[Firebird-GEEK]

I am on the hunt for some temporary wheels that I could mount while doing paint and fabrication... car would not be driven with the wheels... just Rolled around.

I am still doing the quarter panels and other fixes so I would rather order my final wheels when I can get some accurate measurements after everything is finally welded together. Plus, I would rather weld/grind/paint the car without the expensive final set of wheels and tires on the car.
Problem... I need 17" or above to clear the Wilwood brakes, plus 1/2 wheel studs.

I figured it would be easy just to go to a junk yard and get some... WRONG. Hardly any vehicle I find uses something that would work. I did manage to track down some 5th gen Camaro 18" steel wheels.. with 245/55/18 on them. They are almost new and the guy wants $400 for everthing. I REALLY hate spending that much on something that will not stay on the car, for this is a budget build. But at this point can't think of anything else...

QUESTION: They are a 28.6" diameter.. will they fit? Anyone else find a better/cheaper fix?

Thanks for any advice...

[Eleanor's Nemesis]

Go to harbor freight they probably carry some car dollie set ups for cheap. I have some nice Snap On wheel dollie, but they are not cheap.

[Firebird-GEEK]

Originally Posted by Eleanor's Nemesis

Go to harbor freight they probably carry some car dollie set ups for cheap. I have some nice Snap On wheel dollie, but they are not cheap.

Thanks for the reply.

I do already have some "skates" that I used to move it around before I started the tear down... but now I would like to actually mount a wheel and tire set so as to be able to load the car on a trailer, or even when putting it on a hoist or ramp.

So I need to be able to mount a wheel and tire.

[DjD]

What year is your car? I don't think 5th gen wheels would work, check the bolt pattern and backspacing before buying anything...

I can't believe you don't have a used tire and wheel shop near you somewhere... Check your local craigslist as well.

[Firebird-GEEK]

Originally Posted by DjD

What year is your car? I don't think 5th gen wheels would work, check the bolt pattern and backspacing before buying anything...

I can't believe you don't have a used tire and wheel shop near you somewhere... Check your local craigslist as well.

Sorry... would help with a little info wouldn't it...
67 Firebird Convert
has been mini-tubed

I know that 5th Gen camaros run a 120mm bolt patern, but it is REALLY close to the 4.75... I don't mind doing a bit tweeking to the steel wheel, for it will never be driven on these wheels, just SLOWLY moved around.

That is why I hate paying $400 for a set of wheels that it will never drive on... but at this point I just can't find anything better.

My main concern was the 28.6" diameter... didn't know if I would have issue fitting it under the car.

[BobKovacs]

I've got a set of temporary 15" rally wheels on my 69 with 60-series tires that measure just over 26" tall, and the wheelwells are pretty full. I'd think the 28" tires would fit, provided there's not too much backspacing on the 5th gen wheels to shove them too far in and cause them to hit the wheelwells. Some of those things have very little rim showing out front, which tells me that there's tons of rim "back in the hole".

As you've already seen, the boltspacing is slightly different, and you're going to booger up the holes to get the 1/2" studs thru, so I wouldn't plan on being able to resell them. Are you sure a 16" rim like the 3rd gen Camaros used wouldn't fit? Those things are usually on Craiglist for $150 with tires. If you take the calipers off, you might even get a 15" on there.

[Vintage 68]

I found a couple of those "Pretend" ('compact'?) spare tires in the trunks of some wrecks at the local Pick-N-Pull that I've used several times to as 'paint-temp.' tires on vehicles.
These are off 'disc' vehicles and have cleared even 12" rotors so far.
I just measured between the holes to be sure both had a 4.750" circle and were the same tire size.
They were cheap (1/2-off day ) and have been pretty handy to have around.
May be the ticket for your needs ...

[Firebird-GEEK]

Originally Posted by Vintage 68

I found a couple of those "Pretend" ('compact'?) spare tires in the trunks of some wrecks at the local Pick-N-Pull that I've used several times to as 'paint-temp.' tires on vehicles.
These are off 'disc' vehicles and have cleared even 12" rotors so far.
I just measured between the holes to be sure both had a 4.750" circle and were the same tire size.
They were cheap (1/2-off day ) and have been pretty handy to have around.
May be the ticket for your needs ...

You don't remember the make and model of vehicle you took them out of do you?

[Eleanor's Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Firebird-GEEK

Thanks for the reply.

I do already have some "skates" that I used to move it around before I started the tear down... but now I would like to actually mount a wheel and tire set so as to be able to load the car on a trailer, or even when putting it on a hoist or ramp.

So I need to be able to mount a wheel and tire.

LOL, sorry about that...I misread your post. Good luck on finding the wheels.

Are you near Watertown, SD, by chance? Or is tht San Diego for your location?

[Vega$69]

You can use these

http://www.kugelkomponents.com/zenca...roducts_id=100

or I have seen guys double up 3/4" plywood circles glued and screwed 90* cross grain. In fact I saw them with the wooden wheels on a project car this weekend on Muscle Car TV

[Cruzer]

I found that old wheels off of S10 pickups are easy to find and normally quite economical.

[Firebird-GEEK]

Originally Posted by Eleanor's Nemesis

LOL, sorry about that...I misread your post. Good luck on finding the wheels.

Are you near Watertown, SD, by chance? Or is tht San Diego for your location?

Actually pretty close... Aberdeen, South Dakota...

[dadstoy]

Temporary spares from mid 80's Chevrolet's work well.

[Steiner]

Why not just pop the calipers off for the time being and put whatever you can scrounge up on there. Just need a couple of chunks of firewood for your brakes. I don't think the 1/2" studs will be a problem with most wheels.

[X-77 keith]

Just a thought. You can get four temporary wheels and turn them inside out. This will work for puting on trailer orjust sitting in the shop. I had to do his to move a Torinado one time.