Couple questions before I get some new wheels

[DarkoNova]

Hi guys, a member here is selling some BMW M3 wheels and I'm thinking of getting them for the Nova, but I have some questions. It's a 69 Nova with Hotchkis 2" lowering springs. I've got ATS tall spindles sitting in a box in my room and I plan on getting the Touring Classics brake kit. Obviously I'll need adapters to run the wheels, I just don't know if they'll rub on the frame or the fenders.

Basically I was wondering if you guys could help me figure out what size adapters to use and whether or not there would be any rubbing?

He says the fronts are 18x8 with a 47mm offset and the rears are 18x9 with a 26mm offset.

Thanks,
Matt

[MrQuick]

Give Andy a call and see if he can take an actual back space measurements with tires and subtract 4.5" from the front and 5" from the rear and that will be the adapter you would need.

I would get the rims first then trial fit to be sure as no two cars are alike.

[DarkoNova]

Yeah I know no two cars are alike, but it's a lot of money to spend and potentially have paper weights if I can't use them, you know?

BTW, who's Andy? I'm guessing Andy is the one selling the wheels? I don't recall seeing his name so I'm just guessing here, heh.

Matt

[CliffsBlueCamaro]

The BMW wheels that folks use without spacers have 13mm to 15mm offset (the lower the better). If you figure that you would need to get it close to that to have them fit properly this is what your spacers would look like.

47mm minus 13mm = 34mm spacer for the Front (about 1.33")

26mm minus 13mm = 13 mm spacer for the Rear (about 1/2")

Remember though, his is just a rough guesstimation.

EDIT: I just realized that both the front and the rear are both 1/2" narrower than the BMW wheels I was thinking about (8.5 front and 9.5 rear).
But according to http://www.rims-n-tires.com/info_specs.jsp?text2=Sample%202:%20Honda%20Civic%2 0wheel&sw2=165&ar2=70&bd2=13&rd2=13&rw2=5.5&et2=40&text1=Sample%201:%20Hummer%20H2%20wheel&sw1=315&ar1=70&bd1=17&rd1=17&rw1=10.5&et1=10&pageTitle=Wheel%20/%20Tire%20Size%20Calculator%20/%20Comparer

...those are still just about right.

[MrQuick]

Sorry, i thought you had been in conact with him already.

Found the info.
The front wheels looked funny since they are 8" but have a lot of backspacing (around 6"). These would need a nice adapter spacer to fit most cars properly. My AME sub requires wheels with around 6" backspacing, so they fit my car just fine as far as rubbing on the frame or inner fender. A stock front sub car would definitely need spacers for proper fit, maybe a 1.25" spacer.

The rears are 9" with around 6" backspacing, so these would also most likely require a spacer on most cars. You'd probably want a 1" spacer for the typical 1st gen f-body.
A 1/2"-1" spacer for the front and the rears.

[DarkoNova]

I just had a thought. Is it even possible to fit a 9" wheel in the back of a 69 Nova with everything stock? I'm really hoping I don't have to move the shocks inboard or anything.

Matt

[MrQuick]

Yes,
this is 17x9 with 275's. Rolled lip thats it. Just set up your adapter/spacer correctly. This car had a backspace of 5.25 with adapter/spacer included.

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

[DarkoNova]

Sweet! I didn't think it was possible to get tires that wide with the stock tubs. Friggin awesome! :twothumbs

Matt

[MrQuick]

Sure Matt, with a little bit of work anything is possible. This is 17x11 315's and 17x9 275's in front.