Confirm my backspace please

[usa-69z]

Guys , can you confirm that i have ordered the right backspace for my 69 camaro. 18 x 10 with 5.75 b/s & 18 x 8 with 4.75 b/s.
i know 9.5 with 5.5 is the norm on rear but squeezin' a bit more in the rear.
Am i right ???


thanx ,

Gav

[Swain]

Sounds about right, be careful with tires

[Steve Chryssos]

The answer is maybe. I've got 18x10's on my 68, so I get asked this question a lot! A 9.5" wheel is a relative no brainer on a 1st gen Camaro, while a 10" wheel requires quite a bit of planning, some tweaking and usually more money in the form of custom backspaced wheels. But the temptation of "stuffing" your wheelwells can be undeniable. Here are some tips for everyone who can't resist:

1) Measure twice, cut once: The old adage can be applied here--especially since measurements will more than likely vary from side to side.
2) Backspace measurements are absolute: Manufacturer quoted backspace measurements include the bead. While wheel width measurements exclude the bead, back spacing is measured from the mounting pad to the rear edge of the wheel including the bead. So a 10" wheel is really 11" wide, but 5.75" backspacing is exactly that: 5.75"
3) Compensate with thin spacers: People think I'm nuts for suggesting this, but you can perfectly nail your backspacing with the help of thin spacers. I recommend Baer's billet wheel spacers. (i.e. Baer part number 2000008 .250" spacer) They're sold for specific bolt circles. And they're solid 6061 billet aluminum so they won't crack like junk cast universal spacers. Say your measurements suggest 5.5" backspacing. Order your wheels deeper at 5.75" back and then shim them out with spacers. Any local machine shop can turn them down to the exact thickness required per side. You might need .150" on one side and .250" on the other side. All said and done, your wheels will fit evenly on both sides with little or no rubbing--just like the pros. You will need to make sure that your wheel studs are long enough. Make sure or die.
4) Rubbing: You're pushing wheel width to the limit. Despite your best efforts, one or both tires may rub. It's better to bias clearance towards the wheel arch lips rather than the inner wheel house. The lips will cut a tire down sooner than later. Sidewall rubbing against the inner wheelhouse is usually no big deal. Or if you want perfection, be prepared to roll those lips.

Hope that helps
/Steve

[DriverzInc]

Originally Posted by streetfytr68

The answer is maybe. I've got 18x10's on my 68, so I get asked this question a lot! A 9.5" wheel is a relative no brainer on a 1st gen Camaro, while a 10" wheel requires quite a bit of planning, some tweaking and usually more money in the form of custom backspaced wheels. But the temptation of "stuffing" your wheelwells can be undeniable. Here are some tips for everyone who can't resist:

1) Measure twice, cut once: The old adage can be applied here--especially since measurements will more than likely vary from side to side.
2) Backspace measurements are absolute: Manufacturer quoted backspace measurements include the bead. While wheel width measurements exclude the bead, back spacing is measured from the mounting pad to the rear edge of the wheel including the bead. So a 10" wheel is really 11" wide, but 5.75" backspacing is exactly that: 5.75"
3) Compensate with thin spacers: People think I'm nuts for suggesting this, but you can perfectly nail your backspacing with the help of thin spacers. I recommend Baer's billet wheel spacers. (i.e. Baer part number 2000008 .250" spacer) They're sold for specific bolt circles. And they're solid 6061 billet aluminum so they won't crack like junk cast universal spacers. Say your measurements suggest 5.5" backspacing. Order your wheels deeper at 5.75" back and then shim them out with spacers. Any local machine shop can turn them down to the exact thickness required per side. You might need .150" on one side and .250" on the other side. All said and done, your wheels will fit evenly on both sides with little or no rubbing--just like the pros. You will need to make sure that your wheel studs are long enough. Make sure or die.
4) Rubbing: You're pushing wheel width to the limit. Despite your best efforts, one or both tires may rub. It's better to bias clearance towards the wheel arch lips rather than the inner wheel house. The lips will cut a tire down sooner than later. Sidewall rubbing against the inner wheelhouse is usually no big deal. Or if you want perfection, be prepared to roll those lips.

Hope that helps
/Steve

Could not have said it better myself. What size tire are you going to run, 275/40/18? Tire size will make all the difference too....

[usa-69z]

Awsum info Steve ,you have nailed pretty much everything there. I thank you.
I have just ordered some billet 3 piece rims (yesterday) and started to get a bit anxious on wether i did get the right combo. Just in case i had to make a qwik call to change things.
Im running the tried and tested 17 x 9.5 with 275 rears now, But im wanting bigger. ..i will stik with the 275 tyre though.
Im gunna try the g-force Kd goodrich tyres this time too.

Gav

[buickfunnycar.com]

Originally Posted by usa-69z

Awsum info Steve ,you have nailed pretty much everything there. I thank you.
I have just ordered some billet 3 piece rims (yesterday) and started to get a bit anxious on wether i did get the right combo. Just in case i had to make a qwik call to change things.
Im running the tried and tested 17 x 9.5 with 275 rears now, But im wanting bigger. ..i will stik with the 275 tyre though.
Im gunna try the g-force Kd goodrich tyres this time too.

Gav

A 245/45 or 245/40 front with a 275/40 rear should be just about perfect on those wheels Gav...

[Steve Chryssos]

Originally Posted by usa-69z

...Im running the tried and tested 17 x 9.5 with 275 rears now, But im wanting bigger. ..i will stik with the 275 tyre though.
Im gunna try the g-force Kd goodrich tyres this time too.

Gav

Well that's great news because you can use your existing combination to really get in there and measure clearances all the way around. With that info in hand, you might squeeze a 285

[usa-69z]

Originally Posted by DriverzInc

Could not have said it better myself. What size tire are you going to run, 275/40/18? Tire size will make all the difference too....

Jon , 'off topic' do you have the 'speed tech kit' on shelf ? a-arms and coilovers etc. (69 cam) Ill be in cal first week of june and want to buy parts off shelf.(in stock)

Cheers, Gav