For anyone wanting to convert the A body from 5x4 over to 5x4.5

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Well my desire to make it hub centric was based on paranoia, not necessity. Hub centric does not mean centered. It refers to where the weight of the vehicle will be displaced... ie the lugs or the hub of the axle.


Well, as long as we're resurrecting this thread.....

I'm pretty sure "hub centric" does in fact mean "centered".

Centric = center.
 
Well, as long as we're resurrecting this thread.....

I'm pretty sure "hub centric" does in fact mean "centered".

Centric = center.

Yeah no kiddin. back from the dead to argue some more. lol

What I don't get is why everybody's so scared of the small bolt pattern? There are plenty of wheels in 5x4 so that caint be it. At least plenty enough for ME. Plus, there are plenty of big brakes out there with the small pattern. I think some of yall are makin a big deal outta nuthin. But then, I'e always thought that when seeing people change to the large bolt pattern.
 
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This is easy if you don't mind two different bolt patterns and like the Rally Wheel.
I just ordered 2 wheels with the large pattern and 2 with the small pattern.
When I get around to installing my big bolt pattern 8 1/4" rear axle then I'll order 2 more large pattern wheels and offer up the 2 small bolt pattern wheels without the trim rings.

Can you tell without knowing ...

View attachment 1715183383

what kind of rims are those rally wheels, and where can i get those ?
 
Yeah no kiddin. back from the dead to argue some more. lol

What I don't get is why everybody's so scared of the small bolt pattern? There are plenty of wheels in 5x4 so that caint be it. At least plenty enough for ME. Plus, there are plenty of big brakes out there with the small pattern. I think some of yall are makin a big deal outta nuthin. But then, I'e always thought that when seeing people change to the large bolt pattern.

I am having a very hard time finding the rims I want, especially 15" in the small bolt pattern. If I could find the rims I wanted I would not change them over. I had small bolt pattern on my race car, and they made 15" centerlines back then for small bolt pattern. Can't find them now? If you know a place, let me know_ I really want the torgue thrusts in 15s?

I want the 15s partially for more clearence on my road.
 
I am having a very hard time finding the rims I want, especially 15" in the small bolt pattern. If I could find the rims I wanted I would not change them over. I had small bolt pattern on my race car, and they made 15" centerlines back then for small bolt pattern. Can't find them now? If you know a place, let me know_ I really want the torgue thrusts in 15s?

I want the 15s partially for more clearence on my road.
Boyd Coddington junkyard dog wheels are available in 5 on 4, and look like torquethrusts. But they are only available in 17x7, or 17x8, gray or polished.
The only tt lookalike for 5 on 4 that i know of.
Rallyes and steelies are available from summit in 15 inch sizes. Just enter the bolt circle in "narrow results ".
 
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Boyd Coddington junkyard dog wheels are available in 5 on 4, and look like torquethrusts. But they are only available in 17x7, or 17x8, gray or polished.
The only tt lookalike for 5 on 4 that i know of.
Rallyes and steelies are available from summit in 15 inch sizes. Just enter the bolt circle in "narrow results ".

Will 17x7s even fit without a super low profile tire?
 
Will 17x7s even fit without a super low profile tire?
Kinda depends on which car you have. I think it might, IF you can get the right backspace, and IF you get tires with the right profile and height.
I have a set of 17x7 and 17x8 (admittedly for a 55 chevy). I havent bought the front tires yet, but i have 255/50x17s on the rear. On a 4 1/2 b.s, 0 offset, 27" tall. They dont look like rubber band tires, and i like the wheels
The fronts are 17x7 with 4"b.s. also 0 offset. If you shop for a tire that has a height around 25" for the front, i think it could work.
 
Thanks for that. I really like the torque thrusts, don't want 17s, going to have to modify my wheel selection. It's just so much easier to stay 5x4. How much backspace I need on these? I am leaning towards the rally wheels, of course. It looks like they come in 4" backspace?

They come in "whatever" is listed there^^^^^

But yeah, I do get it. There's not a lot "off the shelf" for the small pattern. That doesn't bother "me" because I'm old and like what's available. LOL

Have you tried calling American Racing to see what custom wheels would cost? Since they DID make them at one time, it might not be really bad. Just a thought.
 
I might go with the rallyes though, do you know if the 4 inch back space works?

For the 15x6” rallye’s? Yeah a 4” backspace is fine. The track width of the SBP brakes is narrower, even a 15x7 with a 4” backspace would work.

With the 15x6 the widest you could go would be a 215/65/15 anyway, and with the SBP brakes that would be fine. As long as we’re talking stock SBP brakes and not an aftermarket kit, I didn’t go back and read everything.
 
For the 15x6” rallye’s? Yeah a 4” backspace is fine. The track width of the SBP brakes is narrower, even a 15x7 with a 4” backspace would work.

With the 15x6 the widest you could go would be a 215/65/15 anyway, and with the SBP brakes that would be fine. As long as we’re talking stock SBP brakes and not an aftermarket kit, I didn’t go back and read everything.

