I've noticed you guy's saying that your cars ride rough with the 17" wheels. I'm wanting to go for just a little bit of a lowered look. Would 16" wheels such as the Torque Thruster II's have the same rough ride. Or should I maybe go with the dropped spindles and 15" wheels. The most important thing to me is a smooth riding cruiser. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif. By the way, how do you lower the rear. Just cut the springs, or use special ones, or what. Oh ya, the car is a 72 SS Elcamino.Thanks for any input, Cal

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TC Member # 1308
http://72sselcamino1.tripod.com/calscaminos/

My experience is this:
My 69 Camaro with a 427 has a very tight suspension. Right now it has 17X8 AR 200S wheels with 255/45s (don't remember the tire brand) The car slings through the corners like its on rails, however the ride is almost buckboard like, but since I don't drive it all the time its okay.
My 87 Monte SS rides on 16x8 TT IIs with 245/50 bridgestone potenza RE910s. Car has after market springs and KYB gas shocks. Car is nice and flat through the corners and the ride is still smooth. I had the Monte wheels on the chevelle for a bit and it road as nice(not setup for cornering though). So my take on the whole deal is that for a daily driven car I mught not put up with the 17s but on an occaisional driver its okay for me. Another consideration is I might move to a bigger tire on the 17s and see if that adds a little more cushion.
So it conclusion http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gifIMHO I think you would be fine with the 16s and could probably even use the drop spindles with them. Good Luck

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Jeff Angerstein
ACES#841 TCG#158 CECCO #16
68 SS396(roller 454)
68 Pro Street
69 SSRS 396(427) 4spd
87 MC SS

My Chevs (http://www.tcg158.homestead.com)
OLD BLUE (12.42@108.6) (http://tcg158.homestead.com/files/drvr.jpg)
(10 second motor in a 14 second chassis)

You may concider using a taller tire with 17" rims. The extra cushion will give a more comforable ride. It will probaly fill the wheel well enough to appear to be lowered.

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SS396 (http://chevelles.com/feature/feb2000.html)

After seeing how rad they look on Jerrys car, I thought about them, then read about damage from pot holes, in HotRod months ago.
Since I live in PA (where pot holes are as inevitable as taxes) I wussed, and cheaped out, and got the 15", kinda wish I'd gone 16" though. (Too expensive)

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ACES member:#3722
68 Corvette (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/68vette.jpg)
68 SS-396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/thad68velle.jpg)
68 SS-396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/thad68velle2.jpg)

Thad, could you tell me what issue that was. Thanks, Cal

72sselcamino, September 2001,
But you know most of the guys they talked to said they'd do it again, even the guys who bent the 17 inchers.
I don't think you can beat the look, but for me it just wasn't practical.

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ACES member:#3722
68 Corvette (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/68vette.jpg)
68 SS-396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/thad68velle.jpg)
68 SS-396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/thad68velle2.jpg)

I'm running 16's - ugraded from the original 14's. Very noticeable stiffening of ride but, for me any way, not too bad. Steering repsonse is much better. Took away that slushy feeling from the sidewall flex. Definitely could benefit now from some better anti-sway roll bars.
We get some serious POTHOLES here. So far, I haven't bent any rims, but I have been careful.
I too was concerned about the 17's being too harsh and personally, I'm glad I stayed with the 16's. One thing to watch on the 16's though is there seems to be a more limited selection of sizes. With the greater selection available for 17 inchers, some of the advise offered here about getting a taller 17" tire could be a good option.
It seems that ride quality is probably even more a matter of personal preference than just about any other characteristic of a car. Some people like the lazy boy glide of a Cadillac. I prefer a little more road feel.
Wes

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TC Member #1371
CCCB Member #532
66 Beaumont SD (http://chevelles.com/showroom/66_beau_new_wheels_1.jpg)
66 Beaumont SD (http://chevelles.com/showroom/66_beau_new_wheels_2.jpg)
66 Beaumont - Driver's View (http://chevelles.com/showroom/66_beau_driver_view.jpg)

Go with 17s and pay particular attention to the construction of both the wheel you choose and the tire. It is possible to get a wheel that won't bend and a tire that won't ride too harsh. Now that Weld has bought Cragar and is making the SS wheel in 17", I am considering buying them. Tire selection is critical with regard to ride and grip and there are plenty of choices.

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TC# 1458
1971 El Camino
SB350/TH350
12 bolt posi
"If the car doesn't kill you, I will"

Look for a tire with a "rim protector" molded into the sidewall. Im running Toyo Proxes and it really helps ward off curb damage.

i don't like the ride my 17's have i have 255/45/17's too, all 4 corners, steering is nice, and cornering too, but im going back to a nice 15" draglite (as soon as i find some) and some more sidewall. my car sits low anyway. see my site below for pics.

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1970 SS396 AKA 454/4spd
My Chev-Hell Page (http://hometown.aol.com/jnkb2cool/home.html)
GOLD Member #783
Metroplex Muscle
Ft.Worth, Tx
(OO=ss=OO)