84 needs new wheels - please advise
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: NY
84 needs new wheels - please advise
Hi guys.
Spring is around the corner and the time has come to finish my vette.
I have a 400 carb'd motor in her with the 4+3.
Should be a lot of fun.
One of the items I want to sort out this spring are the ugly stock wheels.
I'd like to get some nice 17s in order to keep the rubber cheap (this car is intended to be my drift beater...).
So idealy I'd like 17 x 8 in the rear, unfortunately I can't seem to find any?!?
If I run into a set they are usually labeled 88 and up.
17 x 9.5 would work too, but again, all the ones I found are for newer vettes.
Help please
Thanks
Spring is around the corner and the time has come to finish my vette.
I have a 400 carb'd motor in her with the 4+3.
Should be a lot of fun.
One of the items I want to sort out this spring are the ugly stock wheels.
I'd like to get some nice 17s in order to keep the rubber cheap (this car is intended to be my drift beater...).
So idealy I'd like 17 x 8 in the rear, unfortunately I can't seem to find any?!?
If I run into a set they are usually labeled 88 and up.
17 x 9.5 would work too, but again, all the ones I found are for newer vettes.
Help please
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
8.5 or 9.5 are the common widths. You need to be sure you get the right offset. I just got some new wheels and tires for my '87 which, I think, have the same offset as your '84---double check that though. Here's a link to my thread. My second post has info on what I actually ended up with and there are pictures at the end.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...rformance.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...rformance.html
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 635
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From: NY
Thanks!
Not particularly hot on those wheels, but they look good, no doubt.
Nothing wrong with zr1!!!
So if I get 17x9.5 et38 I should be fine?
How flush does the rubber sit? Could you ,or did you use spacers?
I'd like to have the tire flanks sit flush with the top of the arches.
Thanks again!
Tom
Not particularly hot on those wheels, but they look good, no doubt.
Nothing wrong with zr1!!!
So if I get 17x9.5 et38 I should be fine?
How flush does the rubber sit? Could you ,or did you use spacers?
I'd like to have the tire flanks sit flush with the top of the arches.
Thanks again!
Tom
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
The wheel offsets are discussed in the following sticky:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...lar-basis.html
From that sticky, here are the offsets for '84 - '87:
OEM CORVETTE WHEEL FRONT SPACING:
84-87 base
8.5"/2 - 32mm/25.4 = 2.99"
84R-87 Z51
9.5"/2 - 38mm/25.4 = 3.25"
In other words, if you get 8.5" wide wheels you need a 32mm offset, if you get 9.5" wheels you need a 38mm offset.
If you use those offsets no spacers are needed.
The trick is finding vendor's that actually quote offset's, some do and some don't. Eckler's does, as does the outfit bikertaz suggested in my earlier thread. The America's Tire Company web site included the offset information but wasn't very explicit about it. In any case, using the model year filters on the web sites should point you to wheels that will fit---but double check.
I just checked my photobucket album and I'm afraid I don't have any pictures that show the fit any better than what I already posted (and I don't have my camera with me), sorry. I guess the best I can offer is if you follow the recommended offset you'll get the original fit. PM me if you want me to take more pictures over the next day or two, weather permitting.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...lar-basis.html
From that sticky, here are the offsets for '84 - '87:
OEM CORVETTE WHEEL FRONT SPACING:
84-87 base
8.5"/2 - 32mm/25.4 = 2.99"
84R-87 Z51
9.5"/2 - 38mm/25.4 = 3.25"
In other words, if you get 8.5" wide wheels you need a 32mm offset, if you get 9.5" wheels you need a 38mm offset.
If you use those offsets no spacers are needed.
The trick is finding vendor's that actually quote offset's, some do and some don't. Eckler's does, as does the outfit bikertaz suggested in my earlier thread. The America's Tire Company web site included the offset information but wasn't very explicit about it. In any case, using the model year filters on the web sites should point you to wheels that will fit---but double check.
I just checked my photobucket album and I'm afraid I don't have any pictures that show the fit any better than what I already posted (and I don't have my camera with me), sorry. I guess the best I can offer is if you follow the recommended offset you'll get the original fit. PM me if you want me to take more pictures over the next day or two, weather permitting.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: NY
That's plenty, thanks.
Unfortunately all the wheels I like seem to be 17x9.5 et 54...
That would mean an extra 16mm sticking towards the outside.
Hm, not sure if that's a bad thing, especially if I were to stretch a 245 tire on there.
Might actually work pretty good.
