Wide 5 or standard

@Michael McKelvey posted:

With typical steel VW wheels, when you go from 4.5" to 5.5" the additional inch is on the outside of the hub.  For my IRS CMC, I needed 5.5" wheels with the inch on the inside to clear the wheel opening - the relationship of the edge of the opening to the wheel needs to be the same as for a 4.5" wheel.  I got such special wheels from the Beck folks many years ago.

To fit the back of my car I need 5.5" wheels with about a 5" backspace. Unfortunately, the 4-lug gas burners and the Pedrini wheels have less than that as do the nice aluminum wheels from VMC.

This is why I have not ordered any wheels or brakes..   need to measure against the body to see what offset I need.   I suspect it will be similar to your case as I have IRS & CMC combo like you. 

Fitting 5-1/2" wheels under a pan-based IRS Speedster is a trick. I think VMC is doing it. I'm wondering how. As far as I know, it takes narrowed trailing arms to get it done.

John Steele got around it by running 4-1/2" Mahles on all 4 corners. It's why Kirk-'n-Mary VS "regular body" speedsters were swing-axle - so he could run 5-1/2" wheels.

I have 5.5" wheels on my CMC without narrowed training arms.  On the wheels I mentioned above, the backspace is approximately 5".  I have about 5/16" clearance at the closest space between the wheel opening and the tire.

I did reduce the width of the opening edge a bit.

My VMC is on a ‘74 Beetle pan with IRS and  5.5” wide Vintage 190s.  According to Greg’s website these wheels have 4.0” backspacing.  So yeah VMC is doing it.

With its current stance as established by Greg, I don’t rub tires.  I have not attempted to lower my car even thought the stance would be just about perfect IMHO if it was lowered about 1”.  I’m already scrapping on the exhaust now and then, and with my lowered seat pans I just don’t want to temp fate.

@Michael McKelvey posted:

I have 5.5" wheels on my CMC without narrowed training arms.  On the wheels I mentioned above, the backspace is approximately 5".  I have about 5/16" clearance at the closest space between the wheel opening and the tire.

I did reduce the width of the opening edge a bit.

I understand how you did it, Michael, but those special wheels are unobtainum for most folks. Like almost everything else on your car - it was just really well thought out.

Any one have any photos or can they really tell the difference from the average person on a 4.5" to 5.5"  I have a 73 IRS.  I do not plan on a racer or anything I am more looking for cruising and looks.

Has anyone fitted the big 5 pattern 5 1/2 inch Brazilian chrome rims on the back of an IRS rear suspension

EDIT : I guess thats not a good question since most people have 4 lug drums on the IRS chassis ,  there are 4 lug to big 5 pattern  adapters , but that moves it out another 1/2 or whatever the adapter width is......

Did they make Brazilian 4 lug chromr rims , if so do those fit the back of a Speedster ?

@Stan Galat, I arrived at this well though out solution only after buying four 5.5" wheels that didn't fit.  I still have them.  They are Mangle wheels, never used, with a little rust.  I have tried to sell them at $50 each plus shipping.  It seems like they could be coated with the PlastiDip wheel coating.

@Michael McKelvey posted:

@Stan Galat, I arrived at this well though out solution only after buying four 5.5" wheels that didn't fit.  I still have them.  They are Mangle wheels, never used, with a little rust.  I have tried to sell them at $50 each plus shipping.  It seems like they could be coated with the PlastiDip wheel coating.

You should see my pile of wheels, Michael. There's a lot of wrong ways to do this.

@Erik A Hopperton posted:

Any one have any photos or can they really tell the difference from the average person on a 4.5" to 5.5"  I have a 73 IRS.  I do not plan on a racer or anything I am more looking for cruising and looks.

The “average person?” No. I can tell the correct 4.5 from 5.5 simply by looking at them.

The 5.5” rears have more front spacing* than the 4.5 fronts, but afaik, Carey has (had?) these wheels made special. I don’t know what the usual suspects are selling.

*IIRC, the offset (back spacing) is the same on both wheels. The extra inch is all on the outside of the flange.

The same goes for original (not repro) Fuchs wheels.  The added width is all on the outside of the hub flange.

@Erik A Hopperton posted:

Any one have any photos or can they really tell the difference from the average person on a 4.5" to 5.5"  I have a 73 IRS.  I do not plan on a racer or anything I am more looking for cruising and looks.

@Erik A Hopperton

Eric, for visual reference here are a few pics that may help you. Click on pics to enlarge.

Here is a pic of our group caravan during one of our West Coast Cruises. The lead car (our SOC buddy Marc LaFont) is a VS (Kirk Duncan Vintage Speedster) swing-axle with 4.5" wheels. The following car also swing-axel and 4.5" wheels. Both cars clad with 165/65/15 tires and standard suspension ride height.

Here is a rear view of our SOC buddy's car (Cory McClosky). VS swing-axle with 4.5" wheels also clad with 165/65/15 tires. Also standard suspension ride height.

Here is a front view of my VS swing-axle with 5.5" wheels (4.5" off-set) clad with 185/60/15 (lower and wider tires for more aggressive look). Also lowered from standard suspension ride height by lowering adjustable rear swing arms and front 2" drop-spindles as well as lowering front axle adjust-a-lift.

Here is the rear view with this tire & suspension set up. I wanted a lower and more aggressive stance for my outlaw build.

Hope you find this visual reference helpful!

@MusbJim that stance and set up is fantastic. Hoping to have the same look on my pending wide body 356 Outlaw build

Are you familiar with this guy by chance?

https://instagram.com/hansdeta...?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I like his work & after speaking with him he seems sure that he has some wheels that would fit my car w the ~4” offset and bolt pattern.

Looks like he does nice work.

@MusbJim posted:

@Erik A Hopperton

Eric, for visual reference here are a few pics that may help you. Click on pics to enlarge.

Thank you, that is about as clear as I think it could get.   Appreciate you taking the time.

Side note, tonight's lesson was learning how difficult it is to remove 50 year old ball joints so I can sand blast. 😡

What is there not to like about Fuch wheels love those on your car Jim.

@IaM-Ray posted:

What is there not to like about Fuch wheels love those on your car Jim.

They’re the Guards Red of wheels.