I've been thinking about getting one set of wheels and tires for autocross use that I could run on either my '66 Dart, or my '86 Corvette. It would be useful if I could do this, but it might be difficult. The trouble is that Corvettes run a lot of rubber. The stock tire size is 255/50R16, and it has 16" x 9.5" wheels with a 38 mm offset on both ends. And there's room for more.

So if I were to get a "dual purpose" wheel and tire package, I could solve the different bolt patterns with a dual bolt pattern type wheel. But in order to make it wide enough for the Corvette, I'd need a lot of backspacing, and run the risk of rubbing into the suspension on the front (which already happened with a different wheel package). I've wondered if some 18" diameter wheels might be able to "tuck" the suspension into the inside of the wheel and get rid of clearance issues.

Anyone ever manage to run 9.5" or wider wheels on the front of an A-body? If so, how'd you pull it off?

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

17x9" has been done on an early A-body, but the outer tie rod was converted to a heim joint and put on top of the steering arm. 17x8" +30mm offset Mustang wheels are much easier. They bolt right on the front if you have a flat upper ball joint. Same wheel needs a 1" spacer in the back.

I don't think you're going to find anything to fit both cars without making a big compromise. The Corvette wheel just has too much positive offset.

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Joshua

As ^ he said by the time you find a wheel with both bolt patterns that will work on both cars it will be such a compromise that it probably wont benefit either car.

Get a nice set of ultra-lightweight 17-inch forged wheels for autoX.

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

Thanks. I thought I was probably asking too much to try and cram a 10" or 11" wide tire on the front end of an A-body.

Then again, since the Dart is classed as a Street Modified, the rules would allow me to run any front suspension that bolts up to the stock mounting points - or for that matter to fabricate a new tubular K-member with almost any suspension I could want. So I may not give up on the idea completely, but it would be a long time before I tried something that extreme.

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

Tim W. runs 17x9 rims with 275/40 tires on all four corners of his Valiant. Here is a picture of his car at Portland International. I don't think you can go much bigger than this without making some more serious bodywork mods such as cutting the fenders and installing flares.

Interesting. That's wide enough for me. Do you have any information on the offset on those wheels?

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

I have equivalent wheels, just installing on my '66 Valiant (Project V) with 255/40s. Tim's is pretty maxed out with the 275s, and I may try that later.

I got mine off ebay (search "fr500")recently for $450 shipped and they are 20lbs ea - very light for that size and price.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

FR500 - would those be Mustang racing wheels? Do you have their offset?

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

The first Google result for Mustang FR500 wheels give the answer.

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Joshua

I see they're available in two offsets - 24 mm and 30 mm.

I could probably run wheels with less than stock offset on the Corvette...

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

They are 5.95" backspacing.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Are you using your 1"spacers on those Lou?

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

On the front, they will work with the spacer setup that Andyf worked out for me (custom hubs, 13" discs). On the rear I have the 1" hub centric spacers on my Maverick Ford 8" (56" or 56.25" drum-drum). I am switching to the Granada 8", and may only need very thin spacers (58" drum-drum).

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

The 235/40R17 tires on my +30mm offset 17x8" Mustang wheels (5.68" backspace) are less that 1/4" from the spring with a Granada rear end. With a 245/45R17 tire they would likely rub. The Granada rear end is a little narrower than listed on many web sites. Without the drums I measured 57.5". The drums add only about 1/8", maybe.

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Joshua

Good to know, Josh. I think I just rough measured mine and got 58". It's sitting under Project V ready to bolt up now - just need to make a set of 1" lowering blocks that won't break (read: solid).

I'm not bothered about adding 5/16" spacers on either end.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988