Going with 15x7 if can, don't really want very wide tires, and okay with 70-75 series. I live on a typical farm lava road in Hawaii. With the 13s it hits rocks in the road. With 15s with normal-ish aspect tires, clearance, ride, handling and in rain are just the sweet spot. There is a guy that lifts every vehicle known to exist I think for living on Da Big island. He upped a Honda fit the other day about 4" total between lift and tires, and you really can't tell looking at the car, but unlikely to scrape on the usual roads around here.

I went to Lex Brodie's here (a local tire chain, know most of the guys that work there, always buy tires there for the most part) and they are an American Racing dealer. I have no number for the factory for American Racing, but he will, and is calling them for me to see if he can get the VN 105 Torque thrusts I want with the 4" pattern. If no can, then I am going with the 15x7 Rallyes from Summit.

Oh, I am also doing the Dr Diff front disc conversion at the same time with SBP as well, if I can get the rims I want. I only contemplated the full 4.5" swap because of rim selection so far. It's such a pain in the *** if I can't get the Torque Thrusts, I will just go with Rallyes
 
Going with 15x7 if can, don't really want very wide tires, and okay with 70-75 series. I live on a typical farm lava road in Hawaii. With the 13s it hits rocks in the road. With 15s with normal-ish aspect tires, clearance, ride, handling and in rain are just the sweet spot. There is a guy that lifts every vehicle known to exist I think for living on Da Big island. He upped a Honda fit the other day about 4" total between lift and tires, and you really can't tell looking at the car, but unlikely to scrape on the usual roads around here.

I went to Lex Brodie's here (a local tire chain, know most of the guys that work there, always buy tires there for the most part) and they are an American Racing dealer. I have no number for the factory for American Racing, but he will, and is calling them for me to see if he can get the VN 105 Torque thrusts I want with the 4" pattern. If no can, then I am going with the 15x7 Rallyes from Summit.

Oh, I am also doing the Dr Diff front disc conversion at the same time with SBP as well, if I can get the rims I want. I only contemplated the full 4.5" swap because of rim selection so far. It's such a pain in the *** if I can't get the Torque Thrusts, I will just go with Rallyes

Ok, so the brake conversion makes a big difference. That’s a 73+ disk set up drilled for SBP, so it widens the track width.

If you want a 15x7 up front, you should use a 4.25” backspace.

With the 4” backspace on a 15x7 you could run a 205/65/15. A 215 would be really close to the fenders. That would be as wide as you could go, and you’d probably want to keep the height below 26”.
 
Ok, so the brake conversion makes a big difference. That’s a 73+ disk set up drilled for SBP, so it widens the track width.

If you want a 15x7 up front, you should use a 4.25” backspace.

With the 4” backspace on a 15x7 you could run a 205/65/15. A 215 would be really close to the fenders. That would be as wide as you could go, and you’d probably want to keep the height below 26”.

So would it be a good idea to run 15x6 up front? I am not super concerned about running the widest tire I could possibly run, just something that fits nicely- Dr Diff guy did say about the track width as well FYI.
 
anyone have a pic of this?

Lol, not that it even matters to ya' now.

'69 Barracuda stock axle. 1/2"-20 screw in on 4-1/2" BC. 7/16" stud holes filled. 10" X 1-3/4" brakes..............
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Looks like Moser still offers the stock length (redrilled) axle with the large 4-1/2" BC.

My 40 year old drum on one....

upload_2021-5-20_18-16-6.png


A30-CST-A45 - A-Body, 8 3/4" Rear Axle Shafts, Stock A-Body Drum Brake (Redrilled) -- 30 (Pair) - Moser Engineering

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Will 17x7s even fit without a super low profile tire?
I ordered the boyd coddington junkyard 17s....I will let you know how it turns out but with a 4.5 b.s. and nothing on the listing on the offset, I am waiting to order the rubber for when they finally get here and I can measure....not gonna lie...it looks tight!
 
I ordered the boyd coddington junkyard 17s....I will let you know how it turns out but with a 4.5 b.s. and nothing on the listing on the offset, I am waiting to order the rubber for when they finally get here and I can measure....not gonna lie...it looks tight!
If you bought 17x8 with 4 1/2 b.s. your offset is zero.
Eight inch wheel is nine inches outside to outside (the eight inch is from inside bead to bead)
4.5 is half of nine: zero offset.
The 17x7s are 4" b.s. , so they are zero offset too.
 
I ordered the boyd coddington junkyard 17s....I will let you know how it turns out but with a 4.5 b.s. and nothing on the listing on the offset, I am waiting to order the rubber for when they finally get here and I can measure....not gonna lie...it looks tight!
Ive been looking at them for my 67 barracuda for a while. You do realize pics are required when you get em mounted up, RIGHT?!?
 
I will definitely post some pics

I am mostly concerned about having to run low-profile tires on those- Big Island Hawaii hates low profile tires with a white hot passion. Lava rocks just jump out and cut the side wall and ruin the rims.
 
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