Anyone tried these wheels?

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n00blike

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I was looking for some big bolt wheels that would fit on my 74 duster with stock suspension and came across the American Force Wheels Independence SS5. I plan on upgrading to a big brake kit and have read that 18" wheels are the way to go to get some good clearance.

Has any one tried these?

http://www.americanforcewheels.com/wheels/single/independence-ss5?filter=3,12

INDEPENDENCE-SS5-BLK-900x950.jpg
 
No, I've never "tired" those wheels...


I haven't tried them either....


but it's a nice pun...
 
They are custom made per order. I don't like them anyways, especially all the engraving and fake "rivets" on the rim. Personally, I would not put any wheels bigger than 16" on a '60s-'70s car. Bigger than that, they just start to look funny. You should be able to fit pretty decent brakes under 15" or 16" wheels.
 
69_340_GTS said:
They are custom made per order. I don't like them anyways, especially all the engraving and fake "rivets" on the rim. Personally, I would not put any wheels bigger than 16" on a '60s-'70s car. Bigger than that, they just start to look funny. You should be able to fit pretty decent brakes under 15" or 16" wheels.
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Yeah I would like the lip to be smooth and not have the engravings too. I currently have 14" ralley wheels that I like but I plan on getting dr.diff's Brembo-style 13" Front Disc Brake Kit. I have ready that even 17" are a tight fit.
 
I run four wheel disc brakes on my Dart and have 15" wheels. I don't know about this particular brand. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you like the look and they fit, I say buy them. It's only money. You'll make more.
 
n00blike said:
Has anyone here put these on a duster or a-body?

http://www.americanmuscle.com/charcoal-amr-18x9-0512.html

28327G05_icon


The back spacing is 6.18", how would you fit that on an a-body?
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I actually was going to put those on my Duster until I decided I wanted a 295 in the back and needed an 18x10.

The hub register will need to be opened up a little on those if I remember right, but that's not a big deal and pretty much everyone that uses Mustang rims has to do it. I had my RPF's opened up to clear the front hub as well.

The backspace is just about perfect for the front. The 18x9's I have started out at 6.4", but with Dr. Diff's 13" cobra kit my effective backspace is 6.2". If you wanted to run Dr. Diff's kit you might not be able to get a 275/35/18 in there like I did because the 13" kit moves the wheels out 3/16", which would put you right at 6". It would be close! But a 255/40/18 would still be a piece of cake.

In the back it will depend on what rear axle you have. If you have a stock width rear axle, you'll need a substantial spacer, one of those 1.5" wheel adaptor jobs with a second set of studs built in [ame="http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-pcs-1-5-5x4-5-Wheel-Spacers-1-2-x-20-Studs-38mm-Adapters-5lug-/251467166987?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a8c9c750b&vxp=mtr"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-pcs-1-5-5x4-5-Wheel-Spacers-1-2-x-20-Studs-38mm-Adapters-5lug-/251467166987?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a8c9c750b&vxp=mtr[/ame]. But that would put you right where you need to be. If you have a 68-70 B body rear axle (like I do), the backspacing at 6.18 is just about perfect for a 18x9 and up to a 275/35/18 or 275/40/18.

Don't let the big wheel haters get you down. There's just as many of us that think that 14" rims are the most ridiculous looking thing you could put on a musclecar. And I can tell you that they handle about as ridiculously bad as they look too. Corners and 14" rims on these cars do not go together well.

My '74 Duster has 18x9" Enkei RPF1's up front, wheel offset is 35mm (6.4" bs) with Dr. Diff's 13" cobra kit. I have 275/35/18's on it in the front, it just touches the frame at full lock and clears the fenders fine. In the back I have 18x10's with 38mm offset (7" bs) and 295/35/18's. But I also have a 68-70 B body 8 3/4, a 1/2" hanger/shackle offset, and nearly a 1/2" of quarter lip trim to make those fit.

IMG_5264b_zps4c31ed25.jpg


IMG_5312_zps28bb4178.jpg
 
I like the last choice you put up. Good looking wheels. What rear ya got :) If you can't find an 8 3/4 you can put the Ferd 8.8 in. Look in the Trans and Drivetrain threads dart360swinger did a good write up. Putting one in my Duster has posi trac loc what ever and is not 40 years old and only cost $100 with disc brakes. I agree with 72blunblu with why would you want to put 14" tires on when there are so many tires available. But to each is his own. Good luck with your rims and tire combos!
 
72bluNblu said:
I actually was going to put those on my Duster until I decided I wanted a 295 in the back and needed an 18x10.

The hub register will need to be opened up a little on those if I remember right, but that's not a big deal and pretty much everyone that uses Mustang rims has to do it. I had my RPF's opened up to clear the front hub as well.

The backspace is just about perfect for the front. The 18x9's I have started out at 6.4", but with Dr. Diff's 13" cobra kit my effective backspace is 6.2". If you wanted to run Dr. Diff's kit you might not be able to get a 275/35/18 in there like I did because the 13" kit moves the wheels out 3/16", which would put you right at 6". It would be close! But a 255/40/18 would still be a piece of cake.

