wheel fitment problems..please help!

[olskooljr]

I have a 67 Camaro. I just knew for sure that with everything stock, 18x9.5 Billet wheels with 5.5 backspacing would fit on the back. I've seen many Camaros on this site with 9.5 inch wide wheels on the back with 5.5 backspacing, but the shop that I took mine to said that mine would not fit. They say that there is not enough space in the inner wheel well and they will try spacers. Has anyone else with a 9.5 wide and 5.5 backspacing had this issue? Does anyone know of any minor adjustments that can be made to remedy this problem?


Anthony:_paranoid

[buickfunnycar.com]

'67-'68's don't have as much room in the wheelwells as the '69's do,the fitment you have works well on most all '69 models but all these cars are a hair off being mass-produced.
What size tires are you running?Spacers will probably cause you problems with your outer fender if you space them out too far as well...
First,find out exactly where they are making contact...might be something as simple as beating in the inner fenderwell with some heat and a BFH and voila...problem solved.:thumbsup:

[DriverzInc]

Very odd. You might consider a few things. First, who is the shop doing the work, and do they know how to accurately measure a car for custom wheels?
Second, In an 18x9.5, two piece billet wheel, you are going for an old school standard lip wheel. Just FYI. Might consider going to the Soft Lip size of 18x9, which then of course might help with your fitment problem, and/or may look better depending on your personal taste.

Who are you ordering the wheels from?

[olskooljr]

I ordered the wheels from Wheelsforless. I ordered the Billet Vintec wheel. I have a feeling we may be able to get them to fit, but maybe we just may not be able to lower the car. That sucks. I wanted to get a good stance. Wheelsforless said they wont take the wheels back....if it doesnt work out, dont be surprised to find the two rear 18x9.5s in the wheels for sale section. lol

[class67]

Dude, you should be fine...I run 18x9.5 (5.75 bs) on my 67 with no issues, and it's lowered!

[olskooljr]

yea, thats what i keep telling these fools. im going up to the shop tomorrow morning to see what the deal is. I know this size is done all the time.

[buickfunnycar.com]

Good luck to ya and post up pics when you get her home...:yes:

[olskooljr]

I will definitely be posting pics soon. I went to the shop this morning and they said theyll have to cut half of the inner fender lip on the quater panels and try beating the wall with a hammer and maybe spacers. seems like a lot to me, but I guess we'll see what happens.:rolleyes:

[jy211]

tell them to wait to cut until you see the wheels ON the car...

[MarkM66]

I will definitely be posting pics soon. I went to the shop this morning and they said theyll have to cut half of the inner fender lip on the quater panels and try beating the wall with a hammer and maybe spacers. seems like a lot to me, but I guess we'll see what happens.:rolleyes:


That makes no sense. If the tire is hitting the quarter panel to wheelhouse lip, then adding spacers would push the tire even closer to the quarter.

[olskooljr]

I'm confused myself. I think what the mechanic was saying is that he could barely get his finger between the back of the wheel, and the rear wheel well when there should be an inch of clearance. Then he also said that the outer lip of the rim is almost even with the quater panel and is worried that spacers will push the wheel out to far. I told him to see what he could do by beating the inner rear wheel well with a hammer a little bit to push the wheel inward some and if necessary the spacer would give more clearance back there. Then he also says he wont be able to lower the car like this.

[eville]

he could barely get his finger between the back of the wheel, and the rear wheel well when there should be an inch of clearance.

An inch of clearance ROFL. not with an 9.5" wheel and a 275 tire.

It ain't a hot rod if the tires don't rub!

[olskooljr]

Lol. What do you have on the back of your 68? Do your tires rub?

[MarkM66]

Take the car home on stock wheels, and put your 18's on yourself. Those guys are being a PITA.

You'll never beat the inner wheel houses in with a hammer, unless you really want to tear some sh!t up. You'd have to crush the upper trunk floor to accomplish this.

You don't need 1" of clearance either. 1/2" or so is just fine. Unless your rear bushings are totally worn out.

Get it home, and post some pics. They'll work. :thumbsup:

[DriverzInc]

I agree with Mark.

[olskooljr]

Cool, Im gonna just put them on and see what happens. Im tempted to just take the car out of the shop and take it somewhere else. I really took it to have a Wilwood brake kit put on among other things, but I bought some new Billet wheels and nitto tires during the process and then this issue came up. When I went to the shop this morning, they hadn't even started doing the work and the car had been there for a whole week! If they don't start making progress by next week, Im taking the car elsewere. anyone know of a good shop to on the east coast? BTW, Ill be posting those pics real soon. I'll probably call the thread, "67 Camaro with wheel problems is finished" Lol:D

[buickfunnycar.com]

Cool, Im gonna just put them on and see what happens. Im tempted to just take the car out of the shop and take it somewhere else. I really took it to have a Wilwood brake kit put on among other things, but I bought some new Billet wheels and nitto tires during the process and then this issue came up. When I went to the shop this morning, they hadn't even started doing the work and the car had been there for a whole week! If they don't start making progress by next week, Im taking the car elsewere. anyone know of a good shop to on the east coast? BTW, Ill be posting those pics real soon. I'll probably call the thread, "67 Camaro with wheel problems is finished" Lol:D

read between the lines on your post man...the car is at the wrong shop,plain & simple.:rolleyes:

[class67]

I think you need to the car out of "Billy Bobs" shop before you have bigger problems.:_paranoid

[olskooljr]

Yea, it appears that way, but they seem to have such a good reputation in the D.C. area. I see their logo on some of the windows of hotrods at car shows and the owner is supposed to be an "F=body specialist" who owns 2 first gen camaros, a firebird, and a few other muscle cars.....but he isnt the guy in the shop that is working on the car. There is a lack of competent muscle car builders in the area.