swap meet purchase questions

[kcombs]

I just picked up a set of factory 15x7 rally wheels today. The guy had them priced so I couldn't refuse to buy them and I think he really wanted them gone. I gave him $75 for the four wheels with center caps. These are ten to twenty foot rims, not show. Some spots of rust but will shine and look great on a driver. I do have a question or two about these rims.

Are there differences in the 15x7 rims, or were they all created equal. If they were different, and how can I tell what I bought?

Will 15x8 rimes fit on a 65 GS Skylark? thinking of have a pair of wider rims made from the worst of the four, but not certain they will clear in the rear. I really don't like to have to modify fenders to make rims clear.

Thats all for now.....

[dsags]

Kurt,
I have 17 x 8 American Racing wheels on my '65. You will need lots of backspacing to fit the 8 inch wide wheels. My backspacing is 4 and 3/4 inches. The tires are 255/50's which are 10 inches wide. They fit nicely.

[WkillGS]

There is an ID stamp on the rim, on the backside.
The wheels I have here are 'JJ' 15"x7", very common.
If you measure between the tire bead surfaces, they are 7" wide.
But if you measure them from edge-to-edge, they are 8" wide.
Everybody refers to these as having 4-3/8"' backspace.
Mounting surface is 4-3/8" from the edge of the rim on the back side, and 3-5/8" on the front side. .....In other words, there is a 3/4" offset.

If you have wider wheels made, they should maintain that 3/4" offset for them to fit the same.
However, my '66's will have better tire fit if offset is increased 1/2" to 1-1/4". That centers the tires in the wheelwell.

[Brian]

Make sure they have the right lug bolt circle.  The ones from the big cars have a bigger bolt circle and won't mount up to the A-body cars. 

[Mark Ascher]

Brian,

I think most of the big car wheels are 15x6.

Mark

[kcombs]

Thanks for all the replies!

The wheels are definitely 4 3/4" bolt pattern and 7" wide. The off set seems to be what Walt mentioned, so that is good. I can't find any markings on the rims, but I doubt that it makes any real difference to me. Sounds like if I have 15x8" rims made that I need to split the increase, 1/2" inside and 1/2" on the outside. Walt, am I correct?

Again, thanks for the answers.

[sjfd04]

My wheels are 15 x 8 with 245 60 15 tires, had a little rub so I installed the Hotchkis air bags, works great, no rub with 10 pounds of air in the bags. Ride quality is great and it raises the back just a little.  My car is the red GS with the vinyl roof in the gallery section.

[kcombs]

Very cool SJFD04, 65's look better with a little "rake". Being old school, I like the front down and the rear up. 65 Skylarks seem to be backwards from the factory.

[sjfd04]

I installed the Hotchkis 1" lowering springs all the way around.