Chevy 16X8 5 lug rims on a 240?

[Guest LewZStrokerZ]

First post for a new member. I used the search feature and found no info to meet my request about mounting Firebird Formula 16X8 wheels on my 240Z that will have a 383 stroker and beefed up TPI performance 700R4. The car is sure to be traction challenged! Can anyone give me the particulars on how I can do this? (quote]"Smoke 'em if you can, if not, park it!

[RPMS]

You're going to have three issues:

1) Backspacing

2) lug pattern

3) Wide wheel clearance.

 

Which year Firebird wheel are you talking about? Later Firebirds have a positive offset of about 50mm. The Z uses a zero offset rim, so in addition to swapping to the correct lug pattern, you'll also have to put a heck of a set of spacers on there. I don't think you could redrill the hubs to accomodate the Firebird wheel's 5 x 139.7mm bolt circle, so you'd probably need to buy custom made 5-lug hubs. I don't want to even think about how much that would cost you.

 

With 8" wide wheels, I believe you'd need to either use coilovers or fender flares to keep them from rubbing against the strut housing or the body. Remember that your 240 originally came with a 4 1/4" wide rim. Cramming that much more wheel inside the well ain't gonna be a piece of cake.

 

Generally, the best advice for a street car seems to be to use readily available Honda wheels with a set of Modern Motorsports spacers. If you're dead set on using Firebird wheels and you can't be talked out of it, you'll have to alter plenty of stuff to get them to work, for neglegible benefit.

 

Good luck, and welcome to the board!