18 x 8 1/2 on 69 Camaro front?

[joe g]

I'm looking for new wheels for my 69 Camaro. I currently have Billet Specialties Ventec 17 x 8 with 4 1/2 backspace and 235/50x17 Bridgestone tires all around. The car is lowered with Ridetech coilovers in front and Hotchkis with 1 inch lowering blocks in rear. Ground to bottom of fender lip is just under 24 inches front; 24 1/2 rear. I run negative 1/2 degree camber in front to stay away from the inside fender lip due to the 4 1/2 backspace; it should be 4 3/4. The inside of the fender has been "clearances" with a hammer and the top fender bolts removed. It still rubs occasionally. Rear clearance is fine.

I'm looking to go to 18 inch wheels. I'd like to go 8 1/2 wide in front. Is anyone running a 8 1/2 wheel in front? What backspace are you using? My subframe is stock with Ridetech strong arms and coilovers.

Thanks for any input.

Joe

[elwaupo]

I'm looking for new wheels for my 69 Camaro. I currently have Billet Specialties Ventec 17 x 8 with 4 1/2 backspace and 235/50x17 Bridgestone tires all around. The car is lowered with Ridetech coilovers in front and Hotchkis with 1 inch lowering blocks in rear. Ground to bottom of fender lip is just under 24 inches front; 24 1/2 rear. I run negative 1/2 degree camber in front to stay away from the inside fender lip due to the 4 1/2 backspace; it should be 4 3/4. The inside of the fender has been "clearances" with a hammer and the top fender bolts removed. It still rubs occasionally. Rear clearance is fine.

I'm looking to go to 18 inch wheels. I'd like to go 8 1/2 wide in front. Is anyone running a 8 1/2 wheel in front? What backspace are you using? My subframe is stock with Ridetech strong arms and coilovers.

Thanks for any input.

Joe

I installed a Ridetech Tru-Turn front suspension with coil-overs on my 69 Camaro, I’m very happy with the results. I contacted Ridetech on Wheel sizes and they sent this back:
Ridetech Wheel Size


Keep your offset as close to +6mm on a first gen as possible and that should center the wheel between the subframe/fender and the frame rail/quarter panel as possible.


Ideal backspacing for maximum clearance is as follows:


17x7 = 4.25"bs
17x8 = 4.75"bs
17x8.5 = 5" bs
17x9 = 5.25"bs
17x9.5 = 5.5" bs


Wheel diameter is irrelevant, it's the same for any 17"/18"/19" wheel.

[TheJDMan]

One comment, I noticed you said you removed the top inner to outer fender bolts. I know the heads on the stock fender bolts are not compatible with close tire clearance which is why I replaced all my stock bolts with 5/16"x 5/8" button head hex drive bolts. Even if the tire does make contact with the bolt it does no damage to the tire.

[MadGoat]

Billet Specialties makes the bolts to buy for the front fenders:


http://www.billetspecialties.com/stainless-pro-bolts/

Not cheap, but worth it.

[68Formula]

Take a bolt to ACE Hardware and buy a button head with hex center. I think I paid less than $3 for all 4 of them together.

[TheJDMan]

I got my button head 5/16x5/8 bolts from McMaster-Carr.