I want to put 17x9.5 fronts and 17x11 rear wheels on my 70 and I need to figure out the exact backspacing I need. I usualy do a search first and answer my questions before I even post, but with this one I got a few different measurments. From what I gathered 5.5 front and rear was right, but in the Super Chevy "Chevelles" magazine it said the redline Chevelle used 4 and 5 which would make a big difference. I have already shaved back the inside quarter lips but I know a 315 will barely fit so I want to get it right for sure. This could be a real expensive mistake, so and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jim

I have 18 inch wheels and on my 69 the maximum bckspacing on the front was 5 1/8 inch and the rear on my car was 6 inches. I could have gone with 6 1/8 on the rear. If your rear axle is absolutely centered from the frame and outer fender lip on both sides 6.25 inches can be safe on the rear. Up front if I was to go over 5 1/8 I would have the tire rubbing the 1 1/4 inch sway bar. I used 255/45/18's up front and 295/45/18's on the rear.

There are no clearance issues with the 295's. They are on 18 x 10 wheels with 6 inches
of backspacing. As the car is lowered 2 inches the suspension play takes them well into the wheelwells and there are no issues. The chrome wheelwell trim has been trimmed
back on the drivers side as the body is slightly offset to the passenger side.

I went with two inch dropped spindles on the front and stayed with the stock control arms. Koni adjustables all around. The front wheels are 18 x 8 with 5 1/8 BS and the tires are 255/45/18's at 27 inches tall.

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Redrum (or Mike)

68 Corvette - 383 CI, 427 HP, 700R4, 12.56 @ 108 MPH
69 SS Chevelle - 502 CI, 610 HP, 2004R, 1320 unknown
97 Z-28 - totally stock still under 14,000 miles

"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
*Drew Carey

[This message has been edited by Redrum (edited 06-24-2002).]

I know you're wanting Boyd's but if they can't help you with fitment who can? I'm putting 17x8's and 17x9.5's on my Camaro but they are Budnik's. I ordered them through a friends shop with his help. I like you don't want to make an expensive mistake and stressed that with my friend before ordering. I was told Budnik asks for application and questions any order that they feel might be a problem. If the back spacing we selected was an issue they would not even go into production of the wheels without talking to us.

I expect Boyd to be the same caliber but if you can't get any info out of them try calling Budnik and see what support they can give you. They don't want the hastle of selling something you can't use and risking the bad press as you try to return them or sell them off!!

I'm not suggesting you buy Budnik's but it's something to think about if Boyds can't help you fit your car. If your DTD discount won't apply to Budnik wheels then get their fitment recomendation and have DTD order what you want.. I think the guys you are dealing with are just use to the import world...

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...Dennis
The '69 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fine69_03.jpg) & the '96 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fine69_02.jpg)
Team Camaro (http://www.camaros.net)
Camaros Limited (http://www.camaroslimited.com)

Thanks for the replies guys. Redrum, if your wheels are 10s and mine will be 11s would 6.5 be correct for the rear? DjD, actualy Budniks would be my firt choice out of any wheel made. I just wanted the Boyds because I like them a lot too and they were $195 and $205 for 17x8 and 17x9.5s my cost at work. I have seen Budniks for about $400 a piece and up. Which ones did you put on your Camaro? Thanks again guys! Jim

They go on Saturday. They are called Anvil5's.

http://www.budnik.com/assets/250/Anvil5.jpg

Which Boyds are you after?

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...Dennis
The '69 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fine69_03.jpg) & the '96 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fine69_02.jpg)
Team Camaro (http://www.camaros.net)
Camaros Limited (http://www.camaroslimited.com)

Those are some sweet wheels, be sure to post some pics once there on! The Boyds I want are made for Discount tire and they are called the Patriot. They look a lot like the Quasi in their regular line. I'm also considering one called the Blaster, and its not too bad on price. If money were no object I would get Budnik Arrowheads or Famosas, but by the time I figure all the fitment issues out I'll probably have enough for them anways!

As stated before Budnik Anvil5's

"The Car" www.chevelles.com/showroom/Anvil5_3.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Anvil5_3.jpg)

"The Front" (too dark) 17x8 4.75 BS w/235/45's www.chevelles.com/showroom/Anvil5_2.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Anvil5_2.jpg)

"The Rear" (Note fender clearence)17x9.5 5.5 BS w/275/40's www.chevelles.com/showroom/Anvil5_1.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Anvil5_1.jpg)



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...Dennis
The '69 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fine69_03.jpg) & the '96 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fine69_02.jpg)
Team Camaro (http://www.camaros.net)
Camaros Limited (http://www.camaroslimited.com)

also keep in mind that the rear end will twist making the tires rub even if they don't on straight driving. you have to have some kind of clearance as a safety margin. I just put 15x10's on the rear of my 70 and i'd bet with a 6-6.5bs i could have put 11's on. i have pleanty of room inside the well, but am limited to the outer becuase the lip will just catch the tire at it's buldge point. but most of the tire tucks under the car. but i only had 1" max of suspension travel downward to keep from cutting the tires (i've already rolled the lip) to correct this i went to a wreckign yard and found some HUGE bottom-out bumpers (size of coke cans, and put them in place of my originals, so now the car rides on them and will only compress them 1" or so keeping me in the safe zone (little bumpy ride in rear though) when it quits rainin i'll go take some measurments for ya to see what i think you can do in the back since your are going with a Low profile tire that will have a nice straight side-wall.


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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)

10 inch or 11 inch, 6.25 is the max I would go to the rear as the tire will bulge from that point on back toward the frame. I was too nervous about the 11's and sidewall bulge at the outer wheel lip and in fact the 11's would not have worked on my 69 with 315's. It depends on the sidewall height and flex issues too. With the 28.4 inch tall tires I have 5 inches of sidewall to flex and I dropped the rear 2 inches.

Your combination makes me a bit nerveous too bad you don't live close enough to do a test fit with my wheels and tires to be sure.

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Redrum (or Mike)

68 Corvette - 383 CI, 427 HP, 700R4, 12.56 @ 108 MPH
69 SS Chevelle - 502 CI, 610 HP, 2004R, 1320 unknown
97 Z-28 - totally stock still under 14,000 miles

"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
*Drew Carey

i think the only way to be real sure is to take measurements of your car. because if your body is sitting slightly off center you could have interference problems. put a straight edge on the surface where the rim mounts over the rotor or drum. the measure from that surface to the first thing that woud interfer in both directions. now you know how wide of a tire you can fit and if you subtract the inner dimension from the outer dimension you have the correct number for the "off set". which once you have determined what width rim you can fit (considering the bulging of the tires) then devide the actuall width of the rim by 2 and subtract your "offset" and that is you back spacing! its a pretty easy check. i would check these numbers before ordering new wheels. you can get alot of combinations to work but if you want to fill up all the available space you need to measure your individual set up. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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I couldn't repair my brakes, so I made my horn louder.
4-SALE? I'm considering selling my yellow '70 chevelle if someone is interested $11k.
www.EINSTYN.com (http://www.EINSTYN.com) updated 6-7-02 TC#1460, VCEA#2
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