Today's fruitless search for Bullitt wheels, LOL

[67Dart273]

So I drive the Dart into Spokaloo and meet this (nice guy) to look over these wheels. Now these wheels, outside width, are about 1/4" narrower than the widest point of the rear tires I have on the Dart, and THEY don't have much room.

(I forget, over 9" outside width?)

They would need a spacer to miss the springs, and that would put the wheel into the fender lip, width wise. Not one chance in you-know-what

I guess I could plan on offsetting the springs, but I like to somewhat go around corners. The closer together the springs, the worse it corners.

 

[Hersbird]

We call it Spocompton over here in Misszoo, LOL! My Mom is in Coeur d'alene which is the place that needs a name change. Stinks they don't want to fit. I wonder if the Barracudas have more room in the rear because I fit a 265, which is over 10" wide on the back of mine with the lip rolled in a bit.

 

[pauly v.100]

Something isn't right. Assuming you have an A-body 8.75 rear end, you would use a .75" or 1" spacer with 245-45-17 tires and fitment should be perfect. There just isn't that much difference in wheel well space on these cars for you to run into clearance issues without having to move the springs in, i.e. there's so many others who have done this already.

 

[67Dart273]

Well it's not just offset. Maybe the 67 is a "little thinner" than the later ones, I don't know

The present (Jeep) tires have minimal spring clearance, and with the car on the ground, I can only get "about up to my knuckles" with my flat fingers/ palm stuck up between tire and fender

If you lay my present TIRE on the ground, a board across, these wheels are only 1/4? little more? narrower than the present sidewall width of my tires.

So if I used a spacer for spring clearance (which I could do) there would be zero fender clearance.

I wish I'd measured, took notes, and photos, but the guy was nice enough to drive several miles for what turned out to be a non - sale, I didn't want to take up much of his time.

EDIT. Took some photos this morning of the "Jeep" wheels tires. These are 225 x 75 x 15, evidently the wheels are about 7 1/2 wide inside - inside. I have joked that these are my "interim" tires/ wheels. Got 'em cheap, hell I've been thinkin of refinishing 'em.

I like the tire OD and if I get larger dia wheels, I'd like tires about the same OD or tiny bit shorter These tires are 28.3, so something approaching that. With the present 3.7X (Ford) rear, this gives me 3K--3100? at 70

Top photo is the present tire OAL width sidewall, about 9 5/8"

Next down is is rear offset for the Jeep wheels, about 5 1/4"

Next, I didn't measure tire - quarter lip, but you can see my palm, up to the knuckles. I could gain a LITTLE more by rolling/ removing the inside lip. The chrome is not a factor, it's narrower than the quarter/ inner fender lip

Last two are the sidewall to spring clearance, about 5/8". Not much to be gained there

 

[younggun2.0]

what about using the 3/4" offset spring hangers? that would move your springs in enough that you could get the wheel on without a spacer?

 

[72bluNblu]

You should be able to fit 17x8's or 18x8's with no problems. The backspace on the mustang rims would require a spacer, but it should be fine.

Without moving or offsetting the springs a 255 would be about as wide as you could go, and with a 17x8" you'd need about 4.5" to 4.75" of backspace, which usually takes a 1" spacer on most the mustang rims.

 

[younggun2.0]

you can fit a 245 width tire on an 8" rim with 4.5" backspace. that is what i had on my dart when i fist put 18" wheels on it. i had 245/40/18 on the back of the car with completely stock suspension.



then i decided to step up to big rubber,.

 

[HotLines]

I believe the early 2002 Ford Bullitt wheels have a 114mm (4.48" backspace ) backspace which are the ones to use as the newer Bullitts backspace is something like 6.82" and that may be the problem you are having

 

[67Dart273]

'Prettiate the comments.

I think you guys are right about the 8 inchers. Maybe rolling the fender lip, and carefully positioning (spacing) or ordering wheel offset, and careful choice of tires.

No way in "heck" tho, that these 'Stang wheels he had would fit.

