Wheel spacers

I am in the process of converting a Beck to large five bolt pattern. Using CB Performance disc brake kit up front and 67 drums (with drum skins) out back. I remember in the old days you could put "Carrera" wheel spacers on the rear of your 356. Need to know if "Carrera" wheel spacers can still be purchased somewhere or do I have to make my own aluminum ones on the lathe? The Beck will be running 4.0x15" wheels front and rear. Somewhere on the web there was a Beck running 3.5x16" vintage rims, 356 drums and rear wheel spacers.

I think if you put spacers on the rear, the tires will rub unless you alter the wheel offset. I have 5.5's on the rear and 4.5's on the front. The rear wheels had to be re-welded to accomodate the wide axle common to Beck cars. I have a 4.5 as a spare and it just barely fits. The 4.0 rim may have a different offset but if 4.5's will fit, why use spacers??

Spacers are available via some of the Porsche restoration guys.

Larry I need to bring the 4.0" rim out. Changing the rear axles to 67 short axles and using 67 drums. This will bring in the rear wheels about .5" from current. the 4" rim will bring the wheel in another .3". Tires are being changed from 205/60/15 to 165SR15. This will leave too much of a gap between the tire and the rear wheel well lip. As well my drum skins do not like skinny rims and are a very tight fit inside an early 4" rim. Are drum skins suppose to fit that tight in the rim.

I'm not sure how tight they actually are????

My skins fit tight but don't actually hit the rim, probably due to the different offset and due to me using 4.5's and 5.5's. If I remove a wheel, the drum skins usually stay with the rotor assembly.

double post

What 5 bolt wheel can I use that will give me a correct offset? The four bolt wheels have a more negative offset (if that makes sense). All the 5 bolt wheels I have a more shallow offset, thus; stick out further than the 4 bolt Mengal wheels. In the rear its not a problem. Larry you are correct, the wheels do not need a spacer to correct the offset. The fronts will stick out about 1/4" further than the chrome 4 bolt units. Checking out the pictures that Murph posted his offset and wheel selection looks good...What is my problem? Do I have to buy a set of used 356 wheels? HELP!

Personally, I think the problem is that you're using 4.0" rims.

The smaller cross section wheel probably has a different offset.

Why not try a 4.5" and see if it works,

Thanks Larry. I installed my wheel skins tonight and only one is tight inside the rim, the other is loose. Both sets of "big five" rims have the same offset. The other set are all 5.5" chrome Lemmers which resemble the 356 rim, but have the same offset. I am going for that vintage look so only running 165SR15 tires all around. The worse thing that can happen is that my fronts will be a little wider. I will take some pictures tomorrow and post them.

If you are looking for a set of the wheel spacers I have them from 5mm up to 30mm pricees start from $7 each

Dario

www.550spyderproducts.com

Thank Dario. I am still looking for wheels with the correct offset. Since I put your drum skins on the back and a set of 67 VW five bolt wheels everyone thinks its an orignal Spyder (still have not done the fronts yet, waiting for our Victoria day long weekend). Funny what two pieces of aluminum and some old wheels will do.

actually those wheel skins were not made by me...I actually got them in a trade...I do on the other hand have a set of fronts if anyone is interested in.....contact me if you are.....Dario

Heiko: Did you use the drop spindles that come with the CB front brake kit? I talked to the CB folks and they told me that their kit would not fit my existing spindles and they were not, at this time, considering making a standard spindle kit. Any enlightenment would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Cheers!