C3 Corvette wheels . . . info needed !

Just stumbled over a C3 Vette Barn Find. Great price and not too terrible condition for sitting these past 15/20 years.

But . . . just HATE those turbine wheels ! ! !

Does anyone know if the later Vette wheel's bolt pattern will fit and if spacers might not be needed to bring them out to the edge of the wheel well. The ones on it now seem VERY deep dished and the newer wheels are much flatter. Will spacers work or do I need to source different suspension parts/pieces to change things around.

Wondering what others might have done with the C3 Vettes? Totally new to this.

Thanks !

T

Bolt pattern is the same, but spacers will be needed. Not sure on how thick they would need to be though. Info should be out on the web.

Later 'Vette wheels are the same bolt pattern but C3 wheels have a near-zero offset while later 'Vettes use a highly positive bolt pattern. You will need to space them out considerably. But it is doable. And C5 Z06 wheels look great on these, although you will have to use the aftermarket 18x9.5" versions. A stock C5 Z06 rear wheel will not fit without serious modifications.

This thread seems to cover it well.

That is an awesome find! Please start a project thread on this.

Nice find, the 4-speed makes it even better.

(I like the turbine wheels)

Me, I'd switch to steel Rally wheels, with center caps and trim rings. You could probably make enough by selling off the turbine wheels to cover the cost.

NickD,

Thanks for that thread link ! I'm going to have to join that forum, seems like they know everything !

They are recommending using wheel adapters rather than just spacers, got me to thinking . . . unfortunately.

I have a spare set of Mustang Bullitt wheels with the Ford 5X4.5 pattern, 18 inch.

The forum post is cautioning against running wide 19 inch rims. If an adapter is needed anyway, I think that I may well try to fit the Mustang wheels to the Vette. I really love the look of those wheels more than any other. Maybe join up and make a post of my own as long as the folks aren't die hard Chevy guys and will trash me for askin' about Ford parts/pieces.

In reply to TeamEvil:

I think those wheels would look just fine. They are basically a Torq-Thrust and I've seen those on 'Vettes. Could probably even get a vinyl overlay with the 'Vette emblem to put on the center caps.

"Could probably even get a vinyl overlay with the 'Vette emblem to put on the center caps."

Great minds think alike ! I was just over on Ebay looking for those said same emblems . . . of course, then I saw the three bar knock off spinners.

Don't put on the mustang wheels. If you want Torque Thrusts get them with the proper deep dish the way they are supposed to be. They look great with deep wheels.

Keep those wheels and go full metal flake on the paint. You know you want to do this:

Taking some WAG's at what you're dealing with, I went to tirerack.com and told the site I wanted 18's for a 2006 Mustang GT. 35mm positive offset, the site says. Then I went for a 1976 Corvette (I don't know the years so bear with me if I got these wrong). Negative 19mm offset. That's a 2 and 1/8th inch difference, aka, one hell of a thick spacer. I'd go look for some wheels that fit better than that. Or, if you like a little manual labor, clean up the turbines, maybe play with paint and masking & buffing some of the metal areas.

It's happening....

People are starting to come around to the idea of cheap C3 Corvettes as fun project cars. Sure, there are a million cars that do a billion things better, but these have been overlooked for too long.

Also, I generally prefer Torq-Thrust wheels, but Corvettes need Cragars.

Or these:

Woody,

I NEVER stumble across wheels like that. In person OR on the internet. LOVE that purpose-built patina, impossible to duplicate.

I found a set of ZR1 wheels that I might be able to get, otherwise keep looking. In reading the thread on the Corvette Forum it seems like a 2.5 inch spacer is always used. The adapters work just fine as they bolt to the studs and then have studs inserted on the mounting face. The spacers would add stress to the stock lugs, the adapters work much better. I've come across 2 and 3 inch adapters on Porsche 911 cars and no ill effects are mentioned, so . . . maybe the Mustang wheels would work in a pinch. Plus a much bigger choice of 17 and 18 inch tires, 15 inch tires are getting a little bit limited.

Still, Woody's rims are the best choice of them all ! ! ! Cragers usually come with a Mike Post sound track, a little too "Hunter" for my taste.

I've been a fan of C3s since I was a kid. Those Cragers are damn hard to come by. Minilites also work but I don't think there are many cheap, wide Minilites out there either.

I run 2 inch spacer on the vette wheels on my elky. I run1 inch spacer and mustang wheel on my duster. All hubcentric, with proper studs in both the stock locations and the spacer. No problem in a combined 15k and dozens of autocross and drag strip days. I would not hesitate to run them on a c3.

That being said, make sure that the wheel face isn't flat. Needs some lip to look right.

99-04 mustang wheel has some lip. The 05 up do not.

Chain link fence post caps fit the center and look cool.

Also you need the spacers to clear the C3 calipers.

The pic above is the wheel on my Mustang a 2008, not too flat, has a slight polished lip to it with mildly recessed spokes. I like the look a lot. REALLY tired of the silly huge dish on most C3 Vettes.

Would I need a spacer for the C3 calipers if the adapter is a full 2.5/3.0 inch thick? The Mustang wheels are 18inch while the original C3 Vette wheels are just 15 inch. Seems like the extra diameter measurement would clear the calipers with just the 2.5 inch adapter spacing.

Redundant, but not sure.

New to all of this.Need as much info as possible before purchasing either new wheels or new adapters for old Mustang wheels. Of course, if I stumble onto a set of Vette whee;s or five spoke Chevy wheels, then I'm definitely taking the easy way out. As long as the turbines end up in the scrap yard or Craigslist, I don't care . . .

Thanks for all the info so far !

The adapter will be fine by itself. The spacer is typically used to make the wheel clear the calipers, which the adapter will do in spades.

Here you are.... Lol.

http://www.stanceworks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73749

chandlerGTi wrote: Here you are.... Lol. http://www.stanceworks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73749

Save those for an early C4.

i'll trade you some 91 corvette 17x9.5 sawblades straight up for the turbines

Woody wrote: Also, I generally prefer Torq-Thrust wheels, but Corvettes need Cragars. Or these:

Daisys, just like the 2 Lane Blacktop 55.

"i'll trade you some 91 corvette 17x9.5 sawblades straight up for the turbines"

Thanks ! But the Saw Blades don't seem to look quite right on the old C3 body:

http://classiccarsdb.com/chevrolet/10461-no-reserve-pro-touring-500hp-4speed-carbon-fiber-suspension-dream-corvette.html

Or is it just me?