My problem: I live in the UK (as a US expat) and just recently imported a set of wheels and tires from the USA (Eckler's Corvette Parts) for my 1972 Corvette that I brought with me from the USA|. The wheels/tires cost me a small fortune between the price the wheels/tires, air freight and UK customs and duties. I really like the wheels and tires, however here in lies the problem. In my rush to get the tires I failed to notice the new wheels were 15" rather than the current 16" wheels. It dawned on me (a bit late) that years ago I had installed large SSBC brake caliphers which required 16" wheel for clearance. The new 15" wheels do bolt on over the SSBC calipher but the wheels will not turn. To determine how much space was needed from the back of the wheel to the calipher so the wheel could turn freely, I put flat washers on the wheel studs undtil the wheel moved freely. The end result was that it took about 8mm of washers until the wheel moved freely on the front tires. One solution to this problem would be to replace the large SSBC caliphers with smaller ones, however I would hate to lose the performace of the SSBC brakes (and the expense). Some have suggested to use wheel spacers which are often used to give clearance for just this type of problem. I have read a lot about bolt on wheel spacers and slide on spacers. It all gets a bit complicated. The simple slide on spacers seem like a good solution in order to get around 10 mm of new clearance but that requires new extended wheel studs. The bolt on spacer option seems like a good solution but that would require a larger spacer and perhaps the cutting down of the existing wheel studs in order for the bolt on wheel space to bolt on flush. In one article I read it would require a 2" bolt on spacer in order not to have to cut down the wheet studs. This would seem to push the tire well outside the wheel well. There does not seem to be a good solution. I am almost to the point of simply buying new brakes!! Any thoughts from my C3 friends?????

 

Sell the wrong wheels and buy the correct ones.

 

I had the same problem with Weld drag racing wheels. I bought 3/8th spacers to clear the brake calipers.

https://www.summitracing.com/nv/sear...s?N=4294947557

 

This is what I bought and the stock studs were long enough with weld wheels

https://www.summitracing.com/nv/parts/afc-31022

 

That is one option I considered and still maybe the correct solution.

 

Sorry for the delayed response, been doing more research and following up on your recommendation with Summit. Their .375 (9.52mm) inch spacer will not work as I need a full 10mm or .393 inches. I can use the current spacers made in the UK, but the real problem is getting the right extended wheel studs. In Europe they tend to carry mostly metric and even the 7/16-20 threaded bolts have a slightly larger spline size (13.1mm versus 12.06mm). I need a wheel stud from the states that is around 2.143 inches in length (based on if I take the standard wheel stud which according to spec has a 1.75 inch Underhead length and I add the .393 inches for the spacer). So I am back to taking this course of action by finding the right extended wheel studs, or changing out the brakes or trying to sell the new wheels and tires!! Suggestions from everyone welcomed.

 

I needed 1/2" spacers for my wheels, therefore longer studs.

These were the closes I could find. I cut them to the required length. The knurl part is slightly larger than the original studs.
https://arp-bolts.com/kits/ARPkit-de...hp?RecordID=61

I used a 15/32 drill bit to enlarge the stud hole in the hub which worked perfectly.

I also built a jig to ensure that the drill bit was perfectly aligned with the hole.

 

I would think a company like ARP would have just about any stud You would want. 10mm isn't very much of a wheel spacer.