Using C5 wheels on a C3
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Marlborough MA
Using C5 wheels on a C3
I'm looking for opinions and experiences here. I know from the post on 17" wheels, that at least two forum members have gone this route. Also from reading the BBfH series of articles, that it was done there as well.
My thoughts are these: I want 17 inch (or 17/18 inch combo) on my car. While I like the TTII's, and some of the other aftermarket wheels I've seen, the price is pretty high (I guess I don't like them that much... So a reasonable alternative is to pick up a set of factory wheels. I've been scanning Ebay, and it seems like the 95-97 style (sometimes called ZR-1) are going for as cheap as $300. This is the 5-spoke style that has wide rectangular spokes with a notch in the face at the rim. I also like the rounded 5 spoke design (there are several, I know, but I'm partial to the wider spoked versions).
That would be 17X8.5 in the front and 18X9.5 in the back. My tire choice would be 255-50-R17 in the front, and 295-45-R18 in the back. This would give me a sidewall of 5.0 to 5.25 on both the front and back. I realize that I would need adapters to fit these wheels. I also realize that the gears for the speedo would need to be different do to the larger rear wheel.
So what do you guys think???
My thoughts are these: I want 17 inch (or 17/18 inch combo) on my car. While I like the TTII's, and some of the other aftermarket wheels I've seen, the price is pretty high (I guess I don't like them that much... So a reasonable alternative is to pick up a set of factory wheels. I've been scanning Ebay, and it seems like the 95-97 style (sometimes called ZR-1) are going for as cheap as $300. This is the 5-spoke style that has wide rectangular spokes with a notch in the face at the rim. I also like the rounded 5 spoke design (there are several, I know, but I'm partial to the wider spoked versions).
That would be 17X8.5 in the front and 18X9.5 in the back. My tire choice would be 255-50-R17 in the front, and 295-45-R18 in the back. This would give me a sidewall of 5.0 to 5.25 on both the front and back. I realize that I would need adapters to fit these wheels. I also realize that the gears for the speedo would need to be different do to the larger rear wheel.
So what do you guys think???
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
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From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Using C5 wheels on a C3 (75 BBC Stingray)
I was gonna run some 17"/18" TT2s some custom offset and ZL1 flares.
295s in the rear and 235 or 245 in the front
295s in the rear and 235 or 245 in the front
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Using C5 wheels on a C3 (Guru_4_hire)
The adapters you are looking for are from Vette Brakes and Parts, http://www.vettebrakes.com .
Tell them the model and year of car you have and the wheels you want to put on it and they will get you the right adapters.
See signature - 17x8.5's and 17x9.5's.
Tell them the model and year of car you have and the wheels you want to put on it and they will get you the right adapters.
See signature - 17x8.5's and 17x9.5's.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
Likes: 3
From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Using C5 wheels on a C3 (Glensgages)
BSeery, isn't there a forum member named 'jroddvette' (or something like that) who has ZR1 wheels on his C3? I think it's in his sig???
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,175
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From: State of Confusion
Re: Using C5 wheels on a C3 (corvettemaster)
I think he tried emulating a C5; note the enlarged wheel-well openings, how he over-sized the rear 1/4-panels (similar to a C5), and 'chopped' the windshield, and rag-top to match the 'speedster' look.
I think it was an '81 or '82, and the drive-train @ that time was bone-stock...
I'm not too-much for wildly modified C3s, but I'll make an exception for this one!!!!!
:thumbs: :chevy :thumbs: :chevy :thumbs: :chevy
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,700
Likes: 3
From: Lebanon KY
Re: Using C5 wheels on a C3 (Glensgages)
I think this C3 was featured in either VETTE or Corvette Fever a few years ago
[Modified by corvettemaster, 10:29 PM 10/13/2003]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Marlborough MA
Re: Using C5 wheels on a C3 (75 BBC Stingray)
That would be 17X8.5 in the front and 18X9.5 in the back. My tire choice would be 255-50-R17 in the front, and 295-45-R18 in the back.
If I don't mind changing the tire Ø from 27" to 26" then the possibilities go up. It looks like even after stepping up to modern wheel sizes, that getting performance tires that are the right size is still problematic...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 8,220
Likes: 208
Re: Using C5 wheels on a C3 (75 BBC Stingray)
groovyjay
That is exactly what I was thinking of. Do you know anything about how they have the wheels attached?
That is exactly what I was thinking of. Do you know anything about how they have the wheels attached?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
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From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
Re: Using C5 wheels on a C3 (75 BBC Stingray)
That would be 17X8.5 in the front and 18X9.5 in the back. My tire choice would be 255-50-R17 in the front, and 295-45-R18 in the back.
Front= 255/50/R17 on 17 x 8.0 with 4.0 inch BS
Rear= 285/40/R18 on 18 x 9.5 with 4.5 inch BS
You could run the OEM trailing arm with the E-brake bracket moved to the top of the arm and I think you would be good to go.
At this point to only thing stopping me from doing this today is the $$$$.
Brent...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,700
Likes: 3
From: Lebanon KY
Re: Using C5 wheels on a C3 (battsup)
Whoa! i was just looking at the pictures for that red 80 convretible and they turned into red x's
