backspacing on 17" rims in front
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Houston Tx
Car: '82 Camaro (Sort of)
Engine: 377
Transmission: 400
backspacing on 17" rims in front
What is the most anyone has used?
I had 4.5" on my old 15's.
I want to use some 17x9's with 5" backspacing on the front.
Will they fit? Anyone care to venture a guess or relate any personal experiences with something similar?
I had 4.5" on my old 15's.
I want to use some 17x9's with 5" backspacing on the front.
Will they fit? Anyone care to venture a guess or relate any personal experiences with something similar?
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Paxton, MA
Car: 1987 Camaro Z28
Engine: 335 TPI Stroker
Transmission: Tremec TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt / 3.42
Well, i know for a fact that 17x9.5" works with 5.5" backspace... i am not sure about 17x9 with 5" bs though
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Houston Tx
Car: '82 Camaro (Sort of)
Engine: 377
Transmission: 400
You can fit 5.5" backspacing in the front?
I was worried about the tie-rod end. It's pretty close. Are the 17's large enough to get out side of it?
I was worried about the tie-rod end. It's pretty close. Are the 17's large enough to get out side of it?
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Aiken, SC
Car: 91 Z/28, 89 RS Race Car
Engine: 305 stock / ZZ4 AFR 195 9.7:1
Transmission: T5 / t10 / Jerico
Axle/Gears: 10blt w 3.42, 9 in w /3.80 DL
It should. If we are measuring back spacing the same way. Back spacing is the distance from the rim of the wheel to the mounting surface.
But the wheel measurment folks measure wheels sizes to the tire mounting point.
If wheel is 9.5 wide it is really 10.5 wide as measured by the ruller when laid flat on the ground. Many measure the tire mounting surface which is inside and of NO DAMN consequece at all.
So
a 9 inch wheel is really 10 inches and a
9.5 is really 10.5 inches
Here is where we are going...
10.5 less back space of 5.5 or (52% backspacing) = 5 inches from the outboard part of the wheel to the mounting surface.
10.0 less back space of 5.5 (or 55% back spacing)= 4.5 inches from the outboard part of the wheel to the mounting surface.
The only difference would be that the 9 in wheel would be further inside the wheel well by 1/2 in, but no closer to the tie rod ends.
I hope this helps. I figured this out when ordering custom wheels. Most of the people selling them have never measured them.
But the wheel measurment folks measure wheels sizes to the tire mounting point.
If wheel is 9.5 wide it is really 10.5 wide as measured by the ruller when laid flat on the ground. Many measure the tire mounting surface which is inside and of NO DAMN consequece at all.
So
a 9 inch wheel is really 10 inches and a
9.5 is really 10.5 inches
Here is where we are going...
10.5 less back space of 5.5 or (52% backspacing) = 5 inches from the outboard part of the wheel to the mounting surface.
10.0 less back space of 5.5 (or 55% back spacing)= 4.5 inches from the outboard part of the wheel to the mounting surface.
The only difference would be that the 9 in wheel would be further inside the wheel well by 1/2 in, but no closer to the tie rod ends.
I hope this helps. I figured this out when ordering custom wheels. Most of the people selling them have never measured them.
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From: Rutland MA
Car: 1 68 bird, 2 87 birds, a 92 bird...
Engine: carb'ed 305 in the 87, yuck...
Transmission: 700R4, for now....
Originally posted by 82esc
You can fit 5.5" backspacing in the front?
I was worried about the tie-rod end. It's pretty close. Are the 17's large enough to get out side of it?
You can fit 5.5" backspacing in the front?
I was worried about the tie-rod end. It's pretty close. Are the 17's large enough to get out side of it?
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,007
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From: North of Houston
Car: '82 Camaro 11.7@121
Engine: 377
Transmission: 400
Axle/Gears: Dana 44 / 3.31:1
Originally posted by bottledbird68
Yeah, it's close but it fit. If you're scared about clearance touch the edge of the tie rod for about 2 seconds with a grinder and you'll feel a lot better about it. You won't have to, but it may help you sleep at night
Yeah, it's close but it fit. If you're scared about clearance touch the edge of the tie rod for about 2 seconds with a grinder and you'll feel a lot better about it. You won't have to, but it may help you sleep at night
I don't scare that easy!

Thanks for the info.
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: North of Houston
Car: '82 Camaro 11.7@121
Engine: 377
Transmission: 400
Axle/Gears: Dana 44 / 3.31:1
I put the rims on today and there was PLENTY of room!
The 17x9's with 5" back spacing fit great. There is more clearance between the rim and tie rod than with the factory 16x8's.
Now I just have to see what size tire will fit. I'm hoping 275-40-17's. That way I can run the same size all the way around.
Maybe a Kuhmo V710?
The 17x9's with 5" back spacing fit great. There is more clearance between the rim and tie rod than with the factory 16x8's.
Now I just have to see what size tire will fit. I'm hoping 275-40-17's. That way I can run the same size all the way around.
Maybe a Kuhmo V710?
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From: Beautiful BC
Car: '88 IROC-Z / '91 Z28 / '91 GTA
Engine: LT4 Hot Cam 305 / L98 355 / MR 383
Transmission: 5-spd / 700R4 / 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3:45 / 3:23 / 3:23
...so just for the record (I'll be shopping for rims soon) you got four rims which are 17"x9", all with 5" backspacing?
get back to us and let us know if the 275-40-17's fit on all four corners.
get back to us and let us know if the 275-40-17's fit on all four corners.
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 8
From: North of Houston
Car: '82 Camaro 11.7@121
Engine: 377
Transmission: 400
Axle/Gears: Dana 44 / 3.31:1
Only 2 so far, but since they fit so very well in front I will be ordering 2 more just like them (17x9 5"bs) for the back today. My plan is to run the same rim/tire on all four corners.
Which will hopefully be 17x9(5"bs) w/275-40-17's.
Which will hopefully be 17x9(5"bs) w/275-40-17's.
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 8
From: North of Houston
Car: '82 Camaro 11.7@121
Engine: 377
Transmission: 400
Axle/Gears: Dana 44 / 3.31:1
OK, I tried 275-40-17's on the front and they fit, for the most part. They do rub the plastic insert that keeps dirt out of the wheel well, but if it were secured properly they wouldn't. Also my car is sitting WAY to high right now. When it is lowered to a reasonable level there should be more room.
BTW, furhter investigation revealed that these rims have zero (0) offset.
BTW, furhter investigation revealed that these rims have zero (0) offset.
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From: DC Metro Area
Car: 87TA 87Form 71Mach1 93FleetWB 04Cum
OK, how about I rephrase, far enough back so that you can see what they look like on the car.
One thing that I can tell right away, you either need a lot more tire or a lot less ride height.
One thing that I can tell right away, you either need a lot more tire or a lot less ride height.
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 8
From: North of Houston
Car: '82 Camaro 11.7@121
Engine: 377
Transmission: 400
Axle/Gears: Dana 44 / 3.31:1
Yep, like I said it is sitting WAY to high right now. I had to lift the whole car a couple of inches to keep the Hooker long tubes from dragging with 245-45-16's. With these I should be able to lower the car back to a more reasonable ride height.
I only have 2 17" wheels right now. I may put them both on one side and take a picture. But that won't be for a day or two. The other two should be here in a week or so.
I only have 2 17" wheels right now. I may put them both on one side and take a picture. But that won't be for a day or two. The other two should be here in a week or so.
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