MYRON Posted June 22, 2001 Share Posted June 22, 2001 I think I may have just hit the jackpot! on of my vendors bought a 1999 Lightning and he has finally reached the 15,000 mile mark and he picked up a flat tire. He went to get a new tire and went into sticker shock.. Long story short: I got the set with 3 good tires and one that has a nail in it for 500.00... I plan on picking them up next week.. Question is, can I squeeze them under the Z car and has anyone done a ford rotor conversion? Myron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted June 22, 2001 Share Posted June 22, 2001 I looked HARD at those wheels - they're SWEET! However I am pretty convinced they wouldn't fit under the car. However since you got them at a steal by all means see if they will - at least measure them and compare to what I found in other threads. Rotors are no biggie if it's the 5 on 4.5 Ford pattern - that's what I converted to! 300ZX hubs up front and redrilled hubs in back. Be aware the front track moves with the new hubs up front so measuring with stock stuff won't be accurate. Try to use my measurements if you can or pass them along and I and others can try to help. I looked long and hard to find those in a 17inch pattern - no go. IF they don't fit and won't work let me know, I may know someone who would love to have those wheels. He's not got them now due to the cost of the tires Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted June 23, 2001 Share Posted June 23, 2001 Myron. Big flares. Coil Overs. Spacers. Make em fit!!!!! [ June 23, 2001: Message edited by: Drax240z ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scca Posted June 23, 2001 Share Posted June 23, 2001 the short of it is they wont fit a unflared car.. i would have boughtthose for my car as theyare DIRT cheap new. like $175 per rim.. but no flares no fit.. 9" is the absolute max on a early z a ZX will take a 9.5 i think.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JAMIE T Posted June 24, 2001 Share Posted June 24, 2001 Hey Mike/SCCA, what backspace would you recommend for a 9" wheel? I have some 17"x8.5" Steeda wheels that came off my old mustang. I beleive that the backspace is 6", or real close to that. My car has ZG flares. Jamie Deathstar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted June 25, 2001 Share Posted June 25, 2001 Those Steeda wheels are SWESOME! The shop has a set that I really wanted in the display case but I didn't see any way to make them fit If you can figure out how to do it it would look GREAT IMO! Flares would help - I've got stock wheelwells. The measurements I posted awhile ago may help if you do the math and whatnot for the 9inch wheel. It's having them pushed in too FAR that's the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 25, 2001 Share Posted June 25, 2001 since we are on the subject. I got a 73' with 2.5 inch fender flares on the front and 3.5 inch fender flares on the rear, i am interested in putting 18x9 OZ volcano's on and i was wondering what offset i would want so i wouldnt have to use spacers, i have coilovers and the Arizona Z Car brakes with the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern. I am just curious...i really dont want to use spacers.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scca Posted June 25, 2001 Share Posted June 25, 2001 no one else here (to my knowledge) has bought the AZZ 5 lug setup.. i have no idea where he got the idea from so cant offer any input on where his rear puts the hub flange.. you will need to do lots of measuring. unless they are 3 piece rims you WILL need spacers. nothing 5 lug seems to come out far enough to fill the flares on a Z. i just put 17x8 5 star stang wheels on a 75 with 3" flares and it needed 1.5" almost onthe rear to make it look decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYRON Posted June 25, 2001 Author Share Posted June 25, 2001 The Lightning wheels look to have a close to centered offset. I plan on doing the coil over springs on my 78. The wheels Pete has look to fill the wells quite nicely and they are 17x9.5's. I am going to pick them up Thursday and if it doesnt look like I can make them fit I already have a buyer at double what I paid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scca Posted June 25, 2001 Share Posted June 25, 2001 Petes are 9" not 9.5"... and jamie... the 8.5 should work out real well.. the 8" here were close to a 6" BS as well you will 4sure need coilovers.. expect to need spacers on all 4 corners.. take your BS measuerment and compare to Jims. he's done the most measurement work to date. i do each car and then forget about it.. i believe Jim ordered +20 and +40 rims and will need minimal spacers.