is it possible to put front wheel drive wheels on a rear wheel drive car

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Mar 25, 2002 | 10:56 PM
  #1  
just wondering. and another thing. since everyones been really helpful i am going to give anyone that wants a free 41 page filled with wholesale sites to get rims,tires,exhaust and anything you can think for 50 to 85 % off. all you got to do is put your email address in the post and i will send it
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Mar 25, 2002 | 10:59 PM
  #2  
ya with bolt on spacers. Depending on the wheel, they might not be strong enough to be on a heavy thridgen.
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Mar 25, 2002 | 11:13 PM
  #3  
You're not thinking of making a thirdgen front wheel drive are ya ?

Oh, and sign me up for that catalog, it can't hurt.

IROCurRiceBurner@aol.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 06:55 AM
  #4  
Put me down, ttl52@hotmail.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 08:25 AM
  #5  
it's not like front wheel drive wheels are exclusive for front wheel drive cars and rear wheel drive wheels are exclusive for rear wheel drive car. The only real difference is that rwd wheels are generally low offset, and front wheel drive are higher offset, which can be fixed with a bolt on spacer as mentioned.

But bolt pattern is gonna screw you over, so you're not too likely to find something that's gonna fit, unless you get some custom spacers made up that actually change the bolt pattern.

f-bodies use a 5 x 4.75" (or 5 x 120.6mm) bolt pattern, which no front wheel drive cars use. In fact it's pretty much a GM only size. The closest thing is 5 x 120mm, which is the bolt pattern for most BMW's. There are hub centric rings out there you can use to put the 5 x 120 wheels on a 5 x 4.75" bolt pattern car, but that's about as far as you'll get with putting oddball wheels on an f-body.
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Mar 26, 2002 | 08:51 AM
  #6  
I put a rwd 94 camaro engine in a fwd celebrity it work out pretty good i forgot exactly what i had to do to make it work i can check and see if you need me to sign me up for that letter to mean89camaro@hotmail.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 11:18 AM
  #7  
add me to the mailing list
matt84ta@hotmail.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 11:30 AM
  #8  
I did it
I went to Billet spacers for my rim conversion. I had the stock 15s and wanted to go to 17s. I decided on my rims, sadly, after they discontinued them. Chrome 17in Niche Serpants. The only set of 4 I could get were for a front wheel drive Honda. I had the company who sold me the rims have spacer/adapters made to make them fit. They might have widened the stance slightly, but I am running wider tires than stock (245-45/R17). I think the stance is just right.

The set on my car not only works as a spacer, but it changes the lug pattern. The local wheel companies said not to do it. "The rims would not be secure." "They would cause it to vibrate at hwy. speeds." "They would break." "5 lug to 4 lug is going to put to much weight per lug", blah, blah, blah.

I got them anyway. They are Billet Aluminum with a lifetime guarantee. They are about 3 inches thick. They are made of 2 plates. One bolts to the stock 5 lug pattern and has 6 bolt holes the top plate has 6 matching holes. The top plate has 4 lugs that are a step up (to 1/2 in diameter lugs) from the factory lug diameter so they will handle the increased weight per lug. The plates are held together by 6 countersunk bolts. Complicated yes, but they work very well.

There is in fact less vibration at hwy. speeds. I have run them for over a year and a half & have had no driving problems. I even got run off the road where I ran over a rock that was about 6 in tall. Rims and spacers were fine. I plan to Autocrossing the car some this year.

The only problem I have had was in removing the 6 bolts that held the plates together. I was never told to use anti seize. Steel bolts into Billet aluminum, yuck. The heads of the steel countersunk bolts tried to fuse to the aluminum. We drilled the heads off the bolts and separated the spacer. Then the bolts came out with vice grips. And the spacer company sent new bolts for free, so all is good. If you get a similar set up to mine: Use antiseize where the aluminum spacers are held by the steel bolts!!!! All will be fine then.

I got my rims and spacers from Salesco out of CA. www.salesco.com Problem with them is they are slow and next to impossible to get on the phone. But they got the job done, so I can't complain.

Good luck!

Oh here is my email address: shaag@mindspring.com
Thanks!
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Mar 26, 2002 | 11:58 AM
  #9  
Re: I did it
Quote:
Originally posted by redraif
I went to Billet spacers for my rim conversion. I had the stock 15s and wanted to go to 17s. I decided on my rims, sadly, after they discontinued them. Chrome 17in Niche Serpants. The only set of 4 I could get were for a front wheel drive Honda. I had the company who sold me the rims have spacer/adapters made to make them fit. They might have widened the stance slightly, but I am running wider tires than stock (245-45/R17). I think the stance is just right.
i would like to see pictures of your setup.

