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c5 wheels on a c4

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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 10:02 AM
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Default c5 wheels on a c4

Ive got a 87 corvette, my question is what do you have to do to get c5 wheels to fit it. Isnt the backspacing different? Can i get wheel spacers to make them work?
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 10:16 AM
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yes and yes, theres a chart here somewhere
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 11:21 AM
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Here is what you need. I haven't done it yet but I'm going to run my C-5 wheels on my 1987 C-4. I had them powdercoated black and I'm going to put a red pinstripe on the lip in the groove. here is the link.

http://www.motorcitybolton.com/5x120...el-spacer.html
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 10:16 PM
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do i need four or just the front 2?
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 07:43 AM
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i'd try them on first before i put spacers on your car.
i just put 2010 style zr1 replica rims that are stock c5 back spaceing
and they fit fine with no adapters
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 08:23 AM
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I have a 93 40th and I have 2003 C5 rims and tires bolt right on no problems
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by redguy
i'd try them on first before i put spacers on your car.
i just put 2010 style zr1 replica rims that are stock c5 back spaceing
and they fit fine with no adapters
i did try them, they sit too far back from the fender. 87 has weird backspacing
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 01:23 PM
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Front and rear. The adapters are normally 3/4". Spacers are not recommended. Adapters are prefered because of wheel stud length, safety and stability. $.02
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 01:57 PM
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On my 86 I used 1" adapters to bring the C5 thin spokes out flush with the fenders with stock sized tires. Front and rear.
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 02:06 PM
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This is the only pic I have available that shows the fit with 1" spacers. I was having the WBO2 bung installed.
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 08:59 PM
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thanks for the info, i was thinking up to 2'' from the looks of the wheel i put on it.
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Old Sep 21, 2011 | 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by owner C4 & C5
I have a 93 40th and I have 2003 C5 rims and tires bolt right on no problems
Your rears don't sit in at all? I put my 98' wheels on my 88 and the rears seem to sit in the fender a bit.
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Old Sep 22, 2011 | 07:33 AM
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Originally Posted by owner C4 & C5
I have a 93 40th and I have 2003 C5 rims and tires bolt right on no problems
You have different back spacing then an early C4
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 05:19 AM
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Hi, these 'wagon wheel' rims look good indeed! Wat tire size are you running on these C5 rims? (as they are 18" in the rear versus the 17"at the front) The most seen size is 245/45-17 at the front and 275/40-18 at the rear, yet these are quite different in size... Does that matter a lot?
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 07:32 AM
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Put C5 wheels and Firestone Firehawks from a 2003, on dad's 93 vert. They sat in too far on the rear. Did 3/4 in hub centric adapters on the rear, 1/8 in spacers on the front.
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by C4.R
Hi, these 'wagon wheel' rims look good indeed! Wat tire size are you running on these C5 rims? (as they are 18" in the rear versus the 17"at the front) The most seen size is 245/45-17 at the front and 275/40-18 at the rear, yet these are quite different in size... Does that matter a lot?
The fronts are 8.5" width, right? If so, 245/45-17 is correct for the front. 275/40-18 is too tall for the rear. You'll want 275/35-18 back there.
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Old Jul 15, 2019 | 07:15 PM
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Stock '03 wheels and tires on my old 91 with no spacers


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Old Jul 16, 2019 | 01:19 AM
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I put them on my 84. They did fit without spacers but did sit too far inboard. I ended up putting adapters as stated above.



Last edited by zachaeous; Jul 16, 2019 at 01:20 AM.
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Old Jul 16, 2019 | 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by corvetteronw
Stock '03 wheels and tires on my old 91 with no spacers
The wheel mounting surfaces on the hubs of 88-96 C4s are 18mm further outboard than on the 84-87 cars. Therefore, what fits properly on a later C4 like yours will sit 18mm too far inboard on an earlier car like the OP's. The spacers fix that.
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Old Jul 16, 2019 | 10:10 AM
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Anybody running 255/45-17 on the 17" rims?
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