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYRON Posted June 26, 2001 Author Share Posted June 26, 2001 I just called the local Ford Motorsports shop in town and he could not tell me the backspacing on the wheel, however he did quote me 471.00 on a replacement rim. I can understand the dealer making some money on these, but did I miss something? As posted earlier, SCCA mentioned 175.00 each. Are there different size wheels on the different year model Lightnings? Are the ones mentioned an aftermarket copy?.. Myron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted June 26, 2001 Share Posted June 26, 2001 No, you didn't miss anything - there's profit to be made when someone hits something and their truck ends up in the Ford bodyshop My measurements were indeed +20 and +40mm but remember that I was using 300ZX hubs and 8inch wide wheels. IF your wheels are a different width than adjust your measurements accordingly - it makes a difference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scca Posted June 26, 2001 Share Posted June 26, 2001 i'll have to hunt up the ad, but theres a place in detroit selling oem ford rims for less than most aftermarket.. www.buyfordmotorsport.com the litnings are $175 ea and regular cobra R rims only $125 so.. hence my pricing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYRON Posted June 26, 2001 Author Share Posted June 26, 2001 Gotcha.. Can the strut towers be slightly angled inward to accomodate a wider rim without adversly affecting the suspension geometry and can it be alligned properly if done?.. I know that one can get a coil over conversion and that the spring perches can be raised up above the wheel. I havnt been under the back of the car in a while and I cannot remember exactly how the strut is attached to the axle housing.. Myron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scca Posted June 26, 2001 Share Posted June 26, 2001 cant move the strut housing inside as that will throw more camber into it.. eliminate one problem and add a second.. i've seen one car that actually narrowed the lower a-arms in the rear and added coilovers to get a wider rim in under stock wheelwells. then use camber plates to get it straight again -- i wouldnt do this though... if you eliminated the strut tube and made it a coilover shock instead and mounted it further inside you may be able to gain that 1/2" extra-- but you are talking major mods. it would be better to have a GOOD body man bow the 1/4's out 1/2" as a very small body flare.. it would be barely noticeable . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYRON Posted June 26, 2001 Author Share Posted June 26, 2001 Yeah, they are 18x9.5 truck rims wrapped in 295/45ZR F1's. They are a 5 spoke wheel that looks pretty dang good.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted June 27, 2001 Share Posted June 27, 2001 According to the application chart at American Racing Ford F-150s have a larger 5 bolt circle than the passenger car 5-bolt circle. up to '96 they are 5 x 5.5" '97 and up they are 5 x 135mm. Is the '99 Lightning a F-150? If so you will need a wheel hub adaptor. F-100s and Rangers use the 5 x 4.5" circle thru '85. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted June 28, 2001 Share Posted June 28, 2001 Guys keep in mind that a 5lug conversion with stpock fenders puts you at wanting +40mm up FRONT and +20mm in back. I AM using some small spacers with that and coilovers but that gets you in the ballpark. I'm not sure that zero offset would work well especially for the front. +40mm is a decent amount and is something spacers DON'T do. Measure and do the math before you buy anything, I'm VERY glad I did. P.S. I like these! http://www.custom-wheels.com/Whelinfo/256info.htm [ June 27, 2001: Message edited by: BLKMGK ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted June 28, 2001 Share Posted June 28, 2001 Umm do you know where those 5lug hubs come from? From a later model Z! I don't think you're likely to find a better candidate It uses stock seals and stock bearings - what more could you want? It bolts right on, it must if I did it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scca Posted June 29, 2001 Share Posted June 29, 2001 AFAIK the only other similar 5 lug hub is from a firechicken./camaro? i believe it had similar bearings - the seals would be a issue and then your on to 5 on 5... some may like the pattern difference but the rear hub wont allow redrilling it so then you need to do a adapter/spacer combo to do the rears......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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