Once again I am in need of you Team Cheveller's Help! Over the past 2 years you have helped me with problems that have come up with my LoWagon Nomad Delivery project.(Sneek peek coming soon).
I understand wheel offset + -, backspacing and tire measurments. What I need to know is what size tires I can run with 18" wheels and not have problems with rubbing etc,etc, The wagon is a 69 , along with 2" drop spindles.... Any and all will be a big help. Thanks~ ~ ~Randy

Follow the links below to pics of my 69SS with 18's.

The car has 2 inch dropped spindles up front and Hotchkis two inch drop springs in the rear. I used Hotchkis sway bars front and rear, Hotchkis adjustable uppers and lowers in the rear and polyurethane bushings. I have ZERO wheel hop and the car handles very well in the corners, feeling comparable to my 97 Z-28.

On the rear I have 18 x 10 inch wheels with 6 inches of backspacing. If your car body is centered on the frame you can go to 6.25 inch backspacing and 305 wide tires. If you go to 17 or 18 inch wheels the 6 inch+ backspacing just puts the wheels outside of the contact point for the shocks in their stock location. I have 295/45/18 tires that are 28.4 inches tall. The tires fit fully inside the wheel wells.

Up front I have 18 x 8 wheels with 5 1/8 backspacing front with 255/45/18 tires (27.1 inches tall). I used a Hotchkis sway bar up front as it has a tighter radius on the turns at the bushings that is needed for the 5 1/8 backspacing. Use 5 inch or 4 ¾ if you use a stock sway bar and you should still clear the fender on a sharp turn. It is a balancing act up front with dropped spindles.

YO Redrum...First things first----> AWESOME 69
graemlins/thumbsup.gif :cool: Gotta love a black 69 velle Huh.
Second, The info you have given me on 18's is what I am looking for: I want to run 18 x 9 's all around (5 1/2" back spc) tires will be 235/40/18 or 245/40 Tire height 25.4--25.6..Drops are 2" aftermarket w/disc conversion set up. sway bar is stock. Air bags in rear NOT coils. With the set up you have and knowing the amount of space you have, do you think I will encounter any problems with what I would like to do? And is there anything I should look out for, or be aware of? Thanks for your info smile.gif :~ ~ ~Randy

All is fine except for the front BS. I do not suggest you go beyond 5 inches without serious test fittings. Note that I had real close clearances and that is with 18 by 8 inch wide wheels.

The wheels I want to use do not come in any other than 5 1/2" backspace,to remedy this I could use a spacer (1/2")? Never had experience with spacers and have heard O K and not O K things about spacers. Do you have any input on or about spacers? Thanks for reply's Ra

The 235's are .8 inch less wide than the 255's I have used. This means they will problably fit but might slightly touch the front sway bar. My Hotchkis is 1 1/8 inch so you will save some space there too. Try the fit with the sway bar you have first.

I wouldn't recomment spacers if you can avoid them. They are a last resort fix.

Randy,you should be able to run 18x9's w/5.5" backspace without problems. I'm running 17x9's w/5" backspace and 275/40/17 tires and they fit fine on my slammed 69 El Camino w/stock a-arms. If anything,the wheels really need more backspacing. My plans are to send my wheels back to PS Engineering and have them re-done to 6" backspacing. However,my car will soon have GW tubular a-arms and those will allow over 6.25" backspacing.

Well Guys I have decided to place an order for the wheels(18x9)...With my calculations and your experiences with fitment clearences I feel optimistic about the fit.
THANK YOU for sharing some much needed info on running 18's. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Say Clint. If you are going to do more backspacing ( 6" ) on your fronts, won't that put your setup closer to the frame, sway bar, etc?
Do you have much clearence at these points with the set up you have now?

I'm pretty sure those wheels will look and fit right in. I'm running 18x9's on my 71 with 245/45 up front and 275/40 in the rear.

Don't forget to post up pics of your ride with the slamming 18's!

Originally posted by LoWagnChevL:
Say Clint. If you are going to do more backspacing ( 6" ) on your fronts, won't that put your setup closer to the frame, sway bar, etc?
Do you have much clearence at these points with the set up you have now?
Yes but I should have enough room for a rim with 6" backspace with my Global West A-arms. Another Team Chevelle member is running a 17x9.5 rim with 6.25 backspacing on the front of his 70 Elky,without problems.

Thanks guys for the info. I am feeling more comfortable about the set up I want to run without fitment problems.
wheels are on backorder graemlins/sad.gif . Rest assured, when all is installed, guestimate 30 days, pics will be posted!! Again thanks Randy

Pics of my project as of dec 30 03

http://community.webshots.com/album/126489970nkohRN?217

Hey guys, all... Got my 18's installed with at least 1 1/2" clearance everywhere graemlins/hurray.gif except at outer tie rod end to spindle. I only have 1/4" clearance between rim and tierod end connected to spindle :eek: . This clearance will be OK as the spindle and rim will move as one,correct? or am I in trouble? Thanks All....
pics of 18's installed----->

http://community.webshots.com/album/132972038zcMppW