I'm going to change the wheel and tiresize on my 67 Riv and have a problem with the wheels: The car has 205/70/15 tires on (I think) original 15x7 steelwheels. I want to change that to 15x8 in the front and 15x9.5 in the back. My problem is the backspace: As the finned drumbrake is bigger than the wheel I can only put wheels on it that have the original backspace -right? Is the backspace 3 1/2''? (and the Riv has the 5x5 bolt pattern-also right?) In the front are diskbrakes-so there shouldn't be a problem,or? What wheelsizes do you know that fit a 1967 Riviera without using an adapter? I also thought about 17'' wheels-do you know which sizes I could use ? Do you probably have some pics of 67 Rivieras with custom wheels/tiresizes? Thanx for help!
I believe your wheels are 15 X 6, not 15 X 7. Measure your current backspacing by removing a wheel, and turning it over. Put a straight edge across the rim, then measure from the straight edge to the mounting surface. Put the wheel back on and measure from the inside of the rim to the frame, inside of the wheel well, or anything else you think might interfere. Maybe someone else who has put custom wheels on a Riv will post. In the meantime, it isn't that hard to measure and see what you can use for backspacing. The drum has nothing to do with how much backspacing you can use. As long as the wheel fits over the drum, you are OK. Larger Diameter wheels won't change your backspacing needs, just the tire requirements. You want to stay as close to the original tire height as you can to preserve your gear ratio, and speedometer calibrations. The larger rim will require a tire with a shorter sidewall to keep the same overall diameter. The tire will also need to be wider. Again, measure.
My advice is to go with the 17 inch wheels and end any of the potential problems caused by trying to run a 15" aluminum wheel over those cast iron fins at the rear. Trust me, you don't want to try and grind them off (I won't tell you how I came to know this). If your car has factory or aftermarket front disc brakes, then you are already in good shape as far as clearance. There is plenty of room in those wheelwells for a wider tire and rim. With the car sitting at normal ride height (or on a lift with the cars weight being carried by the suspension) check the clearance between your existing tire and rim and the steering arms on the front spindles. Also, turn the front wheels all the way to one side or the other and measure how much clearance you have between the wheel and the frame, a-arms and strut rod, or the sway bar. Lets say the stock wheel has 3.5" of backspace now. If you have at least 1.5" of clearance at any point between the tire and the frame/suspension parts, then you could use an 8" wide rim with as much as 4.5" of backspace and still have enough clearance, assuming the new tire and rim are about the same outside diameter as the existing one. The rear wheels can be measured the same way, except you obviously can't turn them to the left or the right. Check how much room you have inside between the tire and the inner fender or frame rail, and from the inside edge of the wheelwell lip to the outermost portion of the tire. If you have 2.5" of clearance on the inside, and 3" of clearance on the outside, and the same stock backspace of 3.5" at the wheel, then you could add 1.5" to the backspace (for a total of 5"), and 2" to the outside to get a 9.5" rim, and still fit it all inside the fenderwell. I haven't measured my 67 Riv yet, but I know those fenderwells need a big tire to fill them up and look right. Virtually all the large aftermarket wheel companies here in the US make wheels in the 5 X 5 bolt pattern, so don't waste your time with adapters, especially with a car that weighs 4500 pounds! My plans are for a set of 17 x 8 and 17 x 9.5 inch American Racing type 200S wheels on my 67 Riv. I still have some other details to work out before I get the wheels, but I think they will look great. Good luck, Randy
I like the AR Torque Thrust II's in 17" on that style of riviera. The chrome polished center is really bright to me, so I think I will tone it down with anthracite colored center. The AR TT II's are easy to get in polished chrome, but with anthracite center are custom order (longer leadtime). Looks like this on a 66... You can get the original AR TT wheels in 17x8; a very light gray color. Wheel Vintiques has 17 or 18" Wheels in the Buick Rally 5 spoke style, but these are $650 each!
My word! This is exactly what I was planning...but I want them in chrome outer-black center(AR torq thrust m) in 17x9.5 and 17x8 as the rest of my car is also black... I already wrote to AR and the answer was: Thank you for inquiring about American racing wheels, I am very sorry but the torq thrust m's are not made in the 5x5 bolt pattern However we can get the torq thrust classic which looks just like the TT d's We can get them in either 17x8, 17x9.5 or 17x11, the are a custom built wheel so it would take about 6 to 8 weeks to build Aren't there some TT-style wheels on the market that have a black center? What backspace would you choose?
