Got some new wheels: Boss 338's in 20x10 and 20x8.5

[Hickup pickup]

I think we should all boycot these wheels and use something else, I'll keep mine just as a reminder to others!

[brossow]

Originally Posted by Hickup pickup

I think we should all boycot these wheels and use something else, I'll keep mine just as a reminder to others!

Have fun with that.

Seriously, why would you boycott wheels that are being redesigned specifically to meet our needs?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by brossow

Have fun with that.

Seriously, why would you boycott wheels that are being redesigned specifically to meet our needs?

Because he already has these wheels. Everyone else boycotting them would mean he's the man vs. these becoming the next TT2.... or Coys.

[brossow]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Because he already has these wheels. Everyone else boycotting them would mean he's the man vs. these becoming the next TT2.... or Coys.

Ahh.... I missed the invisible winking smiley with that post.

[mentlmidget]

test

I typed a nice reply before, and it wouldn't post. I will edit this if it works.
about time.

I have a set of 20x8.5 boss 338 rims on my 86 c10 with 5x5 (127 mm x5) bolt pattern. The ONLY mod I had to do was a slight denting of the dust cap. Since my truck has a drop spindle and drop spring setup on the front, they do hit the inner fenderwell on tight turns and big dips in the road, nothing major. A little sheet metal fabwork and the problem should be solved (getting set up for bags anyway). My only suggestion would be to buy 20x10 for the rear. The rear is to short and the track from the rear to the front looks odd. The rear tires are inset compared to the front. Possible corrective behavior would be to:
#1- install a wider rear ($$$)
#2- install spacers (YUCK)
#3- install 20x10 for rear

I like the last option, but will wait until I have the rear bag mounts and setup installed.

[nlped]

Before you order them be sure and ask your salesman to contact Boss and have them verify that they will work and/or will take them back if they won't.

[VDOG]

When you say cheap, how cheap?
Also when I installed my Rallys on my 73 rotors and calipers disc brake conversion on my 69, I had to grind down the caliper, shape the contour to get the wheels on and not rub and make noise. Unless you go with a high end caliper.

[71'tahoe]

So I was at the swap meet yesterday and the salesman knew axactly what I was talking about and said they'd be ready soemtime next week he was from missorui(spl) Then said well you can add spacers..I said no I dont have room for spacers. He said well it was because the dust caps are from cheap places like advance auto and auto zone..I told him it was becasue the rotors needed turned down at the center where the wheel was slide over to center the wheel. He again said run spacers. At least he knew the wheels were being retooled..and had some what of a date..

On a side note did any one else try these on a 88-98 truck..I saw someone posted they wouldnt fit there either..I wold love to get a set for my 91 shorty project..

[nlped]

If they fit the 88-98, we would all be in great shape as there rotor "hat" and bearing cap are longer and larger in diameter. My '87 with the HD brakes actually uses the same width and diameter rotor as the '88 up trucks, but w/ a 1/2 stud. So I will know for sure hopefully this week.

[71'tahoe]

What a piain in the rear...guess thats how it goes when you copy someone elses wheels..They look dead on to a foose nitrous thrust...

I think the grey centers are the best as the chrome and gloss black wheels dont look right...

Hop we get these figured out..I have talked to 3 different boss dealers and they are all aware of the problems and they all said they are being fixed..so lets hope between your guy and the ones I have talked to they get this right..

[es67chevy]

I have two questions I'm hoping someone can answer:

1. What did these cost prior to this retooling? Ballpark figure is fine. In 20" size. Wondering if I will consider these or not.

2. How much diff is there in the narrower width rear end of 67-69 vs those of the 70-72? (Correct me if I'm wrong about the year cutoff- I'm a 67 so it won't really matter, but I don't want to be responsible for false information).

I want to know this so I can figure out if I'll need spacers or not for these wheels (if they ever come out)

[Hickup pickup]

i PAID $171.OO EA FOR MY 20s ,no they dont fit the 88-98 any better, and yes if you don't lower your 67-72 these will fit with a spacer deep enough to clear the centercap ears but you may still need to clearance the snout a bit. P.S. THERE ARE OTHER WHEELS OUT THERE!!!!!!!!

[mentlmidget]

Ok, I will go back to my own forum area.

[big_al_71]

I dont know if it is me or what but it definetly seems like way too much hassle to put a wheel that is just like anything else out there. but thats just me...good luck to all of you and post some picts once you install them...

