Do You Use Wheel Spacers?
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Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Do You Use Wheel Spacers?
Just wondering how many people use them?
Team Owner
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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'."
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (OHSIXX)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=824157 Read my reply.
Spacers are bad - adapters are good.
Better yet, if you are buying new wheels, get the right ones. But if you are like me and want a wheel that can't be made to your specs, then use an adapter.
Spacers are bad - adapters are good.
Better yet, if you are buying new wheels, get the right ones. But if you are like me and want a wheel that can't be made to your specs, then use an adapter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,446
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From: Not Correctly Restored Stingray Fla.
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (BSeery)
Yes with my street wheels (Torque Thrust "D"s). But not with the wheels that have the E.T.Streets mounted on them.
[Modified by LOTAHP, 1:16 PM 5/22/2004]
[Modified by LOTAHP, 1:16 PM 5/22/2004]
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,446
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From: Press "2" for English
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (OHSIXX)
i'm not one of those people who believe spacers are like instant death but they can certainly be dangerous. for a car that just sees street duty, i believe they can be very safe so long as there is plenty of lug thread for the nut to bite and the most critical thing is that the wheels are "lug-centric". use of spacers take up the hub used in the "hub-centric" wheels.
typically, in engineering circles, they consider five full threads as being as strong as a solid piece of steel. i would feel more comfortable with 7+ but engineers rely on less.
that being said, i have put some serious mileage on my wheel adaptors with ZERO problems. i feel as comfortable running them with ANY street tire as anybody else. the adaptors sold by VBP are as good a quality or better than anything that ever came on a c-3. oh, and trust me (and there are a few forum members that can vouch for this) i have definately load tested the VBP adaptors! :thumbs:
typically, in engineering circles, they consider five full threads as being as strong as a solid piece of steel. i would feel more comfortable with 7+ but engineers rely on less.
that being said, i have put some serious mileage on my wheel adaptors with ZERO problems. i feel as comfortable running them with ANY street tire as anybody else. the adaptors sold by VBP are as good a quality or better than anything that ever came on a c-3. oh, and trust me (and there are a few forum members that can vouch for this) i have definately load tested the VBP adaptors! :thumbs:
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,286
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From: Guam
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (Twin_Turbo)
I agree with Clutchdust. I have had 5/8 inch thick wheel studs for many years on my 69 with never a hint of failure. I have the 435hp motor with the 4spd and drive that car harder than most would. I have 15x8 inch wheels on the front that require a spacer in order to fit without modifying the caliper. At first I was skeptical about running them. But after looking at it with an engineering approach in mind, I found an answer to prevent wheel stud breakage. I took extra long shank studs like those you would use on Weld wheels with the deep casted wheel centers and machined them where the shank was just long enough to penetrate thru the wheel and spacer but not quite long enough to touch the hub.This allows you to use as much thread on the stud as possible. You could even cut the shank off of the lug nuts with a hack saw and file the rough edges if you want to save money. I chose to cut them on a lathe for a more precision cut. Make sure to dress up the threads too.If you want to make it even stronger, use extra long studs also. The trick is to use as much thread on the stud and lug nuts as possible. The more the better.
Also, if you choose to run adapters, buy one from a reputable manufacturer. I have seen many failures which has ruined many beautiful cars.
Also, if you choose to run adapters, buy one from a reputable manufacturer. I have seen many failures which has ruined many beautiful cars.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
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From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (LOTAHP)
LOTAHP
I have a few questions.
1)What are the specs on your TTDs?
2)Are they 15 x 8.5 with 3.75BS ?
3)Do you have a pic with these rims installed?
Id love to get some ET Torq Thrusts but they are hard to come by.
4)Are your ETs Unilug?
Hope you can reply:chevy
Im looking to get some TTD types and almost won a pair of ET Torq Thrusts on Ebay a few weeks ago that were really nice 15 x 8.5s with what looked like 3.75BS. They were shown on a C2 and were very nicely polished with dark gray spokes.
Brent...
I have a few questions.
1)What are the specs on your TTDs?
2)Are they 15 x 8.5 with 3.75BS ?
3)Do you have a pic with these rims installed?
Id love to get some ET Torq Thrusts but they are hard to come by.
4)Are your ETs Unilug?
Hope you can reply:chevy
Im looking to get some TTD types and almost won a pair of ET Torq Thrusts on Ebay a few weeks ago that were really nice 15 x 8.5s with what looked like 3.75BS. They were shown on a C2 and were very nicely polished with dark gray spokes.
Brent...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,812
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From: Gig Harbor Wa
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (OHSIXX)
As long as you run long enough studs, spacers are no problem. You do have to be careful if you use the cheap ones to make sure they are centered or they will throw off the balance.