AR TT M is a Carol Shelby design, so unfortunately reserved for Ford BC. too bad because the wheels are pretty cool, although the shelby logo might look silly on a buick. To date i haven't seen another TT design in black that would work (Blk is available on TT ST but these are 20" with large 6 lug BC). The old-school TT gray color can be pretty light and is a flat finish. Magnessium gray is slightly shiny, and anthracite is metallic gray.
the american racing idea is good, thats what i have on my 67 rivi, but see, if you look around the internet, and you read a few hot rod magazines from oh say 02-08, the torq thrust 2's are everywhere, everyone and their neighbor has a set. they are very nice, but to me, part of the appeal of a riviera, and buicks in general, is that they are less common. if you go out on cruise night, youre not gonna ever pull up to an intersection or a gas station and see 3 more cars JUST LIKE YOURS. they are not a 87 camaro, they are not a 69 camaro, they are not a 57 chevy, they are not a smokey and the bandit, they are not a shelby mustang. they are a unique car for a unique person. you can see what im getting at. now, the ansens or maybe a hopster, or maybe the torqlite, they are all fairly common rim, but at the same time, check out around car shows and such, they are not AS common. and the ansen style, matter of opinion of course, but i say they fit the 67 rivieras lines and style. i myself got a great deal, toms discount wheels. http://stores.ebay.com/Toms-Discount-Wheels they usually have a stagger set of 2 17x7 and 2 17x8. exactly the size i needed, a fair step up from stock, but not neon pink plastic furniture tacky either. they are just right for the 235-55-17~~~255-50-17 that i am running now. i paid right about 500 including shipping and taxes, and you can find them around for about 279.99 EACH many places online, i know jegs and summit want at least 249.99 each. if you DO decide for sure on torq thrust, more power to ya, im sure it will look great anyhow, you will still be the only guy in the neighborhood with a 67 riviera. oh, and my advice, dont go any thinner meat than 50 series, buicks just dont look right with ultra lows. i DID love the change from 215-75-15 to 255-50-17 though, like i said, it was a huge difference, yet true to the classic look. you know what i mean, im sure. later
Here is a picture of the American Racing Wheels 200S that I was talking about. They have a bold chrome look that I think goes well with a 67 Buick Riviera. I agree that the Torque Thrust II is a nice wheel, but they are like belly buttons now, everyone seems to have them. The second picture is a Keystone Klassic wheel, which looks great on a Buick, but are nearly impossible to find in good shape anymore. I wish someone would start to make a 17" version of this wheel, but it probably won't happen. I like the Ansen Sprint too, although I think they look best on a drag style car, with the 3.5" wide fronts and the 10" or 12" wide rears. They really give a car that mid 70's look. Nice to see they are making them again. Later, Randy
I agree about the tires smaller than 50 series on the 67 Riviera. Those tiny little rubber band tires look stupid and ride like an early 1920's era Mack truck. Here is a picture of a 66 Riviera GS from the Goodguys meet in Kansas city in 2007 that has the ARW 17" Hopster wheels, and they look great.
here is my 66 with 17x8 TTO's all the way around with Cooper CS4 Touring 235/55/17. Guys have good reason to go with chrome - it looks great! However, I decided it was too bright for me. Originally wanted the darker anthracite color in center, but this is harder to get for 5x5 in 17". AR can make these custom, or you can have a bodyshop paint the TTO centers any color you want. Rattle can also works well if you take your time and mask the machine surfaces well. I was going to paint the centers on these wheels, but the old-school gray has grown on me and i really enjoy it!
I'm in love with the torque thrust M 17" anthracite wheels......... but...... on a 64 wildcat with 4 wheel drum? I have my doubts. Now, someone said something to the effect of custom order.. would American Racing do any rim in anthricite by request? link: http://www.streetdreams.org/wheels/rims/American%2520Racing/Torq-Thrust%2520M/Anthracite%2520with%2520Machined%2520Lip/17/8
the 17x8 TTO's fit over my 66 riv 4wheel drums no problem. Check for the AR TT II's - part number CL205. custom backspacing and most bolt patterns. these look like 5x4.75 - doesn't the 64 wildcat need 5x5? bigger hub diameter too - 3.5"?
this is kind of just a curiousity question, but what would be the effects of switching to a different hub, like a 4.75 or even a truck-based 6-bolt? has anyone done that, and why? 5 on 5 sure make sit hard to find any wheels, if you had 4.75 there are literally millions for sale but 5 on 5 is so frustratingly hard to find. the only modern wheels that seem to work are chevy half ton trucks. the grand cherokee and chrysler pacificas TECHNICALLY work but they are all zero-offset or zero-backspace, whatever you call em. i just call-em flatfacers. u should really at least CHECK OUT toms discount wheels on ebay. i am not connected to them at all, just had a great experience. 500 cash for 4 wheels, 20 lugs, shipping and handling, and they were very very well packaged, no chance of showing up scratched before you even open the box. i am having second thoughts now though. after literally months of thinking and rethinking, i just got impatient and decided on the torqlite for the weight and because i figured hey, maybe the open design would keep the brakes cooler. now i am thinking they do not look "right" on my car, they seem more like they belong on a 2000 camaro or something like that. if anyone wanted to trade straight across for some other buick pattern -17"s, let me know ok? thanks. oh and i know this is off topic, but has anyone found a good way to put exhaust crossover on 67 riv? the x-frame makes it tough. i DO NOT want to sacrifice any clearance, this is a street only car and i do speed bumps, potholes, gravel roads, all the good stuff...... thanks
Coys C5 .......looks like a TT, 5x5, black center and dirt cheap...... that covers just about everything asked for...except, you will have to go 18" to get 9.5" wide