Is there a wheel fitment pic thread in this forum?
If so, I haven't found it yet. The other car forums I hang out in usually have a thread that collects pics of wheel / tire combos.
The stock wheels on my vette are about 10mm tucked in from the fender line.
That's why I think the 54s might work, but It'd be nice to know anyone who runs a setlup like that before buying.
Thanks again,
Tom
//edit: wait a sec, et 54 is 16 further IN, not out, right?
So I could just use wheel spacers! Nice
Unfortunately all the wheels I like seem to be 17x9.5 et 54...
That would mean an extra 16mm sticking towards the outside.
Hm, not sure if that's a bad thing, especially if I were to stretch a 245 tire on there.
Might actually work pretty good.
Is there a wheel fitment pic thread in this forum?
If so, I haven't found it yet. The other car forums I hang out in usually have a thread that collects pics of wheel / tire combos.
The stock wheels on my vette are about 10mm tucked in from the fender line.
That's why I think the 54s might work, but It'd be nice to know anyone who runs a setlup like that before buying.
Thanks again,
Tom
//edit: wait a sec, et 54 is 16 further IN, not out, right?
So I could just use wheel spacers! Nice
Last edited by VIN666; Mar 15, 2011 at 06:21 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
welcome to the c4
it's probably one of the hardest cars commonly driven to find wheels for
the zr1 replica wheels would be one of your best choices. the only drawback is most the knockoffs are heavy
there are various 80s themed wheels floating around that fit. the choices also get better with 88+ suspension. for the 84-87 you're much more limited
it's probably one of the hardest cars commonly driven to find wheels for
the zr1 replica wheels would be one of your best choices. the only drawback is most the knockoffs are heavy
there are various 80s themed wheels floating around that fit. the choices also get better with 88+ suspension. for the 84-87 you're much more limited
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Paris Ontario
I just swapped over to C5 wagon wheels, which are cheap to find. Personally I like the looks of them . I has to use adapters 1" front and 1.25" rear to accommodate the offset 17x8.5 front & 18x9.5 rear. I've seen some guys run the 17's or 18's all the way around.
Tires are 245 45 17 front & 275 40 18 rear. (Wish I would have gone wider in the rear though)
The cheapest new set of after market wheels I liked and could find that kept the original offset were $1200 set. Foose (speed back) wheels. I understand all of the Foose line can be made to accommodate the off set.
Tires are 245 45 17 front & 275 40 18 rear. (Wish I would have gone wider in the rear though)
The cheapest new set of after market wheels I liked and could find that kept the original offset were $1200 set. Foose (speed back) wheels. I understand all of the Foose line can be made to accommodate the off set.
Last edited by twps; Mar 15, 2011 at 06:29 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
Wheels & tires are a very common thread topic. Use the search feature and youi'll find some pictures. I did, and collected a bunch of random info & pictures into a word document. Unfortunately, I can't upload it to photobucket or attach it to posts (being a newbie too.)
PM your email address and I'll send it to you.
Oh, and someone, sooner-or-later, is likely to point out the difference between adapters and spacers...
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 635
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From: NY
Washers - aluminum or steel discs with holes
Spacers - Proper pilot and starting at a certain width (around 1") with their own studs
That's what I assume you're talking about
Anyway, I think C6 knock offs with spacers is what I'll end up using.
Those go for 460 bucks shipped and as I indicated before, this car is a drift beater, so i don't need anything fancy. Just wheels that aren't as horribly fugly as the stock ones :P
PM on it's way
Spacers - Proper pilot and starting at a certain width (around 1") with their own studs
That's what I assume you're talking about
Anyway, I think C6 knock offs with spacers is what I'll end up using.
Those go for 460 bucks shipped and as I indicated before, this car is a drift beater, so i don't need anything fancy. Just wheels that aren't as horribly fugly as the stock ones :P
PM on it's way
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 635
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From: NY
I'll cross that bridge when I get there LOL
Before I pulled the car apart and did the swap I ran it around a kart track for some drift testing and I thought it did very good. The only thing it was lacking was a usable ebrake and some more low end oomph.
We'll see. I don't think the stock steering angle is going to be too much of an issue for local events and some rainy street fun.
We'll see.
Before I pulled the car apart and did the swap I ran it around a kart track for some drift testing and I thought it did very good. The only thing it was lacking was a usable ebrake and some more low end oomph.
We'll see. I don't think the stock steering angle is going to be too much of an issue for local events and some rainy street fun.
We'll see.
