Thought I'd found 4 stock 15" wheels for the Estate Wagon from a yard up north. Got an email today indicating there might be an issue. Here's the text of the email. I'll upload pics as well, as soon as I can resize them. Here's the email I received from the yard, explaining the potential problem: "We got the wheels off 2 off the cutlass and 2 off my wildcat. Once we broke them down looking at them 1 off each vehicle has a larger center hole. So the cutlass had 1 big 1 small hole and the wildcat had 1 big 1 small hole which is odd. Everything else about the wheel is exact off-set, pattern, notches on the wheel but the center hole on 2 is bigger, which one of my guys thing one might have been designed for disc and one drum? I have attached pictures of the wheels let me know what you would like me to do refund or send them." Thanks for the help, and let me know if there's any other info I need to get... View attachment Wheels 1.pdf View attachment Wheels 2.pdf
Full size wheels are 5x5 (5 bolts on 5" bolt spacing). Cutlass (A-body) wheels are 5x4 3/4". They will not interchange.
. . . suggest you keep looking, and find a 'matched' set ? o No: The wagon wheels were 15" dia., with a 5"x5" bolt pattern, and they were 7" wide instead of 6".
I've got a set of four stock 15x7 wheels with the 4 3/4 bolt pattern. I bought them at a swap meet, so I don't know what they originally came off of but they do exist. I tried them on my Skylark and they fit with no issues other than the backspacing is wrong for the tire size I want to use (275/60). A 245/60 will fit without rubbing, maybe even a 255 but I didn't have one of them to try. For the record, this is on a `65 with a wider `70 Chevelle 12 bolt rearend.
Wheels from a 1991-1996 GM B-body sedan or station wagon will fit on your LeSabre based wagon. Also the 1977-1990 full size GM wagons used the 5x5 bolt circle. And you can also use wheels from the 1977-1991 full size GM sedans and coupes if they came with the Heavy Duty package :TU: So with this knowledge you have a lot more chance to find something at a scrap yard :beer
Now I'm confused, I always thought that the 1970-1976 EW's came with 6J rims and the down sized 1977-1990 EW's with the 7J rims. From my scan from the 1950-1987 American Car Wheel Application Guide: A board member wrote this in a recent thread about the pre-1977 EW's:
Thanks, Bill. I don't think those will work, though, since I need the 5X5 bolt pattern. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong...
I say a little road trip to CTC Auto Ranch :Comp: in Denton, Texas. I'm sure that they will have a set of rims for you, and it's good fun to look around at their yard Only 290 miles from Houston :TU:
You're absolutely right. The stinker is that I was just in Dallas the past few days, but didn't go to CTC because I thought this other yard was already shipping the correct wheels. <sigh.>
I've a nice set of 5 of the 15x7 rims with 5 on 5 bolt pattern. They have been spun to check straightness & sandblasted ready for paint. Rims & lug holes are perfect. Also have a really nice set of dog dish caps. Let me know if interested. Thanks.
What wheel will work hinges on whether your 70 wagon has front drums or front discs. And whether they (discs if present)are factory or swapped on. Did any pre 71 GM B body wagon (67 - 70) have disc brakes as standard equipment?? Don't believe any pre 69 GM A, B, F or X car had single front piston calipers, only a handful had a fairly (extremely) rare four piston design that may have been derived from the Corvette for most likely A and F body only. In years of yarding have only seen one four piston setup, on a 68 Chevelle.
Those look really nice. Since the shop manual specifies 15X6, I'm gonna stick with that for now. Thanks, Matt
I just ordered 4 15X6 wheels with a 5 X 5 lug pattern from CTC auto ranch. My wagon has factory disc brakes up front and drum brakes on the rear. Are you saying the wheels will be different for the front axle than for the rear? If so, I'll need to call the parts yard to clarify. If nothing else, that seems like it would make tire rotation a pain...
You will be okay with those standard 15'' rims. There is a difference between the early 15'' Rallye Wheels for drum brakes and 15'' Rallye Wheels for cars with front disc brakes.
only caddy and caprices had that. if it had the 8.5 rear (minus the 77-79 cars) it had the big bolt pattern. 7.5 was small. you can also use any pre 99 2wd fs truck van or suv.