I have a 1966 Chevelle with four wheel drum brakes. She currently has old school 15" 1970s aluminum rims. I just bought a set of used 15x7" rally rims and thought they would swap out nice. When I tried to mount them, I learned the center hole on the rim was smaller than the bearing cap. Three of the rims are stamped FW code, one is stamped AD. Can the center holes be bored out to fit? Or will that compromise the rim? Or is there only a certain coded rim that will work?
I presume the rears fit as there is no bearing caps on the back. If they do fit in the back great - now go buy a set of disc brakes in the front and get rid of the single master cylinder at the same time - I bet that is why they do not fit. I would not touch the rims as you do not want to get them out of center. The old aluminum rims you have may have been stud centric versus hub centric which is why they may have fit.
Thanks for the reply. I'm not doing a disc brake conversion, that's why I wanted to know what would work for me. Also needed to know if cutting the center hole larger would compromise the structure of the rally rim itself.
Other than that the rims should fit and the 15s will look great on the car. On the back if you ever go wider I think you can go 15 x 8. Some 1966 owners can chime in. I know on 1967 they fit.
Can't do pics at this time. Maybe my wheel hubs are incorrect for the car? Everyone says they should fit. If I were to cut the center hole larger on the rim would that compromise the structural integrity of the rim?
At one time I had the 15x7 rally wheels from the 69 Z28 I once owned with 225/70's on them on my 66 with factory drum brakes. I do not know what the code was but they fit fine. If you need the code, I could try and get to them.
Don't cut center whole the intergrity could be compromised plus if you are hub centeric it may through it out of balance. Plus how much are we talking about .010 or like .100 .200. Some wheels rely on the hub as the center point so it needs to be exact the studs do not center it they just hold wheel on.
How much of a interference do you have? Since your from the rust belt, is it possible the hub is just full of scale? Have you tried cleaning cleaning hub with a wire brush? The 15x7 looks great on the 66. I run them up front and 8" ralleys in back. I did have to roll the lip out back a bit because they rubbed. Jim
I have a 15x7 FW that I can trade you. I live in Hartford WI. Only about 40 minutes from Beaver Dam. Private message me about this. I would not alter your wheel.
Don't know what to say... Maybe something else has been changed, hubs?... It seems most of us and most of the information indicates that Chevrolet/GM used the same hole sizing on the wheels (not just the rally wheels)
I think you're right, the hubs must have been changed at some point. In looking at the rally's code list, only one year(67)and one code say the center hole is slightly bigger. Thanks to you and everyone for your input. I'll have to figure it out from here.
Someone probably swapped the hubs and drums then. Since the drums fit the hub pretty tight. If you need a set of drum brake hubs I think I still have them off my 66 when I swapped to discs. Price? Free! Just cover shipping. Jim
Wow, that sounds great and generous. No one does that sort of thing anymore. I'll private message my info. To you soon. If you have PayPal I could send post cost that way to you, thanks again, Tom
Im headed out of town this weekend. What I can do is mail you the hubs, ill let you let you the cost of shipping (flat rate box?) if you can use them just throw the amount in a envelope and send it back my way.
Now I gotta see if I still have the hubs. Jim
Okay I just pulled pulled hump off the spindles. The hub center is about 2.75" I mess my ralley wheels and they are about the same. Please verify you ralleys wheel he size. Jim
Tom, your hubs are on The way. I tossed in the bearings, caps and big washer in case you wanted them to mock it up. Good luck. Jim
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