Update on wheel upgrade info...

[WayneLBurnham]

Got an email from American Racing...

17x8 "drop ins" for C3's (and others):

.....................Torque Thrust II #5957861 -------- SLP Hyperblacks

Weight: .........19.5# ----------------------------- 24#
Load Rating:.....1250#----------------------------- UNK (yet)
Low Cost/Set....$950------------------------------ $700

I asked American Racing whether the 18x8's TTII's would fit. They said they didn't know - that it should be tried. They said these would be from their custom shop and they would weigh 24# and (oddly to me) would have a much heavier load rating of 1700#.

I talked to SLP on the phone and they said no plans were under way or custom order available for 18x8" Hyperblacks. (I forgot to ask them the load rating...)

BTW - has anyone put 18x8" on a C3 with no offset TA's or flares?

 

[70 LS1]

I have 18x9.5 on the rear with no offset trailing arms and no flares. I can post a pic if you want.

 

[goertz]

yeah, post a pic!

 

[WayneLBurnham]

Great!

Absolutely!

Now was the '70 the somewhat narrower rear wheel area like the '69 or was that the year they widened it?

What are your 18x9.5"s? What make and such?

Thanks for the input! I do want as wide as possible of course and would prefer the even more rigid 18" (which also have an even greater selection of tires.)

BTW, what tires have you found you like on those? What all have you tried?

WE MUST KNOW EVERYTHING!!! TAKE US TO YOUR OFFSET!!!
ALL YOUR WHEEL INFO ARE BELONG TO US!!!

:L

 

[70 LS1]

Wheels are Boyd Coddington Nemesis.
Tires are Kumho Ecsta MX

Fronts are 17x8 with 4" backspacing. 245/45/17.
Rears are 18x9.5" with 4.875" backspacing. 275/40/18. I don't run an ebrake cable, but the bracket is still in the stock position. If you move the bracket to the top of the trailing arm, you can retain your ebrake.

You can go as big as 5.25" backspacing on the rear with no other mods.

 

[WayneLBurnham]

Those Are Great!!!

I need to see what all that equates to in the soup so far....

Do you think 18x8"s would have fit up front or would you have lost turning radius or had a "coincidental geometry issue"?

I was going to ask about those Kumhos - they are half the cost of the Michelins or the Eagles.

Thanks for the detailed info!

-------------

BTW, gorgeous car against a great background.....how come no snow three days after Christmas? Mine ran with this albatross engine the first time the day before that and it was about 40 degrees down here!

 

[goertz]

so if I went 17x9.5 in the rear, with the same backspacing you have, would i have to relocate the ebrake cable? and with the 17x8 in the front, do you have any rubbing issues on turns, etc?

 

[70 LS1]

I need to see what all that equates to in the soup so far....

Do you think 18x8"s would have fit up front or would you have lost turning radius or had a "coincidental geometry issue"?

I was going to ask about those Kumhos - they are half the cost of the Michelins or the Eagles.

Thanks for the detailed info!

-------------

BTW, gorgeous car against a great background.....how come no snow three days after Christmas? Mine ran with this albatross engine the first time the day before that and it was about 40 degrees down here!

Sure 18's would have fit up front as long as the overall diameter of the tire is comparable. I chose the 17's for 2 reasons. First, I was aiming for stock C5 sizes for a future active handling / ABS/ traction control project. Always have to be thinking ahead. Second, I thought 18's would look too big on the front.

The Kumho's are great tires for a great price. They are on par with the BFG G-force KD ( the super sticky one, not the KDW all weather one) for half the price. A lot of the C5 guys run them and love them.

No snow, because I am too close to the water. Only snows once a year for only a few days up here. Now rain on the other hand...

 

[70 LS1]

so if I went 17x9.5 in the rear, with the same backspacing you have, would i have to relocate the ebrake cable? and with the 17x8 in the front, do you have any rubbing issues on turns, etc?

No rubbing with the fronts. You would have to relocate the bracket for the 17's on the rear. The bracket actually sits inside the wheel with the 18's and would hit the rim with 17's.