these guys make:
http://www.ezaccessory.com/Wheel_Ada...5475-5475k.htm
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
Thanks for the link. it looks like exhactly what i'm searching for.
just 1 question : what about the wheel centering onto the hub? just bolt on everything and the wheel+adapter+hub are correctly aligned? or possible issues with a slightly off-axis and so vibration at speed?I'm new to the thing
just 1 question : what about the wheel centering onto the hub? just bolt on everything and the wheel+adapter+hub are correctly aligned? or possible issues with a slightly off-axis and so vibration at speed?I'm new to the thing
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Chapel Hill NC
All you have to do is bolt em' on and your ready to go. The open-ended lug nuts are acorn shaped so they center the adapter nicely. And when you bolt on the wheel, just softly tighten each lug nut and this will help center the wheel, then you can tighten the wheel down. No wobble or vibration issues.
These guys ship fast, so you usually get the adapters in about 3 days. Very nice quality.
Here is a pic with their 1" wheel adapters on a 1977 with aftermarket wheels.
Last edited by 81_vette!; Oct 5, 2010 at 07:59 AM. Reason: add pic
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
I've been at the racetrack on saturnday ( not with the Vette but with my Porsche) and no controls at all on the cars... I think I can use whatever i like.
I don't like the idea of cutting my spindles studs to have them flush with the adapter...and btw in Italy wheel spacers are widely used without issues...possibly just a matter of keep them tight and check ,retorque often.
since i need just 1" or less spacing, possibly spacer and longer studs are not that bad. btw , who sells them ? Summit for spacers and studs? who sells wheels adapters instead?VB&P has just 1 wheel adaptor and a poor quality picture
I don't like the idea of cutting my spindles studs to have them flush with the adapter...and btw in Italy wheel spacers are widely used without issues...possibly just a matter of keep them tight and check ,retorque often.
since i need just 1" or less spacing, possibly spacer and longer studs are not that bad. btw , who sells them ? Summit for spacers and studs? who sells wheels adapters instead?VB&P has just 1 wheel adaptor and a poor quality picture
What I was trying to get at above is that a 3/4" or 1" spacer is a bad idea especially if you don't change out to longer and even larger studs. I have run up to a 1/2" spacer on stock studs, but the lugs I was using at that time had a shank on them that went inside the wheel so there were more threads engaged inside the lug.
And since we are posting pictues of cars with adapters, here is mine. 16X9.5" C4 wheels with 3" VBP adapters on all 4 corners:
My 73
My 76
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,942
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
When I run C4 wheels on my '69 I swap them around for the two reasons I've stated.
Last edited by 69427; Oct 6, 2010 at 02:12 PM. Reason: Added content.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Then they should all 4 be the same direction, not two one way and two the other. They were designed to pull the air out from under the car across the rotors and out.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,942
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I agree that they should all be the same direction. But as I said, they were designed (or more correctly, styled!) to look aggresive, and functionality was not a factor. This is just one more instance where McClellan let the Styling Group walk all over him, and he dropped the ball, engineering wise.
