C3 Corvette wheels . . . info needed !

What year is that car? I know it's between 73-77 but I can't tell beyond that, though it looks like a 73 color.

It's a '73.

TeamEvil wrote: "i'll trade you some 91 corvette 17x9.5 sawblades straight up for the turbines" Thanks ! But the Saw Blades don't seem to look quite right on the old C3 body: http://classiccarsdb.com/chevrolet/10461-no-reserve-pro-touring-500hp-4speed-carbon-fiber-suspension-dream-corvette.html Or is it just me?

Not just you, although I feel the mustang wheels would look just as bad due to the modern offset. I would keep the turbines that are on it before I put a modern wheel on it.

My choice would be a corvette rally wheel.

Modern wheels with zero offset look like crap on a car of that vintage - it needs something with a deep dish. Personally, I think the turbine wheels work, they're period correct.

TeamEvil wrote: It's a '73.

I, too, am not a fan of turbines. There's a difference between period correct and dated and I think I'm probably too young to have any nostalgia towards them. My vote is for Corvette Ralleye wheels, Minilites, or those slotted things that I can never remember the name of that I think might be called "Pacecar" or something. I also think some good ol' steelies would look fantastic.

penultimeta wrote: I, too, am not a fan of turbines. There's a difference between period correct and dated and I think I'm probably too young to have any nostalgia towards them. My vote is for Corvette Ralleye wheels, Minilites, or those slotted things that I can never remember the name of that I think might be called "Pacecar" or something. I also think some good ol' steelies would look fantastic.

Are you referencing the Kelsey-Hayes wheels that were used on the Pace Car Edition along with other late C3s?

Centerline Convo-Pro's might look pretty decent on this thing.

TeamEvil wrote: The pic above is the wheel on my Mustang a 2008, not too flat, has a slight polished lip to it with mildly recessed spokes. I like the look a lot. REALLY tired of the silly huge dish on most C3 Vettes. Would I need a spacer for the C3 calipers if the adapter is a full 2.5/3.0 inch thick? The Mustang wheels are 18inch while the original C3 Vette wheels are just 15 inch. Seems like the extra diameter measurement would clear the calipers with just the 2.5 inch adapter spacing. Redundant, but not sure. New to all of this.Need as much info as possible before purchasing either new wheels or new adapters for old Mustang wheels. Of course, if I stumble onto a set of Vette whee;s or five spoke Chevy wheels, then I'm definitely taking the easy way out. As long as the turbines end up in the scrap yard or Craigslist, I don't care . . . Thanks for all the info so far !

It's not to clear the calipers diameter, but to clear their depth. The C3's used large 4-piston calipers that come out past the hub surface which was fine back in the day when wheels had almost no offset and were pretty dished. It becomes an issue when trying to use a more modern wheel without an adapter/spacer.

TeamEvil wrote: "i'll trade you some 91 corvette 17x9.5 sawblades straight up for the turbines" Thanks ! But the Saw Blades don't seem to look quite right on the old C3 body: http://classiccarsdb.com/chevrolet/10461-no-reserve-pro-touring-500hp-4speed-carbon-fiber-suspension-dream-corvette.html Or is it just me?

Well, they are chrome, which is garish, and the chrome side pipes ruin the look, too.

VWCorvette's C3 looks pretty good with sawblades.

Thanks for all of the advice ! Decided that my best choice is either used Cragar or Centerline Pro Star wheels. They look pretty "correct" on the C3 and can be had as bolt on with the right off-set, no adapters or spacers needed.

I think that used ones would fit the car better than new. Convey a nice over-all aged look.

Esoteric Nixon wrote:

TeamEvil wrote: "i'll trade you some 91 corvette 17x9.5 sawblades straight up for the turbines" Thanks ! But the Saw Blades don't seem to look quite right on the old C3 body: http://classiccarsdb.com/chevrolet/10461-no-reserve-pro-touring-500hp-4speed-carbon-fiber-suspension-dream-corvette.html Or is it just me?

Well, they are chrome, which is garish, and the chrome side pipes ruin the look, too. VWCorvette's C3 looks pretty good with sawblades.

Better for sure but still not appealing, at least to me.

Esoteric Nixon wrote:

TeamEvil wrote: "i'll trade you some 91 corvette 17x9.5 sawblades straight up for the turbines" Thanks ! But the Saw Blades don't seem to look quite right on the old C3 body: http://classiccarsdb.com/chevrolet/10461-no-reserve-pro-touring-500hp-4speed-carbon-fiber-suspension-dream-corvette.html Or is it just me?

