New Shoes for the 71

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Just got off the phone with the wheel manufacture Wharehouse manager in Rockhill SC. He assured me these wheels will work. He said there is no reason why it want that he knows of. I guess I'll find out Monday.

Have you read this thread?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=352320.

[Andy4639]

[B]Yes I read it and I have the 1" rotor's on mine. Hope I have no issues but then again I didn't think we would yesterday either. I now have to see if I can go to a bigger brake caliper after I get them installed. To help on the stopping power.[/B

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

[B]Yes I read it and I have the 1" rotor's on mine. Hope I have no issues but then again I didn't think we would yesterday either. I now have to see if I can go to a bigger brake caliper after I get them installed. To help on the stopping power.[/B

Oh.
I saw your truck was a '71 and assumed it had the original 1.25" wide rotors.
I didn't know it had been changed over to the Light Duty 81-87 spindle assembly.
Sorry for the wrong info.

[k5hart]

Will you be alright with running a spacer on the back? If it's a stock rear it's going to be necessary. I have a small spacer on my '91 because of tire size and haven't had any problems but I know some people don't like them at all.

They are good looking wheels and will look great on your truck. I hope they work out. Make sure you check EVERYTHING. Make sure the fronts seat correctly (should with 1" rotors), backs don't rub, and all caps go all the way on. Also check the quality which you already have experienced.

Hope to see you around the palmetto state this year.

[Andy4639]

lolife99,
I'm not sure but I think it does have a smaller rotor, back when I replaced them a few years ago it does seem like I had to change years to get the rotor new. I'm not going to swear to it until Monday though!
What I meant was the 10" wheel fit fine yesterday when he put it on the front hub. It had plenty of space around the spindale and I couldn't see any issue with it at all. No the cap wasn't installed either but I hope I fixed that to. I went to O-Rileys today and pick up some short caps for it so I should have plenty of room. Monday will be the true test though! I'm going to hope for the best.

[brossow]

Subscribing to see how this turns out....

[Andy4639]

Well I didn't hear anything yesterday so maybe today!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I hope all goes well for ya new wheels can be such a pain in the azz but im sure they will look great when installed.

[Andy4639]

Thanks, the wheel store said they were going to make them work no matter what it took. They said I would be driving the truck home that day. Whichever day that is. I sure hope they work out.

[brossow]

That's the only real problem with the 338s: they have to be made to work.

[Andy4639]

I'm beyond happy!! 5 minutes of grounding the front hub and they fit perfect. I can't be any happier!!!! The guys did a great job on the install. Full of nitergen also.



Front tires.



I have plenty of room and they don't scrub no where. No spacers at all nowhere on them.

[brossow]

With what looks like 1/4-1/2" of clearance on those back tires, you'd better pray there's no side-to-side shifting while cornering or other routine driving that causes the suspension to flex and the body to move.

Did you compare the front and rear track widths? I'd be interested to see some low-angle pictures from straight on at front and rear. I'm guessing you'll find a narrower track at the rear than up front. Not criticizing in the least, but the simple fact is the offset on these wheels is wrong at the rear for this generation of trucks.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by brossow

With what looks like 1/4-1/2" of clearance on those back tires, you'd better pray there's no side-to-side shifting while cornering or other routine driving that causes the suspension to flex and the body to move.

Did you compare the front and rear track widths? I'd be interested to see some low-angle pictures from straight on at front and rear. I'm guessing you'll find a narrower track at the rear than up front. Not criticizing in the least, but the simple fact is the offset on these wheels is wrong at the rear for this generation of trucks.

What is the problem. The tires and wheels fit fine. Now you want to start saying the track is all wrong. The track is just like any other tire wheel combo. If you like the wheels & tires run them. If you don't like these then fine, just say so. I like them and very pleased with them.
The tires sit flat to the ground and the 1/2" rear space is more than enough. Yea you put enough g-force on anything it will rub. That's why I have the sway bar and adjustable pan bar on the back to keep everything as it should be when cornering.
Front:


Rear:


Rear tire size:


Side shot:

[LEEVON]

Andy, I think they look great!

I also think brossow was just offering constructive input. You WILL rub with that little clearance, it's a judgement call if it matters or not. My DD rubs on hard corners with similar clearance in the same place and never hurt a thing, just something to keep an eye on that's all he's saying.

[KMACD71]

Looks perfect with that drop. Very nice.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Andy, I think they look great!

I also think brossow was just offering constructive input. You WILL rub with that little clearance, it's a judgement call if it matters or not. My DD rubs on hard corners with similar clearance in the same place and never hurt a thing, just something to keep an eye on that's all he's saying.

I agree, it looks really great, but keep in mind, your rear suspension is located using a panhard bar, meaning as the suspension cycles up and down it will move side to side.

