Joined: Thu Oct 05 2006, 12:55PM
Location: Canada
Posts: 3
Thanks for all the replies.
Just to explain the reason I asked the question... I remember some time ago seeing a '68 300 for sale with these wheels on it. I had no information, though, about whether spacers were used, tire size, interference, etc etc.... or even if these were stock Mustang wheels or not (I compared photos and they looked exactly the same). They looked really cool on the 300 IMHO.
So... since a lot of people who by new Mustangs these days are chucking their stock wheels to install aftermarkets (you can buy take-offs pretty reasonably), I figured this would be a great way to get some nice looking 17" wheels for a reasonable price.
As far as the "horse" centers go, anybody with a little creativity can install some kind of Mopar logo over them, or do what I did years ago... just paint over the black plastic circle in the center... looked just fine on the wheel centers I did.
Anyways, thanks for all the info, and I apologize if this has been asked many times... a quick search didn't reveal anything on the subject, but maybe I just missed them. I was hoping to get some info from somebody who's tried it, but maybe there aren't too many people out there who have. Probably the best alternative is to get some aftermarket wheels that are made to fit the application and save the hassle anyways.
Joined: Sat Aug 19 2006, 05:03PM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2919
I've got the Yokohama Avid S/T tires on my hardtop. 235/70R15 up front and 245/60R15 in the back, all on 7" rims. I'm sure 255's would've fit in the back.
Joined: Sun Oct 09 2005, 05:02PM
Location: ALLEN PARK, MI.
Posts: 2007
For safety reasons, consider checking the load ratings of the rims in question. A c body is way heavier than a Stang', so that is important! If the rims are FORGED ALUMINUM, they SHOULD be able to handle the weight. Check this out! Tony P.
On the tire size , on the big C body , I think a 16" wheel would look and perform really well . The tall sidewall on the larger 15' wheels look good but take away from the handling.And nowadays people are concerned with handling . The smaller the sidewall the less flex you ll have , ie , faster response to steering manuvers . That bullit wheel is a knock off of the Torq thrust II . Now put a set of dem on your barge and really fill the wheel wells .
There are two groups of "decent" Mousefang wheels out there now... the 94-04's, and the 05-now's. The 94-04 group tend to be 17x8" on the GT's, and 17x9 on some Cobras, with 18x9 on other Cobras. Not sure of the year-by-year breakdown on those. Ennyhoo... on the 8" wheels, the backspacing tends to be around 5.7" (30mm offset), and the 9" wheels tend to be around 5.9-6.1" (24mm offset*). IIRC, the hub bore is 70.5mm*, where a Mopar 4.5" bolt pattern hub is 71.8mm*. (*)I posted these #'s on a Moparts thread the other day, I need to find it and verify... Lug nut seats are conical.
I don't think that much backspace/offset will work well on a C, but I haven't tried it. First deal is that at least on my 68, the strut rods up front are getting cozy with a wide tire and much more than 5" BS at full lock. Straight ahead would be fine. Second deal is that the hub LENGTH on a typical Mopar brake rotor is long enough that you probably CAN'T mount the little center cap up front. I think you'd end up boring out the whole center to clear the rotor hub, and that would be that. The 95 Cobra wheels I have on my Valiant use a true center cap that covers the lugs, and is deep enough to cover the hub and dust cap, too. No show pony or snake anywhere on the wheel. Did that by design.
Regarding 16" wheels, the choices for a reasonable height tire with some width is slim. I'm hoping I can still find a 255/55-16 when I get around to mounting up my Vintage Wheel Works V-45's in 16x8. Those are as tall as a 255/60-15, which I know fits, but is a wee bit shorter than I'd like. No love in a 275/55-16, at least in a decent tire. 17's and 18's are going to have much better options for a long time.
Clair
(edited to correct date range on wheels...) <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Sun Aug 12 2007, 12:50PM ]</span>
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
You would definetly need to run a spacer/adapter with these rims. There are several companies that sell custum hub spacers/adapters to go from any bolt pattern and and offset you need. They also offer hubcentric options as well.
There was a guy, not sure if he was on the old dock or this one, who put the 18" magnum/charger rims and tires on his 72 Chrysler T/C wagon, with hubadapters of course. Looked very sharp!! !thumb
I ran into a guy I know at a cruise this weekend, he is putting some late model OEM wheels on an old Chevy truck. He had to have a custom 2" spacer made at Weld Wheel for them. $100 each!! The spacer cost more than the wheels. That would be the same scenario with the Mustang rims I believe.