Wheel Spacers

[LS65Speed]

New to posting here, have been registered awhile and learned a lot but my research on this topic has not helped find an answer. Hoping someone will chime in.

Background: I got a GREAT deal on a 9 inch Ford rear (Moser 31 spline axles) and 11 inch Ford drum brakes for a GM A-Body. It is made for the 65 / 66 / 67 Chevelle width and it is going in a 72 A-body. I am running 15 x 8 inch Vette Rally wheels and want to keep them for a pseudo "day one" exterior look.



My question involves moving the rear tires out from the frame....toward the fender lip, about 1/2 inch or possibly 5/8 inches. The studs in the axles are 1/2 inch dia. and long enough to handle 1/2 inch spacers. Another option is getting wheels made with 3.5 backspace but Wheel Vintiques is having supplier issues and there are dimensional issues with getting the backspace down below 4 inch that necessitate reversing the rim. Nuff said about that for now.

1. My research says hub centric spacers are the preferred way to go if spacers are the solution of choice? What do you guys think? I should define spacers as the slip on spacer not the bolt on spacer. If someone answers and is describing the bolt on spacers / adapter design please so indicate. I am not committed to either the slip on or bolt on but would appreciate clarification as to whatever solution you are describing.

2. Can I find a supplier to make me 1/2 inch billet aluminum (or steel) slip on spacers? I am pretty sure I want the spacers to be hub centric on both front and rear of the spacer. I am not even sure this can be done when the Corvette Rally wheels are in the mix. Along with a supplier name I am trying to verify if it is possible to meet all these requirements.

I am very sure I don't want the slip on, universal, one fits all "big washer" style slip on spacer. The spacers I choose gotta work with the Moser axles and at the same time allow me to stick with the Rally wheels. Please advise as to a supplier name if ya have one.

Thanks!

[Lonnies Performance]

I recently got some hub centric 15mm which is just over 9/16".
I could not find an off the shelf 1/2" thick one.


With a steel wheel, you may not have room for the wheel stud/nut protrusion that sticks out of the spacer.
I would measure that carefully and/or consider trimming the studs & using shorter nuts.

See how much the studs/nuts stick out of the spacer here.

This is a 1/2" spacer in the picture with about half of the nut protruding from the spacer.


With that said, you may have to run a slip-on spacer, which is not terrible if only 1/2" thick

[LS65Speed]

Thanks for the reply.

It looks like a slip on spacer is going to be the answer based on my ongoing research and your help. I am going to contact one of the custom spacer suppliers located in Lubbock Texas tomorrow. It is kind of one of those "rock and a hard place" things. I know I have myself boxed-in in that I want to keep the factory steel wheels. Issues with the stud length (with the steel wheels and if I use spacers spacers of similar design to yours) means new studs, going more than 1/2" slip on spacers also means new studs and then there is the safety issue to consider.

Standard "scope creep" like all of these projects. A simple thing like moving that wheel out 1/2" +/- turns into a minor headache in a heartbeat.

[79 Camaro]

I would replace the wheel studs with good ones from ARP and maybe upsize to 1/2"?
If possible I would have the spacer made so that there is almost zero play in the spacer stud holes.

[LS65Speed]

The Moser Axles have 1/2-20 studs already. My plan right now is to have the spacer made with 1/2" holes for the studs. I don't want to mess with the one fits all stud size holes that allow the spacer to rotate back and forth between the studs.

Any experience with the double side hub centric spacers I have been thinking about?

[Lonnies Performance]

I've used these guys before.

https://www.uswheeladapters.com/

[LS65Speed]

They are on my list. Any comments on working with them? Not used to buying custom built parts. Even though this is a pretty simple item to fabricate I wanted to ask about their business style since you have experience.

[Lonnies Performance]

What I would do first is install good ARP studs. Then pick up those cheap spacers at your local auto parts store & install a set on 1 wheel at a time & take the car for a drive, noting any interference going in & out of driveways, parking etc. You can stack 2 or 3 of the cheap cast ones with the large holes for varying thicknesses to see what you like.

If all clears, then buy an expensive set.

The US wheel adapters will set you back about $150 a pair.
You may want different thicknesses front & rear.
I called them to discuss my needs before purchasing.

FYI, I've run a good quality non-centric 10mm pair on my daily driver for 80K miles & a 9/16" set on my Firebird (from US Wheel Adapters) for 8 years that is basically driven like an autocross car with no problems.