LQ4 into a 3rd Gen/1972 Nova
Joe, I had a question about your wheels. I like your rims and have looked at Axis wheels and I thought they only made 5x120 bolt patterns. Are yours 5x120 or did they custom make you 5x120.65 wheels?
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
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From: Vancouver BC, Canada
You're right, as of now I believe they only make the rims in the 19" size as well as the metric BMW bolt pattern 5x120. Way back when I bought them, I wanted 5x4.75" (5x120.65) front+rear but they only sold them in the 5x4.5" (5x114.3) pattern, so I got bolt-on adapter spacers. I've since gone to less offset, and now have slip-on spacers for the 5x4.5" pattern with longer 1/2" thread-in studs front & rear. This works since my Wilwood front hubs were drilled for both 4.5" & 4.75" patterns, and I drilled out my Moser axles to have both 4.5" & 4.75" patterns.
You're right, as of now I believe they only make the rims in the 19" size as well as the metric BMW bolt pattern 5x120. Way back when I bought them, I wanted 5x4.75" (5x120.65) front+rear but they only sold them in the 5x4.5" (5x114.3) pattern, so I got bolt-on adapter spacers. I've since gone to less offset, and now have slip-on spacers for the 5x4.5" pattern with longer 1/2" thread-in studs front & rear. This works since my Wilwood front hubs were drilled for both 4.5" & 4.75" patterns, and I drilled out my Moser axles to have both 4.5" & 4.75" patterns.
I picked up a set of 17s (9" front and 11" rear) with waaaaaay too much BS, but they came with adapters that doubled as spacers. It's not too terrible a deal to run spacers - I know of a few autoXers that use them. I'm a big fan of the C5 Z06 wheels, and was looking at a set of those before I stumbled upon mine.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Yae with the longer 1/2" ARP studs, running upwards of an inch thick slip-on spacer isn't a huge deal, just make sure your lugnuts are torqued properly for good reliability. The preferred method would obviously still be bolt-on adapters to make the axle-rim connection super rigid, however that has the downside of not knowing when the adapter-to-axle lugnuts have loosened off. At least there's peace of mind knowing that all 5 lugnuts would have to loosen off at the same rate before the wheel would separate from the adapter.
Go to wheelstudio.com they have a rather large selection of 5 on 4.75(120.65mm) wheels. I just bought a set of RPM R505 hyper silvers 18x8 and 18x9's with a set of Nitto NT555 tires mounted, balanced, nitrogen filled, with lug nuts shipped for $1320.
Last edited by tsnow678; Nov 30, 2012 at 02:45 AM.
I had read some posts on lateral g about some guys running C5/C6 wheels with spacers and said their cars handled horribly on the track. They bought wheels with the proper offset and the cars handled better. I am guessing they used huge spacers and pushed their cars hard. There are always vette takeoff for sale here and I thought about buying some but I don't know.
I was google-searching for images an somehow this post popped up. I missed it before, but it made me spit coffee. Would have been good if you put it on a leash. Thanks for the laugh!
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Verdad Gallardo Dude, I finally got to drive the Nova a bit after all-but-copying your 3-pt belt setup. Although I still need to trim and bend the receivers to fit with the Corbeaus, and I used Neon belts instead of 240sx stuff, I must say I'm very impressed, so thanks! I'll update my build with some pics when I finish the Neon center console.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
No problem! Glad it worked for you too. It took me a bit of fiddling to find where the shoulder-point should be relocated to with that bracket, so that it was comfy on my collarbone/shoulder, but I'm also real pleased with how it turned out. Belt is nice and snug when just sitting there, not too much pressure, but I remember the first time I had to unexpectedly slam on the brakes and it locked out real quick.. definite peace of mind knowing that it's safe and secure. I figured the angles so that under a ton of load, the stresses are directly pulling on the bracket securing bolts, so that the bracket isn't under any weird bending or twisting.. just tension.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
For anyone wondering about what hookemdevils22 is talking about, it's this 3pt seatbelt bracket, and the writeup for installation is here in post#897
Is this bolt mounting point reinforced? If it's just trans tunnel sheet it will probably rip right out, but maybe it is an original reinforced seat belt attachment point?
I like my factory non-retractable belts. They are retro. They could probably use replacing for absolute safety, but other than being old and inconvenient, I don't see anything wrong with the design from a safety perspective.
I like my factory non-retractable belts. They are retro. They could probably use replacing for absolute safety, but other than being old and inconvenient, I don't see anything wrong with the design from a safety perspective.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Picked up the DSE mini-tubs as well as the trunion cross-bar lower mounts for the Rdetech coilovers up front.. Time to measure my current setup's bumpsteer as well as start cutting into the wheeltubs and framerails (I get the next 2weeks off of work).. I predict a lot of beer being needed to work up the courage to make that first cut...
Will do buddy.
I had read some posts on lateral g about some guys running C5/C6 wheels with spacers and said their cars handled horribly on the track. They bought wheels with the proper offset and the cars handled better. I am guessing they used huge spacers and pushed their cars hard. There are always vette takeoff for sale here and I thought about buying some but I don't know.
I had read some posts on lateral g about some guys running C5/C6 wheels with spacers and said their cars handled horribly on the track. They bought wheels with the proper offset and the cars handled better. I am guessing they used huge spacers and pushed their cars hard. There are always vette takeoff for sale here and I thought about buying some but I don't know.
The orange car runs bolt-on adapters as well.
Picked up the DSE mini-tubs as well as the trunion cross-bar lower mounts for the Rdetech coilovers up front.. Time to measure my current setup's bumpsteer as well as start cutting into the wheeltubs and framerails (I get the next 2weeks off of work).. I predict a lot of beer being needed to work up the courage to make that first cut...
DGGM WX3- Nice car, wheels look great on your camaro. I always liked those specific vette rims.