 

[pauly v.100]

no offence, but this just isn't helpful. "I believe" and "something like" are terms that should not be used when trying to help somebody with wheel/tire fitment.

Here's what is confirmed, dead nuts true, and tried with success many times already:
1) 17x8 Mustang wheels from 1995 thru 2001 have 5.72" backspace and are the wheels of choice for this wheel/tire upgrade.
2) Later Mustang wheels (2002 and on) have deeper backspace, anything from 5.92" on up to well past 6.25" and would likely require big changes to a stock 1967 to 1975 A-body suspension to fit properly (unless you're OK with 1.5" plus spacers).`
3) .75" or 1.00" spacers are all that is needed for the `95 to `01 wheels to fit into the rear wheel well of an A-body properly, no spacers are needed if you use a B-body 8.75" rear end. Some people have said they needed spacers on the front as well. My personal experience with two different types of the mustang wheels hasn't resulted in the need for front spacers. 8.25" rear ends should use a 1" spacer minimum as that rear housing seems to be a bit narrower than a 8.75".
4) The Ford center register is too small to fit over Mopar hub (spindle nut housing), so either the hub will need to be turned down to fit the ford register size or you can hog out the register opening on the wheel.
5) It's possible the upper control arm zirk fitting might contact the inner part of the wheel. Simply change to a lower (90 degree) fitting to fix this.

best thing you can do is to take a straight edge and a tape measure with you and measure width and backspace on any wheels you look at.
I hope this helps, good luck! -pauly

I believe the early 2002 Ford Bullitt wheels have a 114mm (4.48" backspace ) backspace which are the ones to use as the newer Bullitts backspace is something like 6.82" and that may be the problem you are having

 

[magnumdust]

no offence, but this just isn't helpful. "I believe" and "something like" are terms that should not be used when trying to help somebody with wheel/tire fitment.

Here's what is confirmed, dead nuts true, and tried with success many times already:
1) 17x8 Mustang wheels from 1995 thru 2001 have 5.72" backspace and are the wheels of choice for this wheel/tire upgrade.
2) Later Mustang wheels (2002 and on) have deeper backspace, anything from 5.92" on up to well past 6.25" and would likely require big changes to a stock 1967 to 1975 A-body suspension to fit properly (unless you're OK with 1.5" plus spacers).`
3) .75" or 1.00" spacers are all that is needed for the `95 to `01 wheels to fit into the rear wheel well of an A-body properly, no spacers are needed if you use a B-body 8.75" rear end. Some people have said they needed spacers on the front as well. My personal experience with two different types of the mustang wheels hasn't resulted in the need for front spacers. 8.25" rear ends should use a 1" spacer minimum as that rear housing seems to be a bit narrower than a 8.75".
4) The Ford center register is too small to fit over Mopar hub (spindle nut housing), so either the hub will need to be turned down to fit the ford register size or you can hog out the register opening on the wheel.
5) It's possible the upper control arm zirk fitting might contact the inner part of the wheel. Simply change to a lower (90 degree) fitting to fix this.

best thing you can do is to take a straight edge and a tape measure with you and measure width and backspace on any wheels you look at.
I hope this helps, good luck! -pauly

why is 2002 the change? Wouldn't it be the 2005+ when the body style changed.

 

[mopardude318]

it is 99-04.

either way, pauly has it down.

http://www.americanmuscle.com/99-04-mustang-parts.html

 

[Oklacarcollecto]

why is 2002 the change? Wouldn't it be the 2005+ when the body style changed.

Body style changed in 1999. I am working on gathering body parts for a 2000 convertible now and 1998 back is different.

 

[abodyjoe]

these are the ones i used on my dart and also fit on the rear of jamies stock suspension dart.. http://www.americanmuscle.com/black-bullitt-17x8-9498.html 17x8 with 5.72 backspace as the other guys stated..


with a 225/50-17 tire they do fit a large bolt pattern (big car brake set up not redrilled small bolt stuff) stock abody housing 8 3/4 car. could probably use a small spacer for extra clearance but a minimal one...

