Corvair Forum

I've got the wheels narrowed down to what I'm wanting (and the wife likes them too. Bonus!) but I'm not able to find answers to a few questions I'd like answered before I buy. I'm hoping some of you much more "internet & Corvair savvy" folks can help me figure.

This is going on my 63 Convertible. I'm thinking these will fit...
https://wheelsamerica.com/product/nissa ... wheel-rim/

15X6. I found on eBay the Offset is 10mm (did not say +/-) and I'm not finding any back space numbers anywhere. Plus the fact that I will need to use adapters to get the bolt pattern right (EM is 4x114.3 but rims are 4x4.5, at least this is what I've found).

1. Help me to find correct adapters and to be sure that with this offset with adapters they will still fit? Or am I getting to carried away wanting these wheels?

2. I've spent lots of time looking for specs to know if the center holes will work for the Corvair. or will the adapters make up the difference? I just don't know and would hate to buy and find out later they wont work.

3. This company doesn't sell center caps so I need to know where to buy and what size? Hopefully some aftermarket caps so they dont have a big "Z" on them.

I will try to contact this company later in the week as I have some medical issues to deal with first thing this week. Getting older sucks!

As I said, the Wife likes these and so do I. But if they are going to be more trouble than they are worth, Stand too far out and not look centered in the wheel wells, or any other issues I just don't know about, I will look for something else. Please help.
I was thinking of 215/60s in the rear with 195/60s in the front. A little difference front to rear and if need be I will go with 205/60s in the rear or all the way around if it helps get them under the car better.

My mind is about mush trying to determine if all this is going to work. I think I seen a picture of an EM on the web with these rims but now cant find it or I'd try to contact that owner for answers. Please help me figure this out.
Thanks.

And BTW, Merry Christmas to you all!

Found the picture.
keitho64
Now if he would chime in. Sending PM.

Wow, i guess 4.5 is the same as 114.3. ha. In this case no adaptor is needed. Thats great news. Thanks Google!

Just longer studs and new lugnuts

Not sure how much this helps but I run the stock steel Z Car wheels on my '61 Lakewood. The fronts are 185-65-14 on a '72 date coded, 5" wheels and the rears are 215-60-14 on a 78 date coded, 5.5" wheel. I have the front springs cut one coil. Some differences to your car would be I have a group 24 battery up front as well the spare tire. So, an additional 50-60 pounds. With me driving I notice no rubbing but with a passenger I detect a little. I found this gold car with the previous generation (1978) Z alloy wheels on Google Images and they mention the tire size too (similar to mine). http://autoxer.skiblack.com/wheelpics.html Scroll down to the Gold Early for info.

I have no clue if there is a difference between the Lakewood and the Convertible wheel wells and hubs. Id hate to find out the hard way the center holes are not big enough.But thanks for the input.

I will do some comparing of the tire sizes. And drums.

Thanks for that Frank.
So this means the rims I'm wanting should have a large enough center hole. Ive figured out I wont need adapter plates.
I found lots of options on the web for center caps. I just have to wait until i have the measurement.

I'm guessing that if the rims do have a 10mm offset that would be ok as the rims are only 6 inch so fitting without rubbing will be down to tire size. I guess I will have to see if i can find a shop that will mount up a 215/60 on a rim when i get them. Then see if it will fit in the rear. As I think the 195 or 185 in the front shouldn't be an issue.

If anyone else has 215/60 in the rear of a EM let me know. I know Wittsend said he has them so... Difference of his are 14s and mine are 15s.

Update:
I just went to looking at tires again and found that its not recommended to put a 215 on a 6" rim. But it seems like it can be done.

I've got 17x7 wheels and 225s on an early with no mods. I'm not sure of the offset. They don't rub any more than stock tires/wheels if at all. Stock tires and wheels will rub in the front center of the fender lip if you bottom the suspension at full lock on a lot of cars but not all. I think it is really close and manufacturing tolerances determine if they do or not. I had a '62 that was bad enough to bend the fender lip.

225? I didn't think I had that much room. Plus going on 6' wheels that may be a bit much. I took a look and see my 140 muffler is a little more than an inch away from the tire. I bet I ca rotate the connection at the manifold a bit and get a little more clearance but not a lot.

I will have to get these wheels and test out a used 215 to see how it fits. Thanks for the comment Joel! I'm not sure I can get someone to mount 225's on a 6 inch wheel. LOL. But If it would fit...

BTW, I did get a reply from Keith from the PM I sent him. He did a write up on putting these wheels on his car. Too bad all the pictures are gone as he did it on the other forum. He mentioned eccentric rings helped him get a smoother rid.

Guess I just need to go for it and pull the trigger. Thanks for all the info and comments folks.

If the wheels don't have tapered seats you will need rings. If they have tapered seats you don't need them.

Tapered seats? What specific part is the seat? Guessing the section that touches the drum? Tapered around the center circle? Or something else? Again guessing, but if around the center ring is tapered then an eccentric ring wouldnt fit correctly. Right?
Im still not sure what type of lug nuts these use. Im starting to think the same as old mags. With the long shank that goes into the rim stud hole. I bought the rims. Now to see how long it takes to get delivered from TX to CO during the holiday season.

I think he's talking about the lug nuts being tapered. If the wheels use conical lug nuts then you can run without centric rings, although I would still advise to if possible. You are loading the lug studs more without the rings. If they use the straight style with a washer then you will want centric rings.

Ahhhh. Yes! I agree. Acorn shaped lugnuts hopefully. But i will know in a week or so.
Thanks for explaining Nate.

Yes, tapered seats for the lug nuts. Center rings don't do anything except help align things when you put the wheel on. The stretch on the studs providing clamping force between the wheel and drum is what supports the load. I've got a 33,000 lb truck that has no centering outside of the tapered seats. Later 80,000lb trucks use hub center but they only have little tabs that center the wheel on the hub.

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas Eve.

Jerry reached out to me and I figured I would post the note to share on how I made the Nissan / Datsun 15X6 rims, called Swastika Rims from a Datsun 280 ZX Turbo. Yes this is the name. The wheels 14.5 pounds each and have a 4” backspace.

These wheels require Hub Centering and the Corvair is lug centered. To make the conversion I needed hub centering rings and new lug nuts.

The OD on the Corvair hub is 2.625” and the ID on the wheels is 3.00”. I used a hub ring that was 2.620” ID and 2.992:OD; this should be the link: http://www.prestigewheel.com/cgi-bin/co ... =HR76-6656

The Lug Nuts are 7/16X20, the shoulder is ¾ deep, the OD is 5/8 and this is the link to the lugs I used. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/gor-73177cr I did add a second washer with a 1 3/16 OD to help center the wheel. I have been running the car since 2009 in this setup.

I was running 205/60-15 tires on all 4 corners, but the fronts would rub when making tight corners. I went with 195/60-15 tires on the front this summer and that resolved all the rubbing.

I did some painting on the wheels to match the car. Art from Missouri on the Corvair Center had the Bow Tie stickers and sent me some to finish off the look.

Here are some of the pictures I took back in 2009 when I did this.

Here are some pictures of the lug nuts.

Thank you Keith!
Great pictures and info I need for sure. You have helped me extremely.
Enjoy the engine build and my best to you and yours.

BTW, I didnt believe the name of these rims so I went to a Z forum and yep. Thats what they call them.