Wide 5 wheels and adapters on C4 -- will they fit?

Title pretty much sums it up. Looking for some help/advice on finding out if I can run a wide-5 adapter on a C4 Corvette suspension front and rear to use wide-5 wheels on my EM autoxer. Anything to look for short of ordering a $140 adapter and trying it on for size? Anyone done something similar and succeeded or failed?????

Gimp tried it on a buddy's c5 for giggles with the adapters from his camaro. There's a picture in his CP camaro build thread. and a late c4 has pretty well the same offset. Biggest thing will be picking your offset correctly

Thanks -- scanned through his build thread. That is encouraging. Offset shouldn't be too much of a problem -- already using 17 x 11's as a mock up w/ 315/35 tires, so I know what ballpark I need to be in.

patgizz wrote: Gimp tried it on a buddy's c5 for giggles with the adapters from his camaro. There's a picture in his CP camaro build thread. and a late c4 has pretty well the same offset. Biggest thing will be picking your offset correctly

There are adaptors that will work, but the ones I had didn't.

Obviously, the tires didn't fit either.

These are the style I had - http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Wide-5-Wheel-Adapter-5-on-4-1-2-and-5-on-5-Inch,3444.html

The bolts on the back (wheel studs) hit the brake calipers. To use those, you'd have to space them out, and then use backspacing to get the wheel where you needed it.

Interesting how the Wide 5 has stuck around for all these years.

Gimp wrote: Obviously, the tires didn't fit either.

i dont think its a 'too much tire' issue as much as it is a 'not enough fender flare' issue

and pardon my noob-ness but what is the advantage of wide 5's over using the stock lug pattern?

edizzle89 wrote: and pardon my noob-ness but what is the advantage of wide 5's over using the stock lug pattern?

Cost and availability, combined with the rules these cars fell under. My prepared car, much like others, used to be limited to a 16" wheel. These cars were also built using a lot of circle track pieces, so wide fives were a natural fit.

Wheel cost is a great advantage. Another advantage is you can run the stronger wide 5 hubs and spindles, like I had on the front of my Camaro. The wheel bearings are larger/stronger than most stock bearings. Bearings come from a 3/4 ton truck full floater axle. Here is one of the hubs I had:

In reply to Gimp:

Thanks for the clarification -- and for confirming what I suspected. Any idea on sources for an adapter that will fit without spacers? Real looks like they might have one that will work as it isn't flat but has some offset to it.

I had the Real Wheel adapters on the rear, I believe the offset was 2" if I remember right.

In reply to 81cpcamaro:

Thanks -- you wouldn't happen to have one laying around in a dark corner of your shop, would you?

Nope, they are still on the car, which I sold.

How many of you know the origin of the wide five ?

VW?

Early Ford, isn't it? Like 30's vintage?

Yep, early Ford, Late 30's. Mostly 3/4 truck.

The hubs from the trucks were used on early "stock" cars for strength. Wider wheels were developed and made to fit the wide five, so like many things in short track racing, if it works, why change.

JG will back me up, but not much is cooler than wide-fives. On a Buick Somerset race car.

I came really close to using late model parts on my 67 Camaro street car. I think wide 5's on a street car would be way out there.

I forgot how completely awesome those Buicks looked as a racecar. Thanks for the reminder!

Iusedtobefast wrote: I forgot how completely awesome those Buicks looked as a racecar. Thanks for the reminder!

When JG and I grow up, we're getting one. The big debate: V8 or V6? If we go V6, then we can run this on the hood:

Anyway, back to wide-fives. Yes, we approve.

I have a complete circle track chassis with wide 5 everything waiting to be used for a street car. I kinda want the quick change in the belair

JG, can we wide-five the Mustang? Please?

As long as you aren't in a big hurry to change the wheel and tire, It takes 50 HP to turn the gears in a QC rear, stay with a 9". Big 'ol 63 buick brake drums will give lots more surface than a 1000.00 dollar set of discs and weigh half as much, some old stuff still works.

GTXVette wrote: some old stuff still works.

But but but but squiggly...

I'm surprised Nascar and others aren't using wide 5s.

You know, tradition