Oh and upon further exploration, skulte and salesco among others, will create the spacers needed to do virtually any wheel swap. But it's not cheap by any means. You'll really have to like the wheels..lol
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Mar 26, 2002 | 01:32 PM
  #10  
Ive got 18" fwd rims on my car.I mdid use adaptors for that and 1/4 spacers on the rear for that 'stagered' stance.Theyve been on there for about a year and a half now and ive had no problems!
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Mar 26, 2002 | 01:41 PM
  #11  
add me to the list:
DBIronmen3@aol.com

Thanks man, Ted
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Mar 26, 2002 | 01:55 PM
  #12  
add me too please BryanJ28@aol.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 02:11 PM
  #13  
TheWraith:
Hey I got some shots of the spacers going on, but the files are too big. We have to size them down a bit and I will send you some shots of them as we installed them.

Here is a shot of the car from the rear so you can get an idea of the stance:

is it possible to put front wheel drive wheels on a rear wheel drive car-2002-breakdown.jpg  

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Mar 26, 2002 | 02:16 PM
  #14  
Here is a side shot so you can see the rims (5 lug to 4 lug):

is it possible to put front wheel drive wheels on a rear wheel drive car-2002-raif-side.jpg  

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Mar 26, 2002 | 02:41 PM
  #15  
I'll bite on the catalog. Sorry don't know much about the FWD rims...

higotoody@hotmail.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 06:18 PM
  #16  
redraif, that doesn't look half bad. what is on your windows? is that transparent?
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Mar 26, 2002 | 06:34 PM
  #17  
Add me to that list to please.

aj_92rs@msn.com

Thank you,
AJ
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Mar 26, 2002 | 07:36 PM
  #18  
Quote:
Originally posted by redraif
Here is a side shot so you can see the rims (5 lug to 4 lug):



yeah, good photoshop/psp job. first, your wheels are in the same "rotation" spot, but that might not be .

but the 91-92 camaro ground effects, and solid red window (without the weather stripping nonetheless is still.
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Mar 26, 2002 | 07:36 PM
  #19  
Whut the heck PopaPork@hotmail.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 07:57 PM
  #20  
add me.
brihoop@yahoo.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 08:02 PM
  #21  
I'll take it look at it

Zmranger02@cs.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 08:19 PM
  #22  
XChris1632X@hotmail.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 08:31 PM
  #23  
i have zr1 rims on my iroc conv.its about the math,figuring the offset and adapter size. irocdan@hotmail.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 08:35 PM
  #24  
put me down for the catalog too.. camaroguy72@aol.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 10:20 PM
  #25  
Sign me up for it too: spifout22@aol.com
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Mar 26, 2002 | 10:50 PM
  #26  
Quote:
Originally posted by SlowCamaro88SC





yeah, good photoshop/psp job. first, your wheels are in the same "rotation" spot, but that might not be .

but the 91-92 camaro ground effects, and solid red window (without the weather stripping nonetheless is still.
Fine if you need more pics to prove the car is real.

www.cardomain.com/id/redraif

Everything is real. I would throw some shots your way, but they are on my work computer. The rim rotation was a fluke. Kind of cool though. If you look at the rear tires you can see the drum brakes that are red, so I must be one heck of a photoshopper.

As for the tint, It is red mirror. The shots were taken on the side of teh road on a very foggy day, so the windows are reflecting the glow.

is it possible to put front wheel drive wheels on a rear wheel drive car-beach.jpg  

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Mar 26, 2002 | 10:52 PM
  #27  
Another for the disbeliever:

is it possible to put front wheel drive wheels on a rear wheel drive car-hood.jpg  

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Mar 26, 2002 | 10:58 PM
  #28  
Some more I found. This was before the side ground effects in 2000. Same for the next pic.

is it possible to put front wheel drive wheels on a rear wheel drive car-side01.jpg  

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Mar 26, 2002 | 10:59 PM
  #29  
Last one

is it possible to put front wheel drive wheels on a rear wheel drive car-side02.jpg  

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Mar 26, 2002 | 11:01 PM
  #30  
Quote:
Originally posted by redraif
Another for the disbeliever:
OMG!! What the hell did ya do to that Firebird!! Man I feel so bad for that Firebird. If there were to ever be a "riced out" version of a thirdgen, I think that one cuts the cake, rice cake that is. I certainly hope it is a figment of Photoshop imagination, PLEASE have it not be real!
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Mar 26, 2002 | 11:05 PM
  #31  
thats a cool car redraif. i like it.
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Mar 26, 2002 | 11:06 PM
  #32  
The lack of weatherstripping?!
I had the window partially down, if you are refering to the large black band at the top of the window. At the bottom of the glass it is because I took the pic from across the road at a slightly upwards angle due to the hill that was there.

Ya happy now!!
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Mar 26, 2002 | 11:18 PM
  #33  
Quote:
Originally posted by ChevyLuva3

OMG!! What the hell did ya do to that Firebird!! Man I feel so bad for that Firebird. If there were to ever be a "riced out" version of a thirdgen, I think that one cuts the cake, rice cake that is. I certainly hope it is a figment of Photoshop imagination, PLEASE have it not be real!
Its real and I like it. None of the cookie cutter stuff for me. Its a show car which means it has to be flashy. Stock will not cut it in that arena, or you are wasting your time. Believe it or not the car is still considered too stock for most shows.

