Wheel swap
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Assuming the '96 are staggered widths 8.5 and 9.5 the required spacer dimensions need some consideration I'd think. If for some reason they were 4 X 9.5 the generally more considered appropriate would do. If you don't know you'll need to find out.
Last edited by WVZR-1; May 19, 2014 at 07:31 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I have heard that late model rims bolt up fine without adapters, but they look a little inboard. A 3/4" adapter will position the later C4 wheels in the same position as your stock 16".
Check how long your wheel studs are too. I don't remember exactly, but they are about an inch or so. If you use the 3/4" or maybe the 1" the studs may extend past the face of the adapter. On many wheels that is not a problem since there are frequently recesses in the wheel mounting face. If the wheel does not have recesses and the stud extends past the face of the adpater, they will hit and the wheel will not mount correctly. You may need to shorten the studs if that occurs. I don't remember whether the sawblades have a recess or not.
I had 1.25" adapters and used them on my '85 with '94 sawblades. The fronts (8.5" wheels) are ok with the 1.25" adapter, but would be too far out with 9.5" wheels. The rears are ok with the 9.5" wheels but they are all the way out as far as I would use.
The 1" or even 0.75" would be a better choice for fitment.
Here is what the 1.25" looked like on my '85.
Check how long your wheel studs are too. I don't remember exactly, but they are about an inch or so. If you use the 3/4" or maybe the 1" the studs may extend past the face of the adapter. On many wheels that is not a problem since there are frequently recesses in the wheel mounting face. If the wheel does not have recesses and the stud extends past the face of the adpater, they will hit and the wheel will not mount correctly. You may need to shorten the studs if that occurs. I don't remember whether the sawblades have a recess or not.
I had 1.25" adapters and used them on my '85 with '94 sawblades. The fronts (8.5" wheels) are ok with the 1.25" adapter, but would be too far out with 9.5" wheels. The rears are ok with the 9.5" wheels but they are all the way out as far as I would use.
The 1" or even 0.75" would be a better choice for fitment.
Here is what the 1.25" looked like on my '85.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Buckhead GA
Thanks to all who have responded and your responses confirm my suspicions. I have a 96 also but it does bot have Sawblades on it so I could not do a test. I thought I would need spacers and they are available. Found these wheels for $300 and thought they would look good on this car when I finish it since I am doing it all black with lots of performance upgrades. The engine I have built Dyno's, out of frame at flywheel, at 512 HP and I want larger tires for that reason. I will post pictures when finished.