[Andy4639]

Yea, I know it may rub every now and then and I'm fine with that. I was very worried about the fit after reading all of "brossow" post on the other thread. I have got to say though they fit fine. I'm very pleased with them and how they fit. They gave me a set of 1/4" spacers to put on the back if I think they need them. Right now though I think I'm good to go!
The guy did grind a small area off the fronts just so the center cap would fit even after we checked it and it worked fine.
Now "brossow" he is saying the track is all off on the back because of the off sets of the wheels. I don't think so but then again I'm not a wheel expert either. I like them and will enjoy them!
Now I have to get the drums and the calipers powder coated RED.

[brossow]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Andy, I think they look great!

I also think brossow was just offering constructive input. You WILL rub with that little clearance, it's a judgement call if it matters or not. My DD rubs on hard corners with similar clearance in the same place and never hurt a thing, just something to keep an eye on that's all he's saying.

I think they look great; don't get me wrong. In fact, I think they look SO good that I've got a set of 20" 338s in chrome for my own project. My comments have nothing to do with how the rims look. As LEEVON said, my comments and questions were intended as constructive criticism based on a LOT of experience with these and based on numerous conversations with a number of people at Boss/AEWC, from sales guys to damn near the top of the company. My personal feeling is that you got bad info from Boss and from your wheel salesman. Being able to bolt them on and having them actually fit right are two different things.

What I know from direct, personal experience as well as input from many, many others with these wheels is that they will fit better with spacers out back. I hope for your sake that you don't have any rubbing problems, but I'm not hopeful. With your 275 tires you've got a bit more wiggle room than I do with my 295s. Please don't take it personally, because it's not meant as an attack. Good luck and enjoy the wheels. They look great.

Originally Posted by Andy4639

The track is just like any other tire wheel combo.

I respectfully disagree. I think if you measure from outside to outside you'll find your track is narrower at the rear than at the front. That's not normal. A clear head-on photo from enough distance and with adequate lighting to show front and rear tires at the same time would illustrate what I mean.

Originally Posted by Andy4639

If you like the wheels & tires run them. If you don't like these then fine, just say so.

I do like the wheels and tires. I've got a set of 20s in chrome to prove it. What I don't like is how they fit on our trucks out of the box and how Boss and ignorant/unscrupulous wheel dealers continue to tell people that they fit fine without spacers. It's not at all a criticism of you but disappointment with the manufacturer and its distributors.

I'm going to leave it at that. I truly hope you enjoy the wheels for many, many trouble-free miles. Just keep an eye on them and don't be afraid to add spacers if necessary before you wear a hole in a sidewall and wreck that beautiful truck.

[Andy4639]

What I know from direct, personal experience as well as input from many, many others with these wheels is that they will fit better with spacers out back. I hope for your sake that you don't have any rubbing problems, but I'm not hopeful. With your 275 tires you've got a bit more wiggle room than I do with my 295s. Please don't take it personally, because it's not meant as an attack. Good luck and enjoy the wheels. They look great.
Brent

I really appreciate the fact you did a lot of work on the fit of these. I read the Boss wheel Blog where they redid the center's. I hope I don't need the spacers out back either. Thank you for all the input. The tires in back are in deed a little narrower than the fronts I think. I guess it's a price you pay to get the wheel you want. I'm not into all the back spacing stuff and I let them do all that so I guess you can say they did OK with it.
Any suggestions on how to treat the wheels so they stay nice and shiny!

[truckindude]

those wheels look so hot on your truck. love them!!

[k5hart]

First - I think the wheels look great! So I'm not bashing at all.

But the tires will rub. I have about the same clearance on my '91 silverado which has leaf springs. I bought too large of a tire so it's my own fault. Am I worried? Not really. I just check it frequently for problems. One day I'll go down a size.

I say go with it, it looks great, and just check every so often. If you encounter a problem then put on the spacers. I have them too, with no problems.

I'm glad they worked so well. Consider yourself lucky!

[Andy4639]

Has anyone tried the wheel spray that coats the entire wheel to keep the brake dust off of them. I plan to wax them tomorrow night. Anybody got any suggestions? Spray on wax or a paste wax which would be better?

brossow,
thank you for your input and I will keep a eye on them. I may have to run the spacers on back to get the width right.
Thanks everyone for the

[tremman78]

Sharp!
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[k5hart]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

[B][COLOR="Red"]Has anyone tried the wheel spray that coats the entire wheel to keep the brake dust off of them. I plan to wax them tomorrow night. Anybody got any suggestions? Spray on wax or a paste wax which would be better?

Yes! Wax them ASAP. I was lazy and didn't and now I have spots I'll need to work off. They seem real easy to tarnish.

[Andy4639]

Thanks will do, tomorrow after work. The whole wheel will be waxed!