wheelworks weelfit 45 accuracy

[DCx]

I decided to up and buy a wheelworks wheelfit 45 from summit racing for the tune of $350, only because I have a 67 mustang coupe with a fox body 8.8 axle with ebay sn95 rear disc brake brackets. It should make for some fun rim spacing..

I picked up some brand new bridgestone potenza pole position tires in 275/35/18 and plan on running a 18x9.5 rim. These are some massive 275 tires. They look a lot wider than the 275/35/18 BFG drag radials on my 69 camaro that are mounted on 18x9.5s.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/011FF43597344313AAB800D08CC0CD0A-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/011FF435-9734-4313-AAB8-00D08CC0CD0A.jpg.html)

I messed around with the tool today and placed it into the tire. I sure had a hell of a time getting the bead clamp on. These tires have a huge protrusion for rim protection and the clamp didn't set to well on it. i eventually got it assembled.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/DD66EDAEE6484E1CB6D3FF118DB9A278-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/DD66EDAE-E648-4E1C-B6D3-FF118DB9A278.jpg.html)

Instructions say to set the slider to one inch wider than rim width so i set it at 10.5. Backspace settings call for .5 inches wider on the ruler to account for the mounting plate thickness so i set it at 6.5 for 6" backspace. well here are the results...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/90D56B3F8663498FB8FF33DC81EF2E61-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/90D56B3F-8663-498F-B8FF-33DC81EF2E61.jpg.html)

The wheel tucks pretty well but it's very close to the leaf spring. I placed this same setup on my dads 67 fastback with a factory 9" rear with drums and he had a safer distance to the leaf spring but still too close for comfort.

So how accurate is this thing? i feel like its not to accurate for the actual rim size. Testing a 5.75 backspace seems to be the sweet spot but I haven't lifted the axle up yet to get an idea of ride height since the car is on the lift and I'm still using the factory sky high leaf springs. I'm sure a 5.5 backspace would be safe but the wheels might stick out some and I would need to have the fender float over the tire. I'm starting to see that not too many companies offer 18x9.5 wheels with a preset 5.75 backspace.... 5.5 and 5.25 seem the most popular.

[Spork82]

You should probably set your approximate ride heigh before you determine the back spacing.

If all the shops are using this tool to figure it out, then I'm sure it will do its job.

I have 68 mustang with a 8.8 in it. And 275's will be fine. 295's will fit without cutting anything.

But first thing get the car to the height you want it at.

[csouth]

I've know several ppl to use it and none to say it was inaccurate. If you're looking at a one piece wheel, remember they are made for the masses to fit many vehicles with the same bolt pattern. Whats the WMS measurement on your dads 9"as compared to the rear axle your using?

[DCx]

I've know several ppl to use it and none to say it was inaccurate. If you're looking at a one piece wheel, remember they are made for the masses to fit many vehicles with the same bolt pattern. Whats the WMS measurement on your dads 9"as compared to the rear axle your using?

i will get that info tomorrow afternoon. plan on messing with ride height and more wheel choices. I used some string and plumb bobs on my 8.8 and came up with 59.75 with the rotors bolted down.

[badazz81z28]

I personally wasn't a fan. The tool doesn't hold the wheel very well and steady. In a instance where 1/4" matters.....check multiple times to get very consistent measurements.

[DCx]

This tool isn't so bad after all. I moved the back spacing to 5.5 and tried it again. i really like the results! i unbolted the U bolts on the axle and supported it on jack stands and lowered the car body to simulate ride height. i will let the pics show the results.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/EBC2B51F51F940D0AA560A30386D3C76-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/EBC2B51F-51F9-40D0-AA56-0A30386D3C76.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/7737436E75F54A69BD7F6EDEB2A5BAE7-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/7737436E-75F5-4A69-BD7F-6EDEB2A5BAE7.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/CDB8AD377FA749FA8D536A2C0E37B5AA-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/CDB8AD37-7FA7-49FA-8D53-6A2C0E37B5AA.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/4E93671E81D042FF889FF22D5526297E-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/4E93671E-81D0-42FF-889F-F22D5526297E.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/D8D72FD59FDC4103AD68988450DC7E0B-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/D8D72FD5-9FDC-4103-AD68-988450DC7E0B.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/87A288E22BF74C3A90F7437C0701969C-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/87A288E2-2BF7-4C3A-90F7-437C0701969C.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/148F0677185540F7A0C79709878E4540-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/148F0677-1855-40F7-A0C7-9709878E4540.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/EC13F3C2A0B148ABB6E22DA0933573CE-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/EC13F3C2-A0B1-48AB-B6E2-2DA0933573CE.jpg.html)