[mentlmidget]

pics of boos 338 20x8 on 86 truck. Sorry if in wrong truck forum. I don't know if this helps. no spacers, no grinding, just a dust cap dent in the front.

[lolife99]

mentlmidget,...
Do you have a picture of the rotor or the backside of the wheel in the hub area?
Also your wheel look like they alot less backspacing than my 20x8.5's. Mine have a 5.25" bs. How much bs do your wheels have?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by es67chevy

I have two questions I'm hoping someone can answer:

1. What did these cost prior to this retooling? Ballpark figure is fine. In 20" size. Wondering if I will consider these or not.

2. How much diff is there in the narrower width rear end of 67-69 vs those of the 70-72? (Correct me if I'm wrong about the year cutoff- I'm a 67 so it won't really matter, but I don't want to be responsible for false information).

I want to know this so I can figure out if I'll need spacers or not for these wheels (if they ever come out)

1. I have around $700 in my complete set of 20's.
2. The early rearends are 3/4" (per side) narrower than the '71-'72 rearends.

[mentlmidget]

I will have to check and get back to you. I should have written down the info, but I didn't. I do have it, but alas, it is on the outer shell of the rim under the rubber.

[mentlmidget]

info as follows in inches:
backspace is 5.25 or (5 1/4)
hub diamber at widest piont is 3.125 or (3 1/8)
wheel hub diameter is 3.375 or (3 3/8)

again 5x5 bolt pattern (127mm x 5)
20x8.5 rim Boss 338
I was suprised to see that the dust cover wasn't dented on this side.
My truck is dropped with springs and spindles: 5 inches total.

[lolife99]

Thanks for taking time to measure and take pictures,... I appreciate the effort.
I wonder if you have the new wheel design?

I was really thinking you had less backspacing .
Like the Coys wheels,... they don't position the wheel center differently in the wheel hoop,... they just make the center hub thicker. That makes the outer lip the same no matter which offset your purchase.

But if yours is a 5.250" bs,... I'm stumped.

[lolife99]

mentlmidget,...
Out of curiousity,... does your truck have the "light duty" 1" thick rotors?
The hub area looks shorter on your rotors than
the pics that member Hickup Pickup posted.

[lolife99]

OK guys,... I may have this figured out.
Look at the first pic that member "Hickup Pickup" posted.
Look at the length of the center hub in relationship to the length of the lug studs.

Then,... look at the second pic that member "mentlmidget" posted.
If the center hub of the "light duty" 1" thick rotors is shorter,... that may cure our problems.

I'm going to the parts store tomorrow to purchase a 1" thick rotor and see if it will work on my 20x8.5 Boss 338's.

I'll keep everyone posted!

[mentlmidget]

Morning y'all

I quick dash to the truck and here is the following:
1 inch thick rotor
2 inch distance from braking surface to wheel mounting surface (aka height of rotor hat)

[SCOTI]

That sounds like the difference.... 1" Lt duty vs. 1.25" standard rotors. Mentlmidget, what's the measurement from the face of the hub (where the studs seat) to the end of the hub 'snout' (where the dust cap seats)?

In those pics, the hub snout also looks to be a smaller OD vs. the other rotors in the previous pics.

[lolife99]

JACKPOT!
Finally figured out what Boss Wheels did.
They designed these wheels to fit the 1" thick "Light Duty" rotors.

I had the answer under my nose all the time.
After seeing mentlmidget's pics (thanks again for posting and helping me solve this issue),... I decided I was going to go to town and buy a new 1" thick LD rotor to try my wheel on.

Then I remembered my extra '83 swb chassis I have. Luckily it had the 1" rotors on it. So,... out I go first thing this morning to check the fit.

THAT'S IT!
Done.
Problem solved,... for me anyway.

I hadn't order my new drop spindles yet for my '86 Dropmember Project,... but now I know to get the light duty version from Belltech.

This does cause a problem with me putting these wheels on my '69,... since I already have the 1.25" thick rotors on it.
It also means that anyone wanting to put the OLD VERSION of these Boss 338 wheels on a 63-72 with a 5-lug conversion,...
will have to use the 73-87 only, 1" thick rotor drop spindles or use a set of factory stock height 1" thick rotor spindles.

You can also see where the stock dust cover pushed out the Boss centercap about 1/8".
I think this can be fixed by using a hammer to dent the cap.

To say I'm happy is an understatement!