17x8s on 68 Firebird....Whose running them?

[Rommel]

I have a 68 Firebird with 1 in. drop springs in the front, factory stock rear, with 4 wheel discs (71 Lemans fronts, 81 T/A rears). I'm looking to run 17x8s. I've done a search and found a ton of info, but with every post my head hurts more and more...too much info. My question is with this set up, B/S do I need to run. I'm seeing 4.5 to 5.0 all the way around. Is this too much, too little, etc. I'd like to get the same rim all the way around if possible. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[CliffS]

I tried 17x8 and 17x9.5 on my 68 Bird. The front had some rubbing,the back had a major rubbing issue cornering. I'm running 17x7 and 17x8 with 4" backspacing in the rear without any problems. But every car is different, messure and messure again before buying wheels!!

[Wall]

I was going to run 18x8 front and 18x9.5 rear but now I think to be safe I'm going to go with a 17x7 front and 17x8 rear w/ 4" BS for now.

[CliffS]

forgot to mention the wheel lips are not rolled and the 4" bs is for the rear rims, have to check the front bs.

[Rommel]

Cliff, how is your suspension set up? I have 1in lowered drop springs in front, and 5 leaf springs in the rear, no drop. Speaking with Andy at DSE, and a couple of other shops, they say that 17x8 4.75b/s, and 17x9.5 5.5b/s with 235/45/17, and 255/45/17 will work fine. I did some measuring yesterday, and it appears that the rears will fit. I plan on re-measuring on Monday prior to ordering. What size tires were you running on the 18in rims, and what are you running on the 17s? Thanks.

[HOT OHC]

I am running 17X10 5.75"bs 275/40 in the rear and 17X8 5"bs 245/45 in the front. Plan on running disc's all around. I could have gone as much as 6"bs in the rear with dics's.

Sorry not the best pic, (a bit too wide angle) I still need to lower the ass end. The front has been lowerd since this picture (adjustable coilovers).

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2004/12/67_firebird-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/09/Rear_Tire_Clearence_01_sm-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2004/12/motor_02_sm-1.jpg

[CliffS]

Cliff, how is your suspension set up? I have 1in lowered drop springs in front, and 5 leaf springs in the rear, no drop. Speaking with Andy at DSE, and a couple of other shops, they say that 17x8 4.75b/s, and 17x9.5 5.5b/s with 235/45/17, and 255/45/17 will work fine. I did some measuring yesterday, and it appears that the rears will fit. I plan on re-measuring on Monday prior to ordering. What size tires were you running on the 18in rims, and what are you running on the 17s? Thanks.

Front has tubular uppers & lowers with coil-overs, back as 2" lowered springs.I tried the same set up like the shops told you but with 255/44 and 275/45. The tire size was prob. the issue. If you want I can shoot you some pics of the try-out, send me your email address.
Did not had any 18" (yet).
And yeh measure again, non of them are identical.

[Hammered]

Be careful taking advice from Camaro vendors. My stock '67 has a 61" rear (1" wider than Camaro) and the front track was 3/4" wider (factory disc brakes?). I went with 17x8" with 5.75" on the rear to allow for a future upgrade to discs and 17x7" on the front with 4 7/8" BS. 255/45 rear and 235/45 front with 2" and 1.5" drops front and back. The rears look like they will tuck nicely, but I won't know about the fronts until I get some road time in.

John

[mone]

Wat the hell is under the hood of OHCs car?That seems like a mag feature there!!

[sporter]

I run 17x8s all the way around but would like to run 17x9.5 in the rear. My car is lowered about 2" in front and 1" in the rear, with 4.5 bs I had minor rubbing up front with 235/50s but no rubbing with 235/40s. I have disks all around and stock arms.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Rommel]

Those running the 17x8s in the rear, are you able to get a wide enough tire in there to suit your liking. I'm afraid if I get the 17x8s with 4.75 b/s on the rears, I'll be lacking in tire size I'm looking for. I am planning on running 255/45/17s on the rear, and I know I can get them on both rims, but not sure of the look.

[sporter]

I've run 265/40s and 275/50s on 17x8s with 4.5 bs but my rear is a Moser 9" and is about 1/2" narrower than my factory 8.2" rear. Guess that's about the same as 4.75" bs. No rubbing.

[HOT OHC]

Be careful taking advice from Camaro vendors. My stock '67 has a 61" rear (1" wider than Camaro) and the front track was 3/4" wider (factory disc brakes?).
That is correct, pontiac called it "Wide Track". This is why you want to run a deeper off set, esp in the rear.

[HOT OHC]

Wat the hell is under the hood of OHCs car?That seems like a mag feature there!!
Ah, a OHC, what else :doh:A Pontiac OHC 6 Sprint to be exact. Oh and thanks!

[Rommel]

Made the purchase today, we'll see how they fit in a couple of days.

TT II's: 17x8 4.75, and 17x9.5 5.5
BFG G-Force: 235/45/17, 255/45/17

Thanks for all the input, I'll let you know how they fit.

[CliffS]

Hey Chris, any update?

[Rommel]

OK, I finally had a chance to work on the car (Just moved to Rhode Island). I spoke with Summit racing, where I purchased the Cragars, and they will take them back. I bought a set of American Racing TTIIs, 17x8s up front and 17x9.5s in the rear, with 235/45/17, and 255/45/17s. After replacing the tires and wheels; no more vibration (I had a bad vibration btwn 35-40mph). Until I actually did it, I had a very hard time believing it could be the wheels/tires since I swapped the rears to the front, and still had the issue. I was running the Cragar SS unilugs, and Firestone Indy 500s. The tires were from 2 different stores, and 2 different sizes. I must say from my experience, I would tell anyone to stay away from the Cragar unilugs, and if you are running them... buy a new set of wheels, and get rid of the Cragars. My car drives like a completely different car. It handles like a dream, and I'm not afraid of pushing it like I was with the other wheels. I know that the 17s, and lower profile tires have added to the handling, but man what a difference!!! Thanks to all who provided advice! The wheels fit great. I'll take some pictures shortly and post them.

[CliffS]

That's good news! I'm glad you got the right BS etc. Like to see some pics!!!