Add spacer to corvette wheels?
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Add spacer to corvette wheels? I've got some C5 17" corvette wheels, and I want some wider tires, but in the mean time, what would be a good spacer to add that will help fill the rear wheel wells a little bit?
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TECH Junkie
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Right now I've got springs from a 96 WS6, but in my sig pic, it had Sportlines on it. I couldn't even get into my driveway after I installed headers, so I had to raise it up a little bit..
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From: League City, Tx
I used some billet spacers from Thunder racing. They are lug centric and run about $100 for 4. They are 1/2" thick and help with the big off set that the vette wheels have. I am using them on 17" Z06 replicas. I didn't like the wheels tucked so far up in the wheel wells on both the front and rear. Not exactly gonna "fill your wheel wells" but will help the appearance front and back. Vette wheels are 54mm offset, we need like 46mm on an F-body to look just right. Its more noticeable on Trans Ams due to the ground effects etc.
I have OEM Y2k's on my 1994 Z28. I'm looking into some 1.25'' spacers for the rear and possibly a 1/2'' for the front. It should bring them out just enough to make them look right. The stock offsets on vette wheels are 58mm in the front and 65mm in the back. They will bolt up with stock size tires and should not rub on a stock ride height car. There are 25.4mm per inch so figure up where you wanna be in the wheel well. If you wanna have an aggressive look 1.25 x 25.4 = 31.75mm of offset that is reduced. You may need to trim the fender lips to make this work because XSTA's thread claims that 38mm is the minimum and this is about 34mm. I also think that 1.25 prevents the need to shorten the wheel studs if you use an adapter as well. A 1/2 inch spacer should go on the front and use the stock studs, but DO NOT QUOTE ME ON THIS, I HAVE NOT YET TRIED IT. I ONLY HAVE TAKEN MEASUREMENTS!!!!!!!!!
Any time you add spacers you should replace the studs with stronger/longer ones like ARP's. You have less thread for the bolt to go onto if you add a spacer and makes it unsafe. Yes people have run them just fine, its just not recommended.
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To determine the thick ness of the spacer, measure from the face of the wheel to the face of the quarter panel, or fender. That will give you the maximum, thickness for the spacer.
I don not think you can move the wheel outwards 2 1/2" without it sticking out of the wheel well.
I don not think you can move the wheel outwards 2 1/2" without it sticking out of the wheel well.
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From: In your sisters panties
are adapters a better/safer way to go? i too want my tires to be pushed out a little but i don't want to degrade the integrety of the rim mount and have my studs snap off and my wheel fly off while i'm doing 75mph.
does anyone have a link to some adapters i can buy, i have done a search but i'm not sure what will fit or not.
does anyone have a link to some adapters i can buy, i have done a search but i'm not sure what will fit or not.
Last edited by Nightrydass; Sep 11, 2008 at 10:06 AM.
Nightrydass,
Adapters, IMO, are a much better way to go. I think they make things easier because then you don't have to replace your wheel studs. Even though replacing the studs is not bad, its still just easier to bolt something on and go. They sell the adapters on ebay. They run about $60 for 2 or $100 for all 4. You need to get the 5 x 4.75 to 5 x 4.75 ones so your bolt pattern stays the same. Like XSTA said, measure from the outside edge (face) of the wheel to the fender to see what the maximum size spacer/adapter you can run is without making modifications.
Adapters, IMO, are a much better way to go. I think they make things easier because then you don't have to replace your wheel studs. Even though replacing the studs is not bad, its still just easier to bolt something on and go. They sell the adapters on ebay. They run about $60 for 2 or $100 for all 4. You need to get the 5 x 4.75 to 5 x 4.75 ones so your bolt pattern stays the same. Like XSTA said, measure from the outside edge (face) of the wheel to the fender to see what the maximum size spacer/adapter you can run is without making modifications.
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From: In your sisters panties
Nightrydass,
Adapters, IMO, are a much better way to go. I think they make things easier because then you don't have to replace your wheel studs. Even though replacing the studs is not bad, its still just easier to bolt something on and go. They sell the adapters on ebay. They run about $60 for 2 or $100 for all 4. You need to get the 5 x 4.75 to 5 x 4.75 ones so your bolt pattern stays the same. Like XSTA said, measure from the outside edge (face) of the wheel to the fender to see what the maximum size spacer/adapter you can run is without making modifications.
Adapters, IMO, are a much better way to go. I think they make things easier because then you don't have to replace your wheel studs. Even though replacing the studs is not bad, its still just easier to bolt something on and go. They sell the adapters on ebay. They run about $60 for 2 or $100 for all 4. You need to get the 5 x 4.75 to 5 x 4.75 ones so your bolt pattern stays the same. Like XSTA said, measure from the outside edge (face) of the wheel to the fender to see what the maximum size spacer/adapter you can run is without making modifications.
I would have to say that they are safer, AS LONG AS the studs are installed like the factory ones are (from the back side of the adapter with a stop) so that they can't come out in any way, shape, or form. They have proven worthy among road racers so I will be trusting them on my car as well. No problem. I just try to help out were I can.
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From: Rapid City, SD
Here is how the adapter/spacer looks installed. these are 1" spacers that I used to run on my own car. for a 1" spacer you will have to cut off the un-threaded portion of the stock studs to keep them flush with the rims mounting face.
PS... Yes I know its all rusty and dirty.. I daily drive my car and this was years ago on the day I was redoing the rear brakes and cleaning things up.
PS... Yes I know its all rusty and dirty.. I daily drive my car and this was years ago on the day I was redoing the rear brakes and cleaning things up.
