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Spacers (adapters), Aftermarket Wheels, and Differing Bolt Patterns

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Old Mar 31, 2018 | 02:18 PM
  #1  
Lurbie's Avatar
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From: Davison, MI
Car: 89 Camaro
Engine: Dart SHP 400-Holley Terminator EFI
Transmission: Tremec T56 Magnum F
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 3.55:1
Spacers (adapters), Aftermarket Wheels, and Differing Bolt Patterns

So it seems many of the desirable aftermarket wheels for our cars will require spacers, but what is everyone doing in regard to bolt patterns? Sure I can find some wheels in 5x4.75, but there are so many more that are 5x120, and without going to no-name eBay stuff I'm not finding 5x4.75 to 5x120 adapters (except one place that wants $300 for a set). I know this might spark a debate on whether it's OK to ignore this difference or not, but PLEASE don't start that argument. I want to do it without any worry. Are you guys finding adapters to change the bolt pattern or are you doing something else? I saw wobble nuts, which is a cool idea, but I'd rather just buy the right adapterr. If you're buying adapters to go to the 5x120 who did you buy from?
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Old Mar 31, 2018 | 06:22 PM
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//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
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From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
Re: Spacers (adapters), Aftermarket Wheels, and Differing Bolt Patterns

Correct parts cost money.
Most people just bolt the 5x120 wheels to the car and hope for the best. Terrible idea but people will flame me for saying that.

If you must buy a wheel that requires a.spacer, then expect to pay good money for the proper spacer.

If you spend a little more, you can get higher end wheels that don't need spacers.
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Old Mar 31, 2018 | 08:07 PM
  #3  
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From: Ontario, California
Car: 1992 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Spacers (adapters), Aftermarket Wheels, and Differing Bolt Patterns

They don't make adapters for 5x4.75 to 5x120 because the difference is to small. Everyone uses the same spacers to fit a 5x120 bolt pattern as a 5x4.75. make sure you use hub centric spacers and you will not have any issues.
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Old Mar 31, 2018 | 08:54 PM
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From: Davison, MI
Car: 89 Camaro
Engine: Dart SHP 400-Holley Terminator EFI
Transmission: Tremec T56 Magnum F
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 3.55:1
Re: Spacers (adapters), Aftermarket Wheels, and Differing Bolt Patterns

Originally Posted by //<86TA>\\
Correct parts cost money.
Most people just bolt the 5x120 wheels to the car and hope for the best. Terrible idea but people will flame me for saying that.

If you must buy a wheel that requires a.spacer, then expect to pay good money for the proper spacer.

If you spend a little more, you can get higher end wheels that don't need spacers.
My issue is that I want a grey wheel with 5 concave single spokes (or dual spokes close to each other), machined or polished face, and deep dish machined or polished lip. Without going to a full custom, sometimes 2 or 3 piece wheel at $1k/wheel or higher I'm just not finding what I wanted in an 18x9.5 wheel (so I'm trying to stay at or under $300/wheel). The TSW Mechanica is close if I could get it in grey with machined spokes instead of grey with black spokes, but even that has the wrong offset and bolt pattern for a third gen.
I'm with you in that I am not comfortable just throwing a 5x120 on there and hope for the best. I could use wobble nuts, but at that cost I think the better choice is to buy the custom spacers. I also read your write-up on the pcd correction, but I'm afraid I'd screw it up and I'm not real eager to go cutting on a brand new wheel either.
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Old Apr 14, 2018 | 11:53 AM
  #5  
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From: Kingston, ON
Car: 1985 Trans Am
Engine: 350
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Re: Spacers (adapters), Aftermarket Wheels, and Differing Bolt Patterns

If you're fine with adapters, just get 5x4.75 to 5x4.5 or 5x100 or whatever you want. Pick the wheels you like in an offset that will work and order adapters to suit them. I'd say that 5x4.5 (5x114.3) has the most aftermarket options available.
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