Technical 1955 Oldsmobile will 8" rims fit on the back?

Hello All,

I want to put 8" rims on the rear of my 1955 Olds, they have 0 back space so are centered. Just wondering if anyone has done this? As I know there are a few 54-56 Olds owners here. I currently have the original steel wheels on the car. I will attach a photo of the car as I know... photos!

 

This doesn't answer your question but I have 8 inch on the back of my 56 Pontiac. 5 inch backspace.

 

It will be a struggle. I tried to do the same on my 56 98 coupe and ended up with 7" rims which fitted OK.
The car has been sold but from memory it is a lack of room higher up in the guard?

 

You'd need two jacks & drop the shocks to change tires.
Nice Olds … I'd just find a set of Starfires & call it good

 

I could live with that . As long as they fit.

 

Very nice looking Olds! Question, what benefit could you possibly gain from an 8” wide wheel, versus a 7” or even a 6.5”, that would justify the tire changing difficulties described?

 

it would be to do with the set of wheels I can get or am getting. they come in 7 and 8. You have to remember that 5x5 bolt pattern is not common here in Australia so I'm limited both by bolt pattern or PCD and $$ too of course. If I want to pay $1600-2000 for a set of wheels then that's fine. which I don't. Hopefully I'll only be putting the wheels and tyres on the car once and then taking them off again when they need new tyres.

 

Thank you for the reply.

 

The 57 in my avtar can not fit 8 inch rear wheels 7 inch is max, as i have tried. your 55 may be different, the inside of the rear tyre runs really close to the leaf spring you have to choose the inside offset really carefully

 

around here 76 to 87 gm I/2 ton 4x4s where available with a 8" ralley wheel that was 5 on 5 or maybe even an old aftermarket chrome spoke for that matter. If you could buy or borrow a used one you could test fit and see how or if it would fit and adjust from there, without buying new wheels and going oh, oh. Been there done that! Larry

 

Not sure if inner fender structure same across gm lines, but I did stuff some GM (corvette) rallies with BFGoodrich 255/70s under my 56 chubby rear a few years back.

 

Thanks Karl,
the 57 was the change year, so 54-56 will be the the same. plus the 57 went to 14" rims and the rear end that is used by early drag racers. ( wish I had one of those, easier for rear end ratios)

Merc, thanks, distance makes it a bit difficult to get one of those rims as we never got them here

Rocky, thanks, not sure either but the rear radius on the fender in a chev makes it easier to start. but the inboard as Karl mentioned may be an issue.

I probably should have just gone for 7" all round. May still have to do so.

thanks All.

 

From my tire store days It is a bit of a challenge to change tires on the back of of those Olds when they go up one tire size on stock rims. That was on a hoist with the axles hanging down. the
I've been around one rig that you had to take the rear shock loose and put a bottle jack between the spring/axle and frame to get clearance to change the tire and I can assure you from experience it isn't something you want to have to do on the side of the road when there is no choice. I was
50 something years younger then when a buddy had that car. Probably one of the reasons we always took my 55 Buick on double dates rather than his custom.

 

Thanks Mrchev.

I understand this and have to use two Jack's currently. So that doesn't scare me off. Plus I don't carry a spare in this car - right or wrong. So any flat etc is a flat tow anyway.

I spoke to the wheel seller this morning and I may just swap out the 8" rims for 7s to make life a little easier. It will cost me. But might just be a little easier in years to come.

 

Ok,

to reply to this question. I ended up going 7" on the rear, sort of glad I did, but really wanted the 8" anyway this is how it came out. I prefer the WWW look but , this will be how it is now. I'm not expecting to get many 'nice chevy' comments....

 

That looks good.
My 56 with 15 x 7 rims.

 

Nice 98.

 

Pete........nice Olds............put a Poly in it yet?...........lol...........o/k...I'll go sit in my corner....lol........andyd

 

Not mine Andy, that's #1 son Coreys daily. Was 324 and Hydramatic but now runs a strong 455 and 200-4R, killed 3 T400's before he de-tuned it.

 

Dads too smart to own a General Maintenance product

 

I love the look. What are the specs of the wheels? Backspacing? Did you have to use spacers?

 

They were ok on a '54 I had a few years ago.

 

4 pound hammer and you can make almost anything fit in there

 

Some very cool "down under" cars you fellas have. flatoz, in the first photo of yours, what kind of tree is that? Odd question I know, but I'm kinda odd too. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

To answer the questions.

I didn't have to use spacers. I can't remember the back space exactly but recollection is the were centred.

Where did the 54 end up Dago? Your off set must have been perfect

Tree wise left to right

Plane tree( I think)
Gumtree
Paperback

 

Here's a more current photo with the 7" rims.

Skirts back on. Alanp I had to bend the rhs lip of the skirts as they were touching the tyre. So not quite 4lb hammer territory but...