Correct size wheels and offset for a widebody?

[moparrob]

I recently bought a slant nose/wide body conversion and will be changing the wheels and tires. The car currently is sitting on 19 inch wheels, 9 inch wide in front and 11 inch wide in back. The rubber is 225/35 in the front and 305/25 in the rear.




I like the stance but really want something more traditional - perhaps 17 inch Fuchs to clear the big red brakes. The question I have is - since I don't have a set of wheels to try out on the car, and I don't want to buy some and guess the size incorrectly, I was wondering if anyone has a similar set up and has already gone through this process.

Does anyone know the proper width and offset for a wide body like this?

I assume spacers will be needed? (since it currently has spacers)

Thanks in advance for your input.

Oh, and yes - if anyone is in love with these wheels they will be for sale once the new wheels are obtained and local buyers will be given a significant discount if they don't need to be shipped.

[Bill Verburg]

If you like the fit of what you have, ignoring the cosmetics of course, just measure what you have

here are the critical parts, you want to know the width and offset(ET) of what you have



ET =backspace - .5*overall width

subtract the width of any spacers from the ET calculation to get the installed ET

typical results are in the neighborhood of
9 ET 18
11 ET -8
but there are many idiosyncratic variables that affect these #s, each install will be slightly different

[moparrob]

Excellent response and right on point. Thank you that makes it very simple. Much appreciated.

Has anyone actually installed some 17 inch Fuchs on a widebody that may have pictures?

[WPOZZZ]

These are the Rota/Linea Corse Fox. The rear spacers were used. I can't remember if I ran the front spacers

[moparrob]

Bryan, are those 17 inch wheels? Are they 7 front and 9 rear?

What size rubber did you go with.

Looks great!

[Les Paul]

Some more 7x9 17's Rota/Fox 225 275's

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by moparrob

Bryan, are those 17 inch wheels? Are they 7 front and 9 rear?

What size rubber did you go with.

Looks great!

IIRC they were 7.5 x9 x 17, 275/40/17 R, 225/45/17 F. Personally, I'd go with the Euromeisters instead of the Rota because they are low pressure cast vs. gravity cast. Perhaps Rota changed production methods after the change to LC, but I'm not sure. You just can't beat the Euromeister prices. I have a set of 17 x 7 x 8 coming for my 77 930 and will probably run 225/45 and 245/40.

[jamesjedi]

Wide body conversion will use a different offset than the 930 - due to difference in trailing arms.

You can still use 930 offset, but will need a large spacer.

The 73 RSR had 15x9 at +3 offset, and 15x11 at -27 offset. 73 RSR did not use the wider 930 trailing arms.

[Bergo]

Originally Posted by jamesjedi

The 73 RSR had 15x9 at +3 offset, and 15x11 at -27 offset. 73 RSR did not use the wider 930 trailing arms.

good to know! I've got a '74, currently has early steel trailing arms, but updating to SC aluminum trailing arms, and hoping to order some Fikse wheels in the not too distant future in 9"&11"x17", currently running 7"&9"x16" with spacers

[jamesjedi]

There are many threads that cover offsets for conversions....it can be confusing.

[moparrob]

Thanks for all the useful info.