Rims for my 70... help

[lts70]

I think I have found the rims I want to get for my truck. I have a 1970 chevy truck that is lowered 3.5" in the front and 4" in the back. My back tires are 285 70 R15 - Fronts are 255 70 R15 right now. What rim width and back spacing would you guys suggest? Here is the sizing options from his ad and a pic.

15x4.5 5x4.5 2" back spacing

15x4.5 5x4.75 2" back spacing

15x6 5x5 3.75" back spacing

15x7 5x4.5 4" back spacing

15x7 5x5 4" back spacing

15x8 5x4.5 3.75" back spacing

15x8 5x4.75 3.75" back spacing

15x8 5x5 3.75" back spacing

15x10 5x4.75 4.00" back spacing

15x10 5x4.5 4.00" back spacing

15x10 5x5 4.00" back spacing

Thank you.

[lts70]

Jwn1975 bought some 15-7 and 15-8 with 225-70-15 275-60-15 from this same guy. His drop was 5.5” in the front and the back sits 1.75” higher than the front. Here is a pic of his truck.

[72BlckButy]

Are you running the stock '70 rear end? During the 67-72 years, they actually made two different rearends, one longer than the other. This will definitely affect the BS.

Jwn1975 has a sweet little truck, and the wheel/tire combo looks just right IMO.

[jwn1975]

I had the 15x10 for the rear and sent them back. Way to wide and 1980 all over again! You may be able to get away with the 15x8 for the front but i dont think the tires will tuck.

[lts70]

Thanks jwn1975. That is exactly what I was wondering myself, wether to go 8's in the front and 10's out back or what you did. I love the look of your truck so I guess I know my answer. So you got the 15x7 5x5 4" back spacing and 15x8 5x5 3.75" back spacing or did he have other back spacing available? Do you think the tire sizes I have know will work? Thanks for the help.

[jwn1975]

The above that you said is ecactly what i have. If something is wrong, the guy is good about unmounted exchanges.

[lts70]

Yes it has the stock posi rear end. Where do I messure to see which one I have? Or can I pull numbers off of the rearend to find out? I have 5lug in the front and will need to have my back axels re-drilled from 6lug to 5lug.

Thanks again jwn1975, If you check your user CP you will see I left you some reputation points. Do you know if you have the long or short rearend in your truck?

[chevy_mike]

I was able to measure between the back of the brake backing plates, where the bolts mount the backing plates to the axle. You should be roughly 57" or 58.5" IIRC.

[lts70]

Thanks chevy_mike, I will crawl under the ol truck tonight and see what I have got.

[lts70]

A few questions for you guys. I talked to the guy selling these rims about ordering 7" rims for the front and 8" for the back and he was cool with doing that for no additional charge, and when I looked closer at his ebay add it already said you could missmatch sizes at no additional cost. My question is should I do this or just 8" rims all the way around? My tire sizes are, backs - 285 70 R15 - Fronts are 255 70 R15. Is a 7" rim to narrow for my front tire size or will it be o.k.

Also he said to just order from him by email using paypal instead of using ebay. Should I do that or does going through ebay give me more protection than just paypal. Does it save him alot of money to skip ebay? If so, should I ask for a price cut? The rims are $449 and for shipping to Utah he charges $81. Thats a $530 total. I guess I could figure how much it would save him on the $449 and split the difference with him. Does any one know how much ebay charges the seller?

[Leo70]

I'm not sure on your first question, but Ebay fees are determinded by the final price. They get charged a % of that ( Up to 12 % ) this is their table of fees for EBAY Motors. Also it sounds like the guy has a business in that case buying outside of Ebay is no different than ordering a part online, in which case I recomend to pay with a credit card that offers protection for online purchases. You can still do that through paypal.


Final Value Fees
Price
Final Value Fee

Item not sold
No Fee

$1.00 - $25.00
12.00% of the closing price

$25.01 - $100.00
12.00% of the initial $25.00 ($3.00), plus 8.00% of the remaining closing value balance

$100.01 - $1,000.00
12.00% of the initial $25.00 ($3.00), plus 8.00% of the initial $25.01 – $100.00 ($6.00), plus 4.00% of the remaining closing value balance $100.01 – $1,000.00

Over $1,000.01
12.00% of the initial $25.00 ($3.00), plus 8.00% of the initial $25.01 – $100.00 ($6.00), plus 4.00% of the initial $100.01 – $1,000.00 ($36.00), plus 2.00% of the remaining closing value balance ($1,000.01-closing value)


I hope this helps you out a bit.

[desertrat]

I say go with the 8" rear 7" front combo like jwn did.

