,Ok I have been saving, shopping and trying to decide on rims and tires for the 67 many months now and I have finally decided, but before I go spending 2k on this setup I need to run the sizes and backspacing by you guys. The wheels are made for me any backspace and width I want, so keep in mind I can modify to accommodate the littlest adjustment that may be better

Front
17x7 rim W/ 4 inch backspace
225/50/17

Rear W/ 5 inch backspace
17x8.5
275/50/17

Any opinions on this? Backspace look good? Should I clear ok when I lower it?

Thanks a lot, (especially Dale, he has helped me out a boat load via email) if I get everyone's blessing I will be ordering this week. Oh yeah and for anyone interested i am going with the Intro vista's (www.introwheels.com)

Thanks again

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Thomas (AKA Hot66ss)
66 Super Sport (http://chevelles.com/showroom/myss.jpg) Now striped frame off Project
67 Malibu (http://chevelles.com/showroom/hot66ss4) Getting there.
69 El camino Beater FOR SALE (http://members.aol.com/chvellss/elco.htm) Mild 355, M20 4 speed (Daily Driver)
Video of me in the Elco smoking the tires (http://members.aol.com/chevelleparts/mvc-059w.mpg)
Aces Member 2380
Team Chevelle member #262

[This message has been edited by Hot66ss (edited 05-01-2002).]

A back issue of Hot Rod had a 72 Chevelle with the Vista's and it is also featured in Baer Brakes 2001 price/fit guide. Owner is Richard Small from Flowmaster. If you were to get in touch with him he could give you his figures. Shouldn't be far off for your 'Velle. Did you look at the Twisted Vista? If I had the $$ right now, I'd get those.

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

Hot66SS (Thomas),

Thanks for that info on the Intro Vistas... I didn't realize thay were available in custom offsets...

Where are you getting them from? How much for the wheels?

I wanted the 17-inch Vistas on my 66, but they were a little too pricey... BUT, if they are built to my backspacing specs, I just might splurge...

[This message has been edited by 1966_L78 (edited 05-02-2002).]

I am going to be getting them from a local place here called sweet spot kustomes. I am getting a deal because I made friends with the guys down there, $1300 for a set of 4 any width any backspace. RWThomas, thanks for the info I will look into that fit guide, I have seen the twisted vista but i personally like the regular vista better, but FYI they are the same price as the vistas. what do you guys think about my sizes?

Thanks

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Thomas (AKA Hot66ss)
66 Super Sport (http://chevelles.com/showroom/myss.jpg) Now striped frame off Project
67 Malibu (http://chevelles.com/showroom/hot66ss4) Getting there.
69 El camino Beater FOR SALE (http://members.aol.com/chvellss/elco.htm) Mild 355, M20 4 speed (Daily Driver)
Video of me in the Elco smoking the tires (http://members.aol.com/chevelleparts/mvc-059w.mpg)
Aces Member 2380
Team Chevelle member #262

ok I have dont some more figuring and i changed my backspace

Front
17x7 rim W/ 4.5 inch backspace
225/50/17

Rear W/ 5.25 inch backspace
17x8.5
275/50/17

Do y'all think this is the best possible backspace??? please any help would be greatly aprreciated......Thanks

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Thomas (AKA Hot66ss)
66 Super Sport (http://chevelles.com/showroom/myss.jpg) Now striped frame off Project
67 Malibu (http://chevelles.com/showroom/hot66ss4) Getting there.
69 El camino Beater FOR SALE (http://members.aol.com/chvellss/elco.htm) Mild 355, M20 4 speed (Daily Driver)
Video of me in the Elco smoking the tires (http://members.aol.com/chevelleparts/mvc-059w.mpg)
Aces Member 2380
Team Chevelle member #262

[This message has been edited by Hot66ss (edited 05-03-2002).]

Hot66ss
I'm running 16's on my (I think) stock suspension 66. I can't speak for your car - is it stock spindles & brakes, 66/67 rear or a newer, wider rear end (69/70?)?

What worked for me was 16x7 with 4" BS front. 16x8 with 4.75" BS on the rear.

