BUILD THREAD UMI's 1978 Cutlass

[clean8485]

Will those rims fit with the backspace that you've listed, or do you have plans for changes to allow them to fit?

 

[UMI Sales]

Will those rims fit with the backspace that you've listed, or do you have plans for changes to allow them to fit?

Our plan is for them to fit as-is. We have a test set with that backspace.

Do you have a different experience or just wondering?

 

[Maverick's_Monte]

Just want to give major props to UMI, I’ve had my order in my garage since January and am just now getting around to doing the front suspension. Upon looking at the upper arms so had two driver side arms. Made a quick call and they got a passenger arm in the mail not more than an hour later. You guys rock! Can’t wait to follow this build especially since you are going to have some great videos of it.

I second that emotion, I can't say enough about these guys. I put my stage II kit in my monte carlo over a decade ago. All of it is still in the car, and I remember the installation if only because the directions were easy to follow and everything bolted up according to the instructions. I am not a mechanic by trade, I only pretend to be one on the weekends, so if I could complete this successfully, with no modifications or calls to customer support, then those of you with the "skills to pay the bills" should have no trouble.

 

[Streetbu]

Will those rims fit with the backspace that you've listed, or do you have plans for changes to allow them to fit?

That's what size and backspacing fits on my car with no issues....

 

[melloelky]

That's what size and backspacing fits on my car with no issues....

and his^ set up's

 

[scoti]

It all depends on ride height. If the kit isn't an aggressive drop, the extra width outboard should clear the fenderwell openings up front w/o fuss.

I've seen other vendors/manufacturers require >/= 6"BS to keep the fender lips from kissing rubber on 9-9.5" widths up front.

 

[Supercharged111]

Negative camber will give some breathing room up front on those fender lips too.

 

[Rt Jam]

Can you do a before and after steering angle?

 

[clean8485]

Our plan is for them to fit as-is. We have a test set with that backspace.

Do you have a different experience or just wondering?

I have an '80 Malibu with 1" drop springs in it. I bought a set of the staggered 17" Z28 style Year One rims. The front rims are 17" by 8" with 4 1/2" BS, with 245/45 tires, and they fit no problem. The rear rims are 17" by 9" with 5" BS, with 255/50 tires. They wouldn't work without a spacer, so I installed 7/32" spacers. The left rear fit and cleared OK, but just barely, and the right rear fit, but the inner sidewall of the tire was just barely touching the inner wheel tub, and the frame rail, just ahead of the rear axle. A friend loaned me one of his 19" by 9" rear rims with 275 tires on them to test on my car before I ordered the Year One rims. His rear rims had 4 3/4" BS, and the rims would clear, but the 275 tire was hitting the frame rails behind the rear axle. He had them on an '88 Monte SS, which was lowered 2" (I believe), and they worked fine of his Monte. I know that GM had issues with the rear axle housings not always being perfectly centered, relative to the frame, and I know that this condition can be corrected with adjustable rear control arms. I'm just relating my experience. If you get those wheels and tires to clear properly without any adjustments to the position of the rear axle, relative to the frame, without notching the frame, and without spacers, I'd like to see some photos. Not saying it can't be done, just want to see some photos.

 

[UMI Sales]

Our shipping manager has a Malibu with these on it. They fit great so that's one of the ways we got the numbers to use.

U11018957352

U110 RAMBLER

CHROME PLATED

18X9.5

5X127

5.29

01mm

78.10

28.00 lbs

1600

3.80

1002-46P