I'm going to buy some wheels for my 69 Camaro and wonder if anyone sees any problems with them fitting.

My Camaro hasn't been lowered or modified and I'm thinking of getting Foose legends:
17x7 in the front with 245/45/17 with 4.25" backspacing and 17x8 in the rear with 255/45/17 with 4.5" backspacing. I've got drum breaks.

Will these work. Any info is much appreciated.

I put my brothers wheels on the rear which were 17x8 with 5.5" with 245/45/17 tires and we had to put a 1" spacer so it would be away from the inner.

heres the maximum you can go with 17s

17-inch: 17x91/2 with 6-inch back-spacing up front; you’ll need to modify the steering stops or the lower control arm to prevent contact. Camaros use 17x10 rears, Firebirds use 17x11, both with 6-inch backspacing. As mentioned in the 15-inch recommendations, you’ll need to remove the seatbelt retractor and bulge. Use tires with an aspect ratio of 40 or less with widths of 275 front, 295-315 rear. This is a really tight fit, so success will vary car-to-car.

I think you will find for a '69 anything larger than 17x8 with a 4.75" back spacing up front and 245/45's on them will require removing the inner fenders or greatly modifying them. For the rear 17x9.5 with a 5.5" back space (maybe 10 with 5.75") and 275/40 tires is max before a mini-tub becomes necessary.

heres the maximum you can go with 17s

17-inch: 17x91/2 with 6-inch back-spacing up front; you’ll need to modify the steering stops or the lower control arm to prevent contact. Camaros use 17x10 rears, Firebirds use 17x11, both with 6-inch backspacing. As mentioned in the 15-inch recommendations, you’ll need to remove the seatbelt retractor and bulge. Use tires with an aspect ratio of 40 or less with widths of 275 front, 295-315 rear. This is a really tight fit, so success will vary car-to-car.

Yes these sizes ARE a really tight fit. Do you have any pictures of lowered '69 1st gen f-bodies with 17x11 with 315s IN the stock wheel wells? If so could you please post them.

I think you will find for a '69 anything larger than 17x8 with a 4.75" back spacing up front and 245/45's on them will require removing the inner fenders or greatly modifying them. For the rear 17x9.5 with a 5.5" back space (maybe 10 with 5.75") and 275/40 tires is max before a mini-tub becomes necessary.

Based on my experience You are going to find what Dennis suggested will have a much better chance of fitting without extensive modifications. Always keep in mind all these cars are a little different and rust and sheet metal replacement has an effect on what fits. Another thing to consider is that 17" and up wheels "look" a lot better when the car is lowered a little. Good luck with what ever you decide.

Thanks for the advise everyone. I'm going to do some more measuring before I order just to be safe. Have a good day!

B-Rad

I think you will find for a '69 anything larger than 17x8 with a 4.75" back spacing up front and 245/45's on them will require removing the inner fenders or greatly modifying them. For the rear 17x9.5 with a 5.5" back space (maybe 10 with 5.75") and 275/40 tires is max before a mini-tub becomes necessary.

spot-on advice there...:thumbsup:

put on a set of foose legends on my 69, 235/40/18 & 275/40/18. no fender mods and no rubbing. picked them up from jon at driverzincorporated.

put on a set of foose legends on my 69, 235/40/18 & 275/40/18. no fender mods and no rubbing. picked them up from jon at www.driverzinc.com.

Fixed it for you...;)

I think you will find for a '69 anything larger than 17x8 with a 4.75" back spacing up front and 245/45's on them will require removing the inner fenders or greatly modifying them. For the rear 17x9.5 with a 5.5" back space (maybe 10 with 5.75") and 275/40 tires is max before a mini-tub becomes necessary.
Can I go 17x9 with 275/40/17 for rear. If so what back spacing.

Can I go 17x9 with 275/40/17 for rear. If so what back spacing.
this is what I can get in the foose legends

17x9 5/4.75,
+7mm Offset, 5.25" Backspace

What are your thoughts?
Thanks, Brad

Brad start with the 9.5" wide wheel and 5.5" of backspacing and work down. Split the width difference like this. A 9.5" wheel has 5.5" from the mounting surface (the pad) to the inside edge of the rim (as mounted on the car). That means there is 4" from the pad to the outer edge of the rim (outer fender). Any smaller width wheel that fits between those 2 numbers should work. Some examples that work:

9" width with 5.5" of bs has 3.5" from the pad towards the outer lip.

9" width with 5.25" of bs has 3.75" from the pad towards the outer lip.

9" width with 5" of bs has 4" from the pad towards the outer lip.

The better you center the wheel and tire in the wheel well the better off you are but in theory if a 275 tire fits on the 9.5" wide wheel with 5.5" of BS it should fit on the 3 examples above. If you have rear disc's expect to have to roll or trim the fender lip if your wheel has 4" from the pad to the outer rim lip.

Brad start with the 9.5" wide wheel and 5.5" of backspacing and work down. Split the width difference like this. A 9.5" wheel has 5.5" from the mounting surface (the pad) to the inside edge of the rim (as mounted on the car). That means there is 4" from the pad to the outer edge of the rim (outer fender). Any smaller width wheel that fits between those 2 numbers should work. Some examples that work:

9" width with 5.5" of bs has 3.5" from the pad towards the outer lip.

9" width with 5.25" of bs has 3.75" from the pad towards the outer lip.

9" width with 5" of bs has 4" from the pad towards the outer lip.

The better you center the wheel and tire in the wheel well the better off you are but in theory if a 275 tire fits on the 9.5" wide wheel with 5.5" of BS it should fit on the 3 examples above. If you have rear disc's expect to have to roll or trim the fender lip if your wheel has 4" from the pad to the outer rim lip.
I've got drum breaks in the rear.
I just ordered Foose legends, 17"x9" width with 5.25" backspacing and 275/40/17 BF Goodrich tires for the rear.

I'll let you know how they fit and upload pictures.
Thank you so much for your help!
Brad