Need Help with Wheels!!!

[alskyline]

I am having trouble with finding wheels for my 72 SWB. I have lowered with 2.5 drop spindles and 4" in the back. Due to the Disc brake conversion on all four tires I also would like to have the wider wheels on the back to compensate for the increase in distance of the front wheels. First of all, I am struggling to find a wheel that has a compatible offset, secondly one that also comes in different widths. I want to put 18" Wheels on and then have two that have a width of 8.5 in the front and 10" width in the rear. I also converted my bolt pattern to the 6x5.5 because i really liked a wheel from KMC that they have now discontinued and I have learned that it wouldn't have fit anyway. I am learning a lot right now about wheels and tires. Here are my thoughts:
-1972 SWB
-Lowered 2.5/4
-6x5.5 Bolt Pattern
-18" Wheels with Widths of 18x8.5 and 18x10
-Tires 255/50/18 Front and 275/50/18 Rear

Can you all guide me to manufacturers that can accommodate this?
Any ideas are welcomed also.
Please correct me if I am completely wrong also.

[sneakysnake]

Ive found that 6 lug choices are very limited.If you have the bucks Boyds has a set with rim sizes and widths but are pricey.Crager has one but limited sizes.
I suggest google image "6 lug rims" it will let you know whats available.

[alskyline]

Yes, I did find the Boyds but WOW, they are expensive.

[alskyline]

What about spacers? Can you equal out the length in the rear by using them? Do they exist?

[my67chevytruck]

american Racing etc. should have some as well. some may be custom builds. go to discount tire, or tirerack.com etc. and see what wheels are available in the size, backspacing, etc. you want.

[ap2002]

you aint going to find many choices, either boyd or a custom made wheel and they all going to cost! and if you are going to pay might as well go wide and maybe bigger like a 20x10 in the rear.... i had the same issue, mine was converted 5lug disc brake in the front.... but i settle fro some eagles for now until maybe 2-3yrs when i get the body/paint work done.... it is hard to find a wheel that makes both 5lug (front) & 6lug (rear) especially in a 18"+ size....

here is pics of mine, 15x8 in the front and 16x10 in the back with a 295x50x16. i like how the wide looks plus it tucks in perfect! since these pics, i raised the truck from the front, and put some 245/60 instead of the 275/60 and it looks alot better now...

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[short-t]

I feel your pain! I just did a 3.5/5 drop and drum to disk conversion on my 68. The truck had a nice set of AR Moab 17X10 with 4.5 B.S. all the way around. They fit and looked pretty good but now they stick out on the front due to the extra width the disk conversion adds.

So now comes the pain. I was going to convert to 5 lug while I was doing the brake conversion but decided to keep it 6 lug due to the cost of the complete build (LS2 going in as well). So I start to look at 6 lug wheels and there really isn’t much to choose from that have custom offsets etc. So I started planning to do the 5 lug conversion and new wheels. The wheel that my wife and I both liked is the Billet specialties Vintec dish in a 17 or 18. On their web site the specs only show it in 5 lug so I gave them a call to see if they could drill it 6 X5.5 and they said they could as long as the wheel is 17” and bigger. What a relief! Now I don’t have to do the 5 lug swap and we found a set of hot wheels that I can get custom back spacing to fit this truck.

Here is a couple of pictures of the Vintec, one dished one without. I also like the fact that it has the center cover to hide all those lug nuts.

[short-t]

Originally Posted by ap2002

you aint going to find many choices, either boyd or a custom made wheel and they all going to cost! and if you are going to pay might as well go wide and maybe bigger like a 20x10 in the rear.... i had the same issue, mine was converted 5lug disc brake in the front.... but i settle fro some eagles for now until maybe 2-3yrs when i get the body/paint work done.... it is hard to find a wheel that makes both 5lug (front) & 6lug (rear) especially in a 18"+ size....

here is pics of mine, 15x8 in the front and 16x10 in the back with a 295x50x16. i like how the wide looks plus it tucks in perfect! since these pics, i raised the truck from the front, and put some 245/60 instead of the 275/60 and it looks alot better now...

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Nice 68! Would you know what the back spacing of your wheels are? Just trying to get some idea of were mine should be, I can't measure mine until I get the box and front clip back on.

And does your truck still have the 68 rear end in it??

Thanks,
Greg

[cdowns]

i spent 2minutes on google found that american racing alone makes 41different wheels for your 6lug application// have you tried looking for them?

[my67chevytruck]

been there done that. I know American Racing carried a bunch when i needed 6 lugs. didnt hurt that i worked for Discount tires for serveral years back in the day...

[alskyline]

Yes, I have looked at American Racing and I've been back there many times. The problem is that they don't have the same wheel in different widths.

[alskyline]

Thanks for all your help. This forum is great! I will keep looking and respond back with any solutions and pictures.

[short-t]

Originally Posted by alskyline

What about spacers? Can you equal out the length in the rear by using them? Do they exist?

Yes wheel spaces exist, looks like they go up to 1/2". Is that going to be enough?

Wheel spacers at Jegs-> http://www.jegs.com/p/Baer+Brake/759919/10002/-1

[cdowns]

call on the phone try talking to a live person to have them help build a wheel to your specs is an option

[tucnnuts]

guys is the conversion rotors diff from the 88 model 3/4 rotors(6lug ones)?....i used the 88 /89 rotors and spindles(some where in there) with the 71-72 model 3/4 lower a arms with the 88 lower balljoints....change out uppers balljoints with the 881/2 ton one i think, maybe the 3/4 ..might be the same cant remember...the studs will be 14mm by 1.5 ...i then milled down the hub center in the rear axle to fit the newer wheel centers and put 14mm studs in , you might could buy some axles from strange or somebody like that with the bigger studs already in them , i used the rear 6 lug rotors from like a 99 tahoe and made brakets for the calipers( they sell them too) but if you do have the axles cut down to save on the momey and dont change to the newer disc, have them leave enuff of the old hub center to re center the drum on the studs...this will give you all the lastest rim choices and offsets...just me think-n oh yeah , prob goin to have to drill the drum to fit the new studs too.