As for what how it does at shows...I managed to place 2nd in the heavy modified custom class at the Southern Trams Am Regional Show in Pensacola, FL. March 15-17th. I was up against 13 4th gens and one other 3rd gen. An anniversary bird got first. Not bad for a daily driven bird with 140,000 miles on it.
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Mar 27, 2002 | 08:02 AM
  #34  
i won't judge the car because it's different, it's your car, do what you want, but why in hell do you still have a 2.8?

If you have a look that drastic, i'd think you'd want to back it up.

I get some **** for my car, vette lights and all, but the fact is, i got the goods under the hood to back it up.
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Mar 27, 2002 | 09:05 AM
  #35  
I kinda like the car, not sure about the red windows, but its not bad, I like the headlights, prolly wont do it to mine, just cause I dont have the ambition, but its cool, good luck at shows,

are you still passin out the wholesale list

Brian71583@att.net
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Mar 27, 2002 | 10:38 AM
  #36  
V-8: By the end of the year
The reason I do not have an 8 yet...I have had this car since 89. I got it when I was 15. I decided...this car is something I wanted to create, not pay someone to create for me. I'm a girl with no car mechanic background. My dad paid shops to do the work, so I had to learn as I went little by little.

In the beginning...my ideas were not made, so I started creating them myself. In 2000, I looked around at a few car shows. This started the marathon. By the end of 2000, I went full swing. Being single, I was on a somewhat low buget and had to be restricted to mods I could do myself: stereo, lights, cold air induction, installing GFX from junkyard, & trim color changes. So the only work I paid for was the window tint, alarm, and body paint. The big dollar items were rims, tires, and hood.

But as long as the 2.8 ran I could not see spending the $5000+ for a base tune port swap, since I had no way to do it myself and it was my only car.

This year things changed, I am dating Joe now and my mother got a new car. So I get the wagon. Joe actually has a clue about cars and going to teach me as we go. Of course now, a simple tune port swap just will not due.
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Mar 27, 2002 | 10:38 AM
  #37  
catalog pleez...

bors1515@kettering.edu
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Mar 27, 2002 | 11:10 AM
  #38  
a catolog for me too please: j_hougnon@hotmail.com
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Mar 27, 2002 | 01:25 PM
  #39  
i'm sorry, but that car looks SO out there that I can't believe it's real. sorry, but the only that the CATCHES my eye that I truely like is the hood. You definately have a unique firebird.

sign me up too.

impala66@nconnect.net:hail:
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Mar 27, 2002 | 03:18 PM
  #40  
Quote:
Originally posted by SlowCamaro88SC
i'm sorry, but that car looks SO out there that I can't believe it's real. sorry, but the only that the CATCHES my eye that I truely like is the hood. You definately have a unique firebird.
Hey, thanks. Sorry I hit back so hard, I have just gotten some insane flames lately and I am a bit defensive.

The hood really changed the look of the car. It really surprised me. I have seen so many Ram Air hoods from other manufactures, I got used to the look of them. I was blown away by the pics when I got them developed. I have some from the car show I am going to scan this weekend that really show the aggresive look the hood produced. I think the modified headlights added to the look though.
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Mar 28, 2002 | 12:17 AM
  #41  
catalog here too please mtv200@hotmail.com
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Mar 28, 2002 | 09:06 PM
  #42  
kzad@udel.edu

thanks
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Mar 28, 2002 | 10:10 PM
  #43  
interesting car redraif . . .i liked the exhaust setup you got goin there you have a better angle pic then the one in your website?
thanks
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Mar 28, 2002 | 10:34 PM
  #44  
When I get the sub frame connectors installed in the next few weeks I will get some shots of it while it is up on the lift.
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Mar 30, 2002 | 10:22 PM
  #45  
autopaint88@yahoo.com
put me down also
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Apr 2, 2002 | 02:00 PM
  #46  
Here is what it takes to run FWD Rims
Pic of stock lug pattern

is it possible to put front wheel drive wheels on a rear wheel drive car-raif-002.jpg  

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Apr 2, 2002 | 02:16 PM
  #47  
Here is what it takes to run FWD Rims
Pic of the first plate that bolts to the existing lug pattern. You are left with 6 bolt holes for the 2nd plate to attach to the first:

is it possible to put front wheel drive wheels on a rear wheel drive car-raif-004.jpg  

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Apr 2, 2002 | 02:18 PM
  #48  
Here is what it takes to run FWD Rims
Here is the 2nd plate being attached to the first. You can see it has the new lug pattern for my FWD rims:

is it possible to put front wheel drive wheels on a rear wheel drive car-raif-003.jpg  

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Apr 2, 2002 | 02:43 PM
  #49  
catalog please nallstevenp@hotmail.com
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Apr 2, 2002 | 10:20 PM
  #50  
catalog please GuitarPlayerJP@aol.com
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