14 Inch Rims?

Ok, i just got back from my buddy's house. He has a set of 14 inch Cragar S/S rims and center caps for $200

They are 14 inches tall, 7 inches wide and the chrome on them is perfect. The bolt pattern is chevy 5 lug.

Here's my problem: Will 7 inch wide rims fit under my '72 elky? Would 14 inch rims be too small considering that the elky came factory with 15's? I really hope this works because i've been trying for a nice set of cragars for 2 years now. Buying them new is just way too expensive. Also if these rims would work on my elky, how wide of a tire can i put on them? What about how skinny of a tire? I would really like to put thinner tires on the front than on the back?

someone here must have some info they can give me on this matter... Wheels and tires are part of a hotrod just as much as the engine is :)

Strange as it may seem, perhaps nobody on here has ever mounted 14 x 7 Cragars on an El Camino. And even if they had, what are the chances that the ones they mounted had the same backspacing as the ones your buddy has, which by the way, you failed to give us.

ouch, that one really hurt. just forget my post, i'll figure it out on my own thanks. I understand i didnt give backspacing but i also asked how wide of a tire i can put on a 7 wide rim. but i guess that doesnt matter.

Smaller cars, like Dodge Darts, Chevy Novas, etc., usually had 14" wheels. Those wheels on an El Camino will make it look silly (in my opinion). Cragars compared to a lot of wheels are reasonably cheap. I'd actually look at either 15" X 7" or 15" X 8". And considering the tires available today, I'd also look at 16" X 7" and 16" X 8". And unlike the 15" wheels, I believe the 16's are direct fit and not multilug.

Ok, thats basically what i was looking for. Thank you

Hopper, it was not my intention to hurt your feelings. I'm sorry if you took my response the wrong way.

I'm sorry, its kind of a bad time in my life. I'm under a lot of stress and I take everything the wrong way and my car is one of that last few good things in life.

On a lighter note, I think I've found some nice cragar rims from jegs that i like. They are considerably cheaper than the S/S rims. I don't really care about brand or reputation. I want to get one that i like. If they happen to be cheap thats even better.

Next question...On the elky, i have chevy 5 lug but i do not know lug spacing...can anyone help me out?

I'd like to get an 10 wide tire in the back and a slimmer tire in the front. Anyone have a suggestion on dimensions? like
15 x what? on the back and 15 x what? on the front? Also on tire size, if im looking for a 10 wide, in a 60 series tire on a 15 inch rim what are my numbers?

like 265/60/15? or how do i go about translating "10 Wide" into these dimensions so i know what tire i am ordering?

You need to do some serious measuring in the back to make sure that 10" wheel will fit back there. Remember, the tire sidewall will actually be wider than the wheel. You may end up with a combination that's 11" to 12" wide.

That's why the suggestion on a 7" for front and 8" for the rear.

As for tire size, go to any tire website and check out the tire specs. They show what size rims there tire will fit. If it says it will work on a 6" - 8" wheel, ideally it should be on a 7" wheel.

ok, and if i just measure the distance between 2 studs will that give me the bolt pattern? ordering a set of rims and having them be the wrong bolt patter would just go right along with the rest of my life lol...

Your elky should have 5 on 4.75" centers. Look in your Jegs or Summit catalogues and they usually have a diagram that shows you how to use a tape measure to get spacing on a five hole wheel quickly and easily.

14" rims are no problem, the parent Chevelles all had 'em. Check the backspace by bolting a wheel with no tire on, and measure clearance(or just eyeball it).

When you're looking at tires, they should have specs with them that give the measurement for the tread width (I think they call it section width?), and also the recomended rim size that the tire will work best on. The height of the tire is also given. Another consideration when buying tires and wheels is that the tire diameter does effect your final drive ratio......

The wheels you originally mentioned should fit, I had 14x7 front and 14x8 on my 68, but 16's would probably look better, just match wheel width with tread width for the best tire wear. Hank

ok, i've done some research and i find that i cannot easily order a 14 inch tire... I guess that there isn't much of a demand for them anymore so they aren't making them anymore? The only tire from goodyear that i could find that i even remotely liked was the Eagle GTHR and it only comes 14 inches in a 195/60/14 and thats not gonna work. That would be like rolling on pizza cutters...

So, I've declined my friend's offer on his wheels and I've looked at Jegs. They have a very nice selection of cragar rims. I really like the smoothies but im not sure how they would look on my elky...

So instead of buying the rims this weekend, im going to pay the last 500 that i owe on the car so that i can finally bring 'er home!

I look at it as for every chance that you pass up, there's a better one just around the corner. :) Anyone have any wheel suggestions for the elky now that i'm back in the market? (I do still have the original steel wheels and caps that I could do something with.)