I have 5/16" spacers on the front and ARP studs that I actually had to cut because they were too long. I feel pretty safe especially if redvetracer uses spacers on his race car.
I have 5/16" spacers on the front and ARP studs that I actually had to cut because they were too long. I feel pretty safe especially if redvetracer uses spacers on his race car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
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St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (clutchdust)
i'm not one of those people who believe spacers are like instant death
I am. And i'm pretty laid back.
I fear for the 8 people who answered yes. Maybe you are lucky because you don't put many miles on your cars.
Race Director
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From: If the world didnt suck, we would all fall off. Troy,Ohio.
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St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (turtlevette)
Yup all four corners, if not my rims rub my calipers.
Race Director
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From: If the world didnt suck, we would all fall off. Troy,Ohio.
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St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (wackedvette)
And I use a longer shank for the lugs, silly SST's
Race Director
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Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (turtlevette)
i'm not one of those people who believe spacers are like instant death
I am. And i'm pretty laid back.
I fear for the 8 people who answered yes. Maybe you are lucky because you don't put many miles on your cars.
I am. And i'm pretty laid back.
I fear for the 8 people who answered yes. Maybe you are lucky because you don't put many miles on your cars.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
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St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (Twin_Turbo)
i'm not one of those people who believe spacers are like instant death
I am. And i'm pretty laid back.
I fear for the 8 people who answered yes. Maybe you are lucky because you don't put many miles on your cars.
Look who's commenting LOL...weren't you the one who dremel-rigged the rear bearing setup? :lol:
I am. And i'm pretty laid back.
I fear for the 8 people who answered yes. Maybe you are lucky because you don't put many miles on your cars.
Look who's commenting LOL...weren't you the one who dremel-rigged the rear bearing setup? :lol:
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
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From: Ontario
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (OHSIXX)
There are 3mm (~1/8") spacers behind my wheels (AR TT IIs). When first installed three weeks ago the front spokes were just catching the "M" in Moraine on the calipers. Now they are fine with the thin spacer. The lugnuts catch 9 full turns and the torque is 80. I have put on about 200 miles since the installation and nothing has moved. I am not concerned about this setup.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
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St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (paul67)
I have put on about 200 miles since the installation and nothing has moved. I am not concerned about this setup.
But with a statue of Mary on your dash, maybe you will be fine. :lol:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
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From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (turtlevette)
Just some trivia-
This is available from GM and was OEM for F-Bodies.
14091902 Wheel Spacer
This steel wheel spacer was used on the late model Camaro and Firebird to add space between the frame and the tire. This plate is .030 inches thick with a 4.7 inch bolt pattern.
It is on the GM Performance parts website.
This is available from GM and was OEM for F-Bodies.
14091902 Wheel Spacer
This steel wheel spacer was used on the late model Camaro and Firebird to add space between the frame and the tire. This plate is .030 inches thick with a 4.7 inch bolt pattern.
It is on the GM Performance parts website.
Race Director
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From: Corsicana, Tx
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Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (OHSIXX)
I ran them for years with my TTD's with no issues. MANY runs over 135mph with them...even 154mph once!
Never had any issues with loosening etc.
My current TTII's don't require them.
Just make sure lug studs are long enough!
JIM
Never had any issues with loosening etc.
My current TTII's don't require them.
Just make sure lug studs are long enough!
JIM
Team Owner
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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'."
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Do You Use Wheel Spacers? (turtlevette)
i'm not one of those people who believe spacers are like instant death
I am. And i'm pretty laid back.
I fear for the 8 people who answered yes. Maybe you are lucky because you don't put many miles on your cars.
I am. And i'm pretty laid back.
I fear for the 8 people who answered yes. Maybe you are lucky because you don't put many miles on your cars.
I don't like the low quality "cast" spacers and would never run them. If I did need a spacer, I would get them made of billet aluminum / steel and have them precision machined to make sure they were flat and balanced. Also I believe you would need longer and larger diameter studs to even be close to safe.
As for the adapters, I recently road raced my 1980 pretty damn hard. 3 runs of 20 minutes trying to keep up with C5's and I was pushing the car for everything it had in the corners.
Not only did I have no problems, the lugnuts on the wheels and adapters never backed off any nor did anything snap. I have had the adapters on for almost 2 years of street driving and never had any problems with them. Clutchdust races his car regularly and drives hard on the street and has yet to see any issues.
VPB also states that none of their customers have reported any failures and their customers also upgrade to the 17's to use in racing application for their C3's.
I would say that's a pretty good "track" record for the VPB adapters.
[Modified by BSeery, 11:46 AM 5/23/2004]