The 4" BS up front centers the wheel in the wheel well - no rubbing inside or out. I tried my 16x8's with 4.75" BS up front but at full lock, the tire hits the anti-sway bar. I know a lot of guys here are running 15x8's with 4.5" BS up front with no problems so maybe it's the extra 1/4 inch.

Out back, 4.5 inch BS would have been perfect. The wheel & tire would have been centered in the wheel well. If you've got a stock rear end, check clearance between the tire and the bump in the inside rear of the wheel well where the body mount is. If you've got a wheel off or are under the car, you should be able to see what I mean. On my car, I'm pretty sure I would have problems with a back spacing much over the 5 inch - if I was running large diameter tires. A 15x8 with 4.5 inch BS and 275 60R15's was real close at the "body mount bump".
I've stressed "on my car" because with a 36 year old car, I cannot be positive that someone didn't change something (springs, steering box, ???). I believe it's all stock, but I've never checked all the numbers.
If you can find a wheel & tire that are close to what you want, mount them on and use them to get some measurements. From there you should be able to work out exactly what will give you a good fit. I built a jig using cardboard cutouts of tire cross sections to get my measurements. Worked great, but a wheel & tire that was close would have been easier.

Hope that helps & Good luck.
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)

Hot66ss,

Thanks for that info... Sorry I can't help more on the backspacing... I am running 15 inchers, and while the rear were custom built, I can't recall the offset (7 years old)...

I love the look of those regular Vistas... Kinda remind me of the factory mag hubcaps or Hurst wheels... Classic 5-spoke design, but enough to be different from all those Torque Thrusts... Don't get me wrong, I love the TTs, but it seems like everybody has them now...

I am planning on changing to a 9-inch, and Moser said they will built to any width (for their standard bolt-in housing), so I figured I would have to use the rearend to adjust...REALLY glad to know the wheels are available with custom offsets...

Hot 66,
Keep us informed on what sizes you finally go with... any front suspension/brake mods? B-Body spindles? etc.

66 Beau,
I love that car, it looks great... I have always wanted to find a nice Beaumont...

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"Once you go RAT, you never go back..."
TC #1366
Tony
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Quik66.jpg
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/eng7.jpg

For a 17x8.5 I think a 4.75-5 bs would be perfect.

Why stop at 17x8.5? 17x10 should fit perfect with a 5.5bs. Then you can run 295 tire. I have heard of people going up to a 315 on a 17" wheel with out problems.

Later
Steve

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66 327 Malibu
80 Malibu Wagon(summer 2002)
"Rice Eating Pony Killer"

As far as backspacing goes, I wouldn't take anything for granted...not even that you'll get the same for left and right in the rear. I was backspaced from last weekend thru Monday when tried on some Vette 15x8's I bought ages ago. I'd suggest that you spend some time with straight edges and a level measuring very carefully in each rear wheel well to determine what bs would center the tire between the tightest restrictions. Raise and lower the car with respect to the rear too. It's a little work, but that's a lot of money to spend to cut up some tires. Good luck.

I’m planning on installing the Twisted Vistas on my 66 Chevelle.

My currently thoughts are to run 16x7 w/ 4" BS up front and 16x8 w/ 4.75” BS out the back. This is similar to 66 Beau’s setup.

HvyDeez (www.hvydeez.com) well sell me the set of 16” wheels for $1250 plus shipping.

Hot66ss,
Did you ever order the 17” Vista for your 67? If, so what backspacing did you finally go with?

66 Beau,
Very nice ride. Thanks for the info and picture. It allows me to better visualize what my car will look like with 16s.

Nambesal

Just call intro! when we ordered a set of 17" vista's for my cousins 65SS (pictured on my resto page) he knew exactly what to give us, they should have the info on what fits and what doesn't... Just talk to Jay

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Jaber Racing&Restorations
My Blown Alky 70 SS (http://home.attbi.com/~superstreet70)
Current Projects, and past resto's (http://home.attbi.com/~badas70/bbq)

Well, I am about to making the same decision. I need to decide between the Intro's Vista or Twisted Vista or Boyd Coddington Smoothie's.

Any thought's guy's?

