I have a 1982 Camaro that I’m wanting to put wheels on. The wheels it currently has are Cragar wheels but the way these cragars are, I am not able to measure them to get my bolt pattern. From the measurement I have gotten, I believe it’s a 5x5 but that doesn’t make sense. I’m sure it’s still a factory rear. Wouldn’t they be a 5x4.75?

 

As shown in your picture the PCD is 5x4.75

 

So than my bolt pattern is 5x4.75? I thought you had to measure from the outside of one stud to the middle of the other?

 

https://www.performanceplustire.com/...-bolt-pattern/

 

The graphics in that link are messed up, but the words describe the method the OP used.

Tirerack has a slightly different method that will make the number smaller, https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret....jsp?techid=92

And when in doubt, wikihow references a sweet little tool that takes out the guessing game, https://www.wikihow.com/Measure-a-Bolt-Pattern

 

Or you know, just go with 5 on 4.75 because it's a thirdgen and thirdgens are 5 on 4.75".

Might use a measuring tool that doesn't have a grip of play in the end too.

 

I did a quick geometry workup. This will give you the bolt circle.
Best to measure starting at the 1" mark on your tape measure instead of the end.

1) Measure center distance between adjacent studs
2) Bolt circle = (your measurement) * 1.7013

Or you can use this website, https://littlemachineshop.com/mobile...circle_dia.php

 

The graphic was OK my PC at home, but not this one. I think I pasted the wrong one.
I thought I was pasting in the adjacent x 1.701 link

 

I tried the method with using 1.701 and it came up with 4.89. Still not giving me much sadly.

 

I did a quick test where I put my front wheel on the rear and removed the top lug to see how much distance there was between the top of the stud hole and the stud itself. Than did the same with the front. Here’s what I got.

 

I wouldn't make a cheap wheel with with oblong holes to be your gold standard.

The bolt pattern is 5 on 4.75" unless somebody has done something super stealthy to trick us all.

 

The wheels that the previous owner put on are Cragar wheels and these ones are made to fit 4.5, 4.75 and 5.0 bolt patterns using a Conical Lug Nut with a washer. Not my opinion of a good wheel either hence why I’m trying to get new ones. And I’m not sure if he changed the rear end on it or not. I was told that it’s factory but he’s told me other things that I found weren’t the truth.

 

It's probably just measurement error. It's never going to come out to 4.75 on the dot.

82-2002 Camaros have a unique rear axle, not shared with any other car, with a mounting pad cast into the center section where the torque arm mounts. 100% of them rolled off the factory floor with 5 on 4.75" bolt pattern. No other axle from another car could possibly be swapped in without custom fabrication and welding on a plate-steel torque arm mount.

I applaud you for being careful though. If you want to settle your mind then cross-check the part number on those brakes in the picture and make sure it belongs to an 82 Camaro.

 

That's only 150 thousand off 4.75, that's probably within margin of error for using a tape measure to try and make the measurement.

Like QwkTrip said, all 82-92 F-body rolled off the line with 4.75" PCD. If you still have a torque arm center section under there the ONLY way to get something other than 4.75" would be to swap out the axles. Might behhove you to just find someone else with a 4.75" wheel and see if it fits up on your rear. Would only take a few minutes of your time since you don't have a measurement tool.

 

I’m trying that tonight. We’ll see how it goes.

 

Since it had "universal" wheels with slots, I'm going to say the wheels studs are bent. Replace them all.

 

Well, found out I have a 5x5 bolt pattern. Looks like I’ll need to continue looking for wheels as their are not a lot of options for 5x5.

 

Alrighty, good luck with that.

 

What axle is in the car? Have you pulled the drum to see if the axles are drilled for 2 patterns? Not sure why somebody would go through the effort to convert to 5x5

 

Axles are not drilled for two patterns and I’m not sure why the guy that built the car would’ve done 5x5 but than again, the guy also mounted the shocks upside down and didn’t know why it was hoping so much during burnout, launch and shifting lol

 

It's impossible to mount the shocks upside down

 

true.
I want to see the axle and suspension on the OP's car, but you something is fugged up to make that axle fit.

 

If you zoom in the pictures, I see what looks like a ladder bar contraption in place of the lca. That would explain a lot.

 

Good catch, that would explain the issue

 

Car is a drag car. Not street legal. Ladder bars and coil over suspension. Mounts on top and bottom of the shocks are exactly the same.