Well, they are chrome, which is garish, and the chrome side pipes ruin the look, too. VWCorvette's C3 looks pretty good with sawblades.

Thank you!

BTW, I'm using spacers about 2.5-3 inches to fit them. I've autocrossed this setup with no issues. Well, other than my lack of rwd a-x experience.

I liked the turbines that came on my car, but wanted a change to get better rubber. Got my rims for $50. Just had to pick em up in Detroit. Luckily my wife is from there and we were able to grab them on a trip in for Thanksgiving.

In reply to Esoteric Nixon:

Chrome wheels and the hood scoop are bad but the only problem with those side pipes are that they are too small.

I have three period cragers off my chevelle that i don't need. They won't fit over my soon to be installed c5 brakes.

Yup, that's them. Probably my favorite factory wheel for the C3.

NickD wrote:

penultimeta wrote: I, too, am not a fan of turbines. There's a difference between period correct and dated and I think I'm probably too young to have any nostalgia towards them. My vote is for Corvette Ralleye wheels, Minilites, or those slotted things that I can never remember the name of that I think might be called "Pacecar" or something. I also think some good ol' steelies would look fantastic.

Are you referencing the Kelsey-Hayes wheels that were used on the Pace Car Edition along with other late C3s?

I'll take the turbines off your hands.

Here's a quick condensed version of the wheels and fitment. Many GM cars had the same 5x4.75" bolt pattern as your vette; F, G, A, light duty B, X, Y, S10, some Astros have it. You'll have trouble finding factory wheels that are big and have the zero-ish offset you need. About the time those cars starting getting into the 16 and 17" realm, they were mostly positive offset (larger backspacing). There are a few that can be found; look to S10 extreme, cameo, ZQ8, etc. They often had 16" in zero offset. GTA camaro/firebird had 16s with zero offset, but only on the front. To get matching wheels you would need four fronts.

Aftermarket is full of options in anything you want, but factory stuff is a bit limited if you want more than 16" without spacers.

Curtis73, thanks for that inside scoop ! ! !

As a quick aside, mostly 'cause you guys seem to really know your stuff. Do the other year C3 rear bumper covers all interchange (more of less) with each other?

I would imagine that the original rubber versions would be a bit hard to fit, but the fiberglass repros are pretty much a thin candy shell of fiberglass which could be shaped/filled/formed to meet up with the existing body lines in the rear. Wondering if they might all interchange with a bit of work?

74-82 interchange. The urethane ones all start to sag. Unless it was a restoration I would get a fiberglass one.

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/ has pretty much everything you could need for body parts

Thanks for that link. I like the '82 rear. Seems to integrate the spoiler better than the others and blends better with the body, makes for a more balanced look between the front and rear.

Nice price! Rather work with aftermarket fiberglass than stock rubber as well.

Not a restoration at all, too expensive and definitely not the right Vette.

"I have three period cragers off my chevelle that i don't need."

Just sent you a PM regarding the wheels, thanks !

You can also look at BMW wheels, a tiny bit different bolt pattern and hub size but can fit.

I've been hoarding a set Of Roadstars to put on a C3 when I find the right one.

TeamEvil wrote: Thanks for that link. I like the '82 rear. Seems to integrate the spoiler better than the others and blends better with the body, makes for a more balanced look between the front and rear.

Wait... I thought you said that this was a '73? The '82 rear cover won't work.

And why would you want to cover this?:

I don't dislike the '73-'79 front, but it would probably be easier and more attractive to backdate the front.

The Roadstars really are a nice alternative to what's around in the aftermarket. Surprisingly cool for a Mercedes item . . . !

I've made the decision to run Cragars though. Simple, classic, and period perfect for anything from the early sixties to mid-seventies. I had them on the '62 and '64 Chevy convertibles, and later on the '67 Mustang, they're hard to resist and almost disappear. They're just so right for the C3 that you don't notice that they're even there, you know?

EvanR wrote: Me, I'd switch to steel Rally wheels, with center caps and trim rings. You could probably make enough by selling off the turbine wheels to cover the cost.

I am with this guy, dig the look of the rally wheels. The turbine's are the shiznit though, just don't go all Corvette Summer with it, even if you buy it and say, "But it's myyy car," in the whiney Luke Skywalker voice, it still would be un-cool.

Edelbrock makes a kit, cam, intake and heads for that SBC that is the cat's ass, just saying, no pressure.

I missed that it was a 73. Then Woody's right, chrome front bumpers are the way to go.