The guys at Codddington say I can run 17x8 with 5.5 BS all around. Let me know what you decide I have a couple of weeks till I place my order.. I will have GW Tubular Upper and lowers with Wilwood 13" brakes.

Guys, I ended up chickening out and buying another set of torq thrust 2's (had 16's) i just didn't want to spend 2k on the intros and not like them, i knew the tt 2's looked good on my ride because i had a set, but they were just too small for me and no one made the rear tire size i wanted. i now have a set of 17x7's in the front with 4.00 inch backspace and a 225/50/17 tire and a 17x8 in the back with a 275/50/17 and 4.75 backspace waiting to go on, i have yet to bolt them on buy i foresee no problems

good luck

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Tom
1966 Super Sport (http://chevelles.com/showroom/myss.jpg) Now striped frame off Project
1967 Malibu (http://chevelles.com/showroom/hot66ss4) Getting there.
1969 El camino Beater FOR SALE MUST SELL FIRST $3,500 TAKES IT (http://members.aol.com/chvellss/elco.htm) Mild 355, M20 4 speed
1970 Hugger Orange elco (http://members.aol.com/chvellss//newelco.jpg) 350/350 soon to be semi daily driver. $1,700 special
1997 Dodge ram FOR SALE
2002 Silverado LT ext cab (runs 15.2's) daily driver

Team Chevelle member #262

Everyone's input still appreciated please

Well, I am about to making the same decision. I need to decide between the Intro's Vista or Twisted Vista or Boyd Coddington Smoothie's.
Any thought's guy's?

The guys at Codddington say I can run 17x8 with 5.5 BS all around. Let me know what you decide I have a couple of weeks till I place my order.. I will have GW Tubular Upper and lowers with Wilwood 13" brakes.

Atlanta, what year chevelle do you have? The wheels make ALL the difference and if you get a style that looks lame on your car you'll regret it. The vistas looked good on the 65 because they resembled the 5 spoke hubcaps alot, depending on your car you may want to look at different options. The only thing I hate about the vistas (if you get the satin finish on the spokes) is that if those get dirty, they're a pain in the ass to get clean because it just absorbs into the finish.

good luck-

------------------
Jaber Racing&Restorations
My Blown Alky 70 SS (http://home.attbi.com/~superstreet70)
Current Projects, and past resto's (http://home.attbi.com/~badas70/bbq)

IMHO, I would go with the Vistas Atlanta. The twisted Vistas look like they belong on a fullsize truck and I dont like the lug setup on the Coddington Smoothies. If you begin leaning towards the Coddingtons I would buy the same exact wheel with a nice looking mating pad.(aka the American Racing Torque Thrust II)
Thats my 2 cents on the subject.

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Russ (or Steve)
1965 Malibu 283/PG/A/C (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/SteveD64SSside.jpg)
Now 350/TH350 with some goodies
My Homepage **(Updated 5/16/2002)** (http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/chevelle/)
Team Chevelle Member #71

Personally I like the Intros, wouldn't buy from Boyd's. Call and ask what happened to his last company. Doubt you'll get the real deal though. When I ordered my custom offset wheels(ralleys) I set the car on Jack stands under the susp. Took a level and a couple of straight edeges and made measurements. Not that hard to do. One thing to remember is that a 8.5" wide wheel is really 9.5" wide and the bs is measured from the OUTER EDGE the offset is measured from dead center.

Atlanta66SS, I think the Boyd Smoothie’s look too much like Torq Thrust IIs , to spend the extra money. I agree with Steve, if the Boyds were on top of you list, I would go with TorqIIs or Eagle 211 Series. The Eagle 211s look just like TorqIIs but are a little cheaper. http://www.aaatire.com has 17" Eagle 211s for $175 ea.

One of the main reasons I’m interested in the twisted vistas is because of their distinctiveness from the TorqII everyone seems to be running now.
Don’t get me wrong I think the TorqIIs are great looking wheels, but it’s nice to be distinct.

J70Chev, Thanks for the input on the vista satin finish being hard to clean. I would have never thought about that.

16”s or 17”s ??
Twisted Vistas or Eagle 211s or TorqIIs ??
The choice just seems to get harder.


[This message has been edited by nambesal (edited 08-28-2002).]