Fun with +0mm offset Bullitt wheels

A guy on Mustang Forums basically just asked me the same question. haha weird. Anyways, I had no issues at all, I agree that mine could use a little more backspacing but I don't mind them the way they are. I can't believe the fronts stick out that much. Whats your suspension setup for up front? Can't the 67 and up cars use the modern wheels with their backspacing? I bought these wheels so I wouldn't have to deal with spacers.

Edit: dumb question, but what is iirc short for?

i believe that would be me.

i have a 68 i just bought and looking to get rims...i found some spacers that are ridiculously priced on mustangs plus.

http://www.mustangsplus.com/Merchan...&Store_Code=MPFMP&Category_Code=wheel_spacers

should i get those and the bullits with a slightly larger backspacing rather than the 0mm offset versions??

soo..........you advise against the spacers and stuff for a 68?

thanks

I am not sure of the backspacing on the particular late model wheel that i have but it is a 17 wheel from a 94 GT, the 17x8 3 spoke style, it's actually a 6 spoke but gives the apperance of a 3 spoke. any ways, it has a 255/40 on it and on the back it fits like it was made for my car, it is probably tucked and inch in my fender well, so with a little less backspacing i could see a wider tire that would still tuck under the fender. on the inside it has about a quarter inch form the inner fender on the front, but looks as though it would be fine. i have drove it like this, its just on there because i am painting the crager wheels thats on it and i had this wheel laying around, so i put it on...haventtried to fit it on the front yet, but i will pretty soon...

btw, i have a 68 coupe...

shifteasy, did you get the pm i sent you?

yeah i got it, sent one back at ya.

A couple comments...

First, I understand your concern about using spacers, but I'm not sure you need to be. I too was concerned (I am running '03 Mach 1 17" wheels) but after a bit of research I felt better aobut it. See, spacer adapters like we're talking about are common in lots of types of racing... circle track, SCCA, auto-x, rally, etc. As long as the spacers aren't excessively wide (more than 1.5" probably) and they're high quality (i.e. billet, not cast), then they should be safe enough for most cars (depending on how the car is driven and how often).

Second, I know you said you measured those wheels, but did you double check the actual backspacing measurements? Theoretically, a 0 offset wheel that is 8" wide should have 4" backspacing. Also, the dish on those wheels don't seem deep enough to be 0 offset. If you have checked, then never mind... the pics probably just don't properly represent the wheels.

Third, about the upper arm to wheel spacing... 0.5" is adequate spacing between the upper arm and the wheel. Depending on where the closest point on the arm is, you may be able to grind a bit off the upper arm. I had a similar problem and only had 0.25" of distance between my upper arm and the 15" wheel I was using, so I ground off the outer lip at the end of the control arm (at the ball joint) to gain an additional 0.25". This worked fine and I never had any problems with interference.

One last thing... be careful of taking all your measurements without having the full weight of the car on the ground (whether the arm is supported by a block or jack or whatever. Also, be aware that Mustang front suspensions are well known for not re-settling down after being jacked up until after the car is back on the ground and rolled a few feet. This is especially true if the car has recently had a suspension rebuild (extra especially if urethane bushings were used). Typically the spring saddles don't settle immediately. This causes the camber to be off, with the upper part of the wheel/tire pointed out more.

Hope this helps... good luck.

Are you sure they sent you the right wheels? Make sure you measure the actual backspacing on the wheels they sent.

Tim

ok i looked at your wheel fitment pictures and decided to try to draw where the tire would be on there.....it looks like it would look more correct when the tire is on so i dont know....i just did this in 2 sec so its not precise but its like an idea i suppose....

here is another shot....i dono if it makes a difference....but i think it changes the look a lot with a tire on it and makes it look pretty decent if not pretty good.

where did you get the bullits from $124 bucks??? sounds better than $174....

im not sure how the control arms are on 66 but on the 67-68 if u use the 3 bolt ball joint upper arm u can actually get a 5.02 back spacing rim to clear its been on my car for over 2 years and 22,000 miles with no problems

My 68 has 18x8 front wheels with 5.42" back spacing plus a 1/4" spacer for a total backspace of approx 5.16". They fit ok without the spacer except the wheel lip rubbed the UCA's (GW) near full lock. On the back I run 18x9 with 5.94" backspacing and no spacers.

Come on, Big Mac - post up some pictures! Those are some tall wheels, what size tires are you running?

Tim

Found these pics and info in BIG-MAC's garage.

Chassis rotisserie restored & fully seam welded
Full global west suspension front & rear
GW weld in subframe connectors
1" Stam adjustable sway bar
Koni shocks
.030 over 289
12.5-1 compression
Crower solid roller
Edelbrock RPM heads
JBA shorty headers
Victor Jr. intake
Demon 750 carb
Griffin radiator
Black FR500 wheels
18x8 front (narrowed 18x9 +36)
18x9 rear (+24)
275/40-18 rear G-force KD's
245/40-18 front G-force KD's
Toploader 4 speed
Baer Track 13" front discs
Baer 12" rear discs
9" 3.89 rear w/31 spline axles
GM polo green bc/cc Glasurit paint

wow, thats a nice looking car....

do the 68 stangs come stock with the 3 bolt ball joint upper arms?? how about in one of those suspension rebuild kits??

i think i found where im going to buy my rims from....

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N

they have the best price ($139)...free shipping...and

Backspacing 5.95"

Offset is +24 mm


with 1" spacers from mustangs plus it sounds like it would work....

Thanks...in those pics the car still has 18x10's and 295/35's on the back. This rubbed so I went smaller instead of raising the car up.

You can also try here for late model replica wheels www.mustangtuning.com

The wheel backspacing you described is a 9" wheel that will not fit the front as 8" is all that will fit (maybe 7" for a 65/66). The wheel in the pic below was an 18x9 +36 that I had narrowed 1" by www.weldcraftwheels.com. This makes the backspacing 5.41" and with a 1/4" spacer the total is 5.16". Without the spacer the rim rubs the upper control arms at full lock.