I also put the wheel fit into some 225/40/18 and tested them up front with a simulated 8" wheel with 4.5 back space. It was perfect, no contact at all lock to lock and it fit nicely in the fender.

i picked up some Ridler 695's from ebay for $535 shipped... they are a generic 5 spoke coys/troque thrust knock off but i couldn't beat the price for the correct 18x9.5/5.5BS and 18x8/4.5BS wheels.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/96B2972F7DA3438B8C80C7B39D00F795-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/96B2972F-7DA3-438B-8C80-C7B39D00F795.jpg.html)

[csouth]

Looks like it will be killer!

[DCx]

ordered some wheels! just took them in yesterday to get powder coated gloss black. as soon as i get them back I will have the tires mounted and we can all see the true fitment.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/9A00D6200A6C433894858B6BA3B9CFFA-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/9A00D620-0A6C-4338-9485-8B6BA3B9CFFA.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/E87EF9B269D3444495C3F77CF7C20F0E-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/E87EF9B2-69D3-4444-95C3-F77CF7C20F0E.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/497D219970F94F6080DE259236CD67B5-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/497D2199-70F9-4F60-80DE-259236CD67B5.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/013D3059D44940F5B67A77138F6C7C47-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/013D3059-D449-40F5-B67A-77138F6C7C47.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/05C7827328174C6B862816706B9D8A37-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/05C78273-2817-4C6B-8628-16706B9D8A37.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/BEAD933A56464C5697DBE120740D3580-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/BEAD933A-5646-4C56-97DB-E120740D3580.jpg.html)

[DCx]

the results are in!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/ACF605651D6D46858DBE2049163C4245-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/ACF60565-1D6D-4685-8DBE-2049163C4245.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/80C80AAC9A334E8AAC546284C3D3ACBE-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/80C80AAC-9A33-4E8A-AC54-6284C3D3ACBE.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/DB3E016B41ED4447A15054FDE5C0129A-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/DB3E016B-41ED-4447-A150-54FDE5C0129A.jpg.html)

I only had time to throw one wheel on the car. After i had the rims powder coated the tire installer put one of my rear tires on the wrong way and chipped up my rim pretty good getting the tire off. I have 3 mounted wheels now and a rim that needs a re-do. Not at all happy about that. As soon as i can get the rim fixed and the tire mounted I will let it down on its suspension or mount the wheels on my dads fastback since it sits pretty low with its 4.5 mid eye leafs.

[DCx]

The results are in! finally got my wheels on and the car on the ground.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/07/2ED09295CE774550AA1639A2B271784F-1.png (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/2ED09295-CE77-4550-AA16-39A2B271784F.png.html)

Wheel fit 45 on the left and mounted rim on the right

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/07/2B01CD57FBFD4B87A0D99F4E71A0DEAB-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/2B01CD57-FBFD-4B87-A0D9-9F4E71A0DEAB.jpg.html)

New 4.5 mid eye springs with 1" billet lowering blocks.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/07/E6AA7CBE61E54914B109AC4FE6AD2D89-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/E6AA7CBE-61E5-4914-B109-AC4FE6AD2D89.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/07/0E5C007058F74153AA387CA572372E63-1.jpg (http://s127.photobucket.com/user/justingiese/media/0E5C0070-58F7-4153-AA38-7CA572372E63.jpg.html)