[john@thepier]

I like to buy matching rims and tire for my trucks. This gives me the ease of rotating my wheels and tires around the truck for more milage out of them. Unless you need the look get matching. John

[LuckyHenriksen]

Uh oh, I just ordered 15x10 from the same guy, I hope they aren't too wide! Oh well they will just have to stick out!

[Wootdog]

I had P295/60/15s on the back of my 68 for along time with Centerlines 10 inches wide with no problems. I don't remember what the backspacing is. I can look tomorrow if that will help.
Kerry

[LuckyHenriksen]

I think if the backspacing is like 7 inches or something like that it will tuck the 10 inch wheels.

Wait maybe i mean a 12 inch wheel????? dont listen to me im crazy

[OARNGESI]

Hey im not sure about that ebay chart they charged me to sell a truck i never sold the parts board here and craigslist are way cheeper

[LuckyHenriksen]

they drill new holes so you can install new studs to make it a 5 lug without buying new axles

[lts70]

Thanks Leo70,So mine would be the $100.01 - $1,000.00 bracket

12.00% of the initial $25.00 = $3
8.00% of the initial $25.01 – $100.00 = $6.00
4.00% of the remaining closing value balance = $14

So he is saving around $23 dollers by having me skip ebay.I wonder if I should go after $23. Part of me says not to be that picky. But the other part that has been saving up money for rims the last few years thinks $23 is worth saving. Am I the only one with a split personality?

john@thepier, I agree about having the same size wheels and tires around the truck to get more milage out of them. But I already have my different size tires and I am going more for looks as I like the little rake it gives my truck. I am also hoping the 7" rims in the front help the tire tuck in a bit more to help with rubbing.

desertrat, Thanks I think I will go 7" front and 8" back, I was just woried about my front tires fitting the rims. I called the guy and he said they should fit fine, I just wanted to double check with the experts here on the board.

cadiman67, this is what I have in mind for the 6 to 5 lug conversion, I got it off of this site some where.

"The flanges are not hardened and take to welding without problems. Use a MIG on hottest setting with E70S steel wire. Insert 7/16" rod plugs before welding each side and then dressed the drum/back side with a small grinder.After you weld the holes shut in the 30 spline axles, take them to a machine shop along with 2 new 1/2" studs and a new 72 rear brake drum. Machinist will turn down the outside middle flange center to fit the 72 drum center (2wd rear brakes on both the 67 and 72 are 11x2). When they cut down the center you may want to have them create a concentric step to ensure centering the brake drum and easy off.The Machinist will then lay the 72 drum on the axle flange and mark the holes and place the 5 holes to fit 5x5 instead of 6x5.5. The machine shop will place and drill new holes to fit 1/2" serrated studs. If your machinist has a broach machine that’s great, if he just straight drills them put a tack weld on the back of each serrated stud, they will spin in the axle over time and wheel changes.You May Have to pull the studs in with a breaker bar and used grease to keep things from gulling up."

[Leo70]

LOL, Look at it this way he either pays Ebay or splits it with you, he is still saving some. Besides you might be surprised what you can get just by asking. I say go for it...

[lts70]

I forgot to ask you guys about my rear axle. I measured it and it is 58 1/4" from backing plate to backing plate. So with the width of the 1/4" mounting plates it would be the 58 1/2' axle mentioned above. Is that the axle that can be easily converted to a 71-72 5lug with just swapping out the inner axles? I might have found some 71 inner axles here locally and if they would just slip in I might just go with them instead of re-drilling the my 6lugs.

Leo70 your right I couldn't hurt to ask.

[lts70]

My wife ordered the rims as a suprise and told me on Christmas. I was wondering if any one knew a good place to buy American racing caps like the ones in this picture. I was hoping I could fit these knock off rims with a better looking center cap.

[LuckyHenriksen]

The only way to get them cheaper is if you found a used set, or maybe another store will have them for a few bucks cheaper. Check on AR's site and see how much they want for them there. Thats why I never bought caps or trim rings for my ralleys, they want like 25 bucks apiece for this stuff

[desertrat]

I am (inpatiently) waiting to see pictures of it when you get the wheels installed.

[lts70]

desertrat I am (impatiently) waiting to take pictures of it when I get the wheels installed. First I have to figure out what I am going to do with my rear 6lug problem. I already have the 5lug rotors for up front but I still need to figure out If I am going to try to modify my old axles or purchase new or used 5lug axles to switch over the back. I need to go get some quotes from some machinist and also look up prices for new ones to compare my options. I thought I had some used ones lined up but the guy flaked on me. Then I also have to get new brakes and drums for a 71 or 72.

Any guidance or suggestions would be appreciated!!!