Score! 1970 Camaro -now what wheels?

[67blackbird]

New Year's Eve I saw an add for a 70 Camaro in Craig's List. New Year's day it was ours. It is a Colorado car- with minimal rust and fasteners that have been in place for 40 years, and just loosen with the turn of a screwdriver! We got it for $3.5K and it came with a few hundred dollars in parts. The plan is for my wife, son, and I to fix it over the next 5 years and my son can drive it when he turns 16.
The car is it has 3 wheels that match, and one flat tire. Of course the flat is on one of the wheels that match. https://lateral-g.net/forums/imag.../rolleyes1.gif The tires are OLD and dry-rotted, so they have to go. Also, if your son is going to drive it- it needs good brakes.
Unfortunately, there is a small budget. Forgelines are out, so I am looking at stock type wheels.
There are the 15 inch "Z28 style" wheels. They might be okay, not sure if the backspacing is right though.
Does anyone know if the later 17 inch wheels from a Corvette or 4th gen F-body will fit with some kind of wheel spacers? This would be good as I would have space for some better stoppers. Anyone done this or see this done?
Hopefully, attached is a pic of the car and some stock wheels that I am considering.
Thanks!

[Scorpner]

Congratulations on the find!

The 15" wheels are limiting but I think they do look good when painted as in this example: >Link

Full thread: Here

Here is also a list of rim dimansions for some Thirdgen and Corvettes, but it doesn't have anything for Second Gens. It does include a disclaimer but has been a popular reference for a while now.Here

[67blackbird]

Thanks!
Yes, the 15 inchers are limiting, but they do have the advantage of being cheap! Whatever I do, I need to get rid of the 14 in on there now- it just doesn't make sense to but new rubber for those wheels.

[onevoice]

for a second gen camaro, I like these from year One:

http://roadtrip.yearone.com/2009/10/...lly-wheel.html

They are a updated version of the original z28 five spoke rally wheels in a 17x9 version. Very cool and not outrageously expensive, ie the set costs less than one forgeline.

[youthpastor]

nice score- these cars are getting hard to find

[70rs]

Originally Posted by barraza

for a second gen camaro, I like these from year One:

http://roadtrip.yearone.com/2009/10/...lly-wheel.html

They are a updated version of the original z28 five spoke rally wheels in a 17x9 version. Very cool and not outrageously expensive, ie the set costs less than one forgeline.

X2^^^^^ 750.00 a set of four, not bad at all for 17's. And they stick with the original "style".

Nice find on the '70. I also have one (70 rs) and can't wait to get going on it again.

[67blackbird]

Those wheels are pretty good looking, but still too much money- sorry, my somewhat "higher end" car runs the much-maligned TTIIs, and just because I knew a guy who ran American Racing's copy machine maintenance contract and got an employee's discount!
So, I was looking at the base wheels for the 2010 Camaro- they are 18s, and a set with tires they sell for $500-$600 !!
My wife said too ugly, though. (And the 245/55/18s might be too tall for the wheel well.) She's right, they are ugly- to encourage you to buy better wheels.
Looks like I will be going with upgraded calipers on the stock front disks- Willwood or CCP.
Anyone try the Corvette/ newer Camaro OEM copy wheels with wheel spacers?

p.s. Removed the back window- no rust in the window channel! I love Colorado cars!

[NOT A TA]

I'd go to the junkyard and get one used tire that will hold air and put it on the wheel that keeps going flat. Leave the wheels with the dry rotted tires on it while you work on it as rollers. Use the money you were going to spend on wheels/tires toward other things for now. When it gets near the time you'll be registering the car, have your (then older) son search for used wheels with tires. By that time, there will be a lot more choices available for used 17" wheels and he will have a stronger opinion on what he'd like.

The accepted usable life of a tire is only 6-7 years reguardless of mileage because the rubber dries out. so buying used tires now and putting them on the car doesn't really make much sense because they will be unsafe by the time your son gets his license in 5 years. Here is just one of many reports that have been done recently on the lifespan of automobile tires. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24390155/

[70rs]

^^^^ Great point on the tires. I just read about some of the problems in the US market with old tires and there not being any kind of "use by" date from the manufacturers.

[67blackbird]

You are right, of course. That is what I should do, if the car is going to be driven only by my son. Except I wanna drive it!! And the wife said she'll drive it - once it is painted!
So, I am debating weather or not to re-wire it, while it is all apart. That will take SOME TIME. I had hoped that it could be a driver in a few months, hence the need for the tires. As these things go, it looks like a more involved project, so the tires will have to wait. (Turns out Coys is opening a store in Denver!)
Anyway, thanks for the replies, and I will put off buying something until it's closer to drive - able.