In the back it will depend on what rear axle you have. If you have a stock width rear axle, you'll need a substantial spacer, one of those 1.5" wheel adaptor jobs with a second set of studs built in http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-pcs-1-5-5x4-5-Wheel-Spacers-1-2-x-20-Studs-38mm-Adapters-5lug-/251467166987?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a8c9c750b&vxp=mtr. But that would put you right where you need to be. If you have a 68-70 B body rear axle (like I do), the backspacing at 6.18 is just about perfect for a 18x9 and up to a 275/35/18 or 275/40/18.

Don't let the big wheel haters get you down. There's just as many of us that think that 14" rims are the most ridiculous looking thing you could put on a musclecar. And I can tell you that they handle about as ridiculously bad as they look too. Corners and 14" rims on these cars do not go together well.

My '74 Duster has 18x9" Enkei RPF1's up front, wheel offset is 35mm (6.4" bs) with Dr. Diff's 13" cobra kit. I have 275/35/18's on it in the front, it just touches the frame at full lock and clears the fenders fine. In the back I have 18x10's with 38mm offset (7" bs) and 295/35/18's. But I also have a 68-70 B body 8 3/4, a 1/2" hanger/shackle offset, and nearly a 1/2" of quarter lip trim to make those fit.

IMG_5264b_zps4c31ed25.jpg


IMG_5312_zps28bb4178.jpg
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Do you have any pics of your car from the rear? I remember when a was walking back to my car and there was a newer mustang parked next to my car, it had some nice wide tires and mine don't fill the wheel wells much :(

One of the main reasons I want bigger tires is that I plan on auto crossing and doing some track days. I know I will need some big brakes to reduce brake fade, so I want to have room for upgrades. Also I'm looking for a nice big contact patch.

I have looked into wheel adapters but most of them are aluminum. Have you come across any steel ones? Ultimately I wouldn't feel comfortable using those on a car that will be driven spiritedly.
 
Here's mine just to give you an idea. Big wheels. wouldn't have it any other way.
 

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n00blike said:
Do you have any pics of your car from the rear? I remember when a was walking back to my car and there was a newer mustang parked next to my car, it had some nice wide tires and mine don't fill the wheel wells much :(

One of the main reasons I want bigger tires is that I plan on auto crossing and doing some track days. I know I will need some big brakes to reduce brake fade, so I want to have room for upgrades. Also I'm looking for a nice big contact patch.

I have looked into wheel adapters but most of them are aluminum. Have you come across any steel ones? Ultimately I wouldn't feel comfortable using those on a car that will be driven spiritedly.
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I've got these. I can tell you you can't fill the wheel wells out any more than I have, I least not width-wise, without mini tubbing or raising the back of your car to 4x4 ride height.

IMG_5307_zps52234569.jpg


IMG_5301_zpscb687e81.jpg


I wouldn't worry about the wheel adaptors, at least not if they're well made- 6061 or better and good quality studs. There's a lot less strength in the face of the rim itself if you're thinking the spacers will be the "weak link". I've run 1" aluminum adaptors like the one I posted on both 4x4's and cars. They're a pretty popular off-roading item. I've also seen them on more than a few autoX and road race cars. As long as they're torqued properly and you check to make sure they're tight periodically you shouldn't have any issues.
 
Wouldn't it be easier to get some wheels with the correct offset/backspacing? I'm sure there are 100s of modern 18" or 19" wheels on the market with the correct dimensions.
 
69_340_GTS said:
Wouldn't it be easier to get some wheels with the correct offset/backspacing? I'm sure there are 100s of modern 18" or 19" wheels on the market with the correct dimensions.
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It's not as easy as you might think. Mostly because the offset you need in the front is not the same as the offset you need in the back with a stock rear end if you intend to run wider than stock tires. If you just want to run 225's its easy because you can use the same offset front and back, which puts the front wheels all the way out on the fender and the rear wheels up against the springs- especially on a Duster. Looks downright goofy with 7" wide rims and a 4.25" backspace and half of the rear wheel tub open with nothing in it.

17/18" wheels for the front are much easier because they use a higher offset (more backspacing), which is what most modern cars have, so there's a lot of options. The rears basically need to be zero offset with an A-body rear, which limits options to begin with. Then you have to find a set of wheels that comes in both a fairly high offset AND a zero offset in the same style.

Which is why swapping in a B body rear gets to be an advantage, it evens up the offsets you need front/back. Or you can go the spacer route. There are plenty of those aluminum spacers with built in studs being used on the track, and the only failures I've personally heard about were because of improper torquing or infrequent maintenance.
 
72bluNblu said:
If you just want to run 225's its easy because you can use the same offset front and back, which puts the front wheels all the way out on the fender and the rear wheels up against the springs- especially on a Duster. Looks downright goofy with 7" wide rims and a 4.25" backspace and half of the rear wheel tub open with nothing in it.
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That is exactly what I have on my duster right now and it looks strange. The fronts have a nice gap between the body and wheels but the rears look like the tires are pushed in too much. Makes the car look a bit top heavy from the rear.

At first I thought the previous owner had put incorrect sized wheels in the rear but know I know it is a common issue.

Thanks for all the good info 72!
 
Don't let the big wheel haters get you down. There's just as many of us that think that 14" rims are the most ridiculous looking thing you could put on a musclecar. And I can tell you that they handle about as ridiculously bad as they look too. Corners and 14" rims on these cars do not go together well.
Click to expand...

isn't that the truth
 
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