 

[67Dart273]

Thanks guys. JOE, after looking at your spring clearance, and how tight that is, I realize where part of the problem is. As I recall, the Versailles/ Ford 9" pads are 1/4" wider PER SIDE than Mopar A body. I didn't move 'em, just "stretched the springs. So I lost 1/4 on the inboard side

But I still cannot imagine the OUTboard side. I "guess maybe" if I was to "roll the lip" (or cut it) and was VERY careful with tire size..................


But frankly I think at this point I'm just going to consider getting "slightly narrower" Torque thrust.

I could buy a pair for the rear (I'm not made of money) and I've already got some decent 14" ETs for the front. We'll see.

 

[inkjunkie]

Aint nuttin a sawzall and some quarter panel surgery would not fix......you don't need them stinking quarters..........

 

[pauly v.100]

it is 99-04.

either way, pauly has it down.

http://www.americanmuscle.com/99-04-mustang-parts.html

Correct, thanks for the fix!
I was thinking of something unrelated.

 

[dano]

Top photo is the present tire OAL width sidewall, about 9 5/8"

What you are showing here is the section width. I have a set of 225/60/15 that are 9.5" wide at the section width. 245/45/17 will be around 9.6 due to the shorter wall of the 45 tire. The shorter the wall the less section width "bulge".

The front will be your biggest issue, depending on the ride height you want.

 

[67Dart273]

Well this morn I just picked up "for me" what seems like a great deal. Two wheels for the rear for 125 for the pair. Came with 4 'Stang caps so I can paint two of 'em if I want

 

[abodyjoe]

Good price. They are $124 new so ya got two for one.

 

[67Dart273]

Good price. They are $124 new so ya got two for one.

Hi Joe. I have some (for now) ET spokers which match "well enough" for the fronts when/ if I get the disc brake conversion done. WX is finally looking like cooling off a bit so maybe in the next few weeks I'll get to that. I pulled the bushings out of a pair of upper arms last night.

 

[67Dart273]

LOL. ....... I don't know what the wheels are at the START of this thread, all I know is they hit the springs...........

The pair that I bought at the END of this thread FIT. Bear in mind this is a disk brake Versaille 9" so it's a little wide. These look to me like they are gonna fit PERFECT, maybe cut out the fender / chrome lip a little. These photos were taken with the rear axle weight on a block, so the car is sitting "as it should."

Now all I need are tires..........'n get that front disk setup on.

 

[DionR]

Sweet.

Sorry I didn't see this sooner, I would have volunteered a pair of 17x8 wheels with 245/45R17 tires for you to test fit. Diameter is wrong, but it would have been a useful test of width.

 

[67Dart273]

!!!SO!! Heh.

Found these out in the valley, not the best brand, but near new, 3 for 33 1/3 dollars apiece, LOL

225 60 r17 altimax rt (liberty lake)



(3) almost new altimax rt tires with less then 500 miles.. 4 tire was shredded..$100 obo.


Heck, didn't even need the tire tool, just lubed 'em up and threw em on. Easiest tires I've ever mounted. They are just a tiny bit smaller OD than the 15s on the Jeep wheels. Now I need to find some decent wheel nuts, LOL. Paint the 'Stang centers black


I'm off to go round a few corners 'n make sure they clear

 

[67Dart273]

Additional information "just because."

I just bought these, and intend to use them, but these are not optimum backspace. I read on the www how to id the late (wrong) vs early (better) backspace wheels.

(With my Versailles 9" rear, these will need a 1/2" spacer, early ones needed none)

The EARLY wheels, which I show above on the rear of my car, and which AbodyJoe shows on his, HAVE THE VALVE STEM impinging into the polished area of the outer rim

The LATE wheels which have deeper backspace, have the valve stem further INSIDE the wheel and do NOT "cut" into the outer rim:

These are LATE DEEPER backspace wheels. Notice the valvestem, at 12 o'clock, does NOT cut into the outer polished rim