Not exactly resto mod, but will modern 16 inch wheels work on Cuda?

[cbrxxtreme]

Just curious if the new wheels like say off a Nitro, or Sebring would work on a 70 Cuda? Just thinking it would be a cheap way to get out of the old 14 inch pizza Cutters on pop's 70 vert with a 318? Also easier to find rubber, as 14 inch tires are becoming extinct, and very pricey. Again thanx for any info!

[ChallengerHK]

I don't know the answer; I imagine they will work fine.

however, I'm curious about your hood. It looks like it has some Formula S trim from an a-body Cuda. Am I seeing that right?

[cbrxxtreme]

Haha, no not mopar equipment... best dad can remember they were off a (cover my eyes, don't beat me) toyota in a junkyard sometime in the late 70's. He ordered the car in 1969, was gonna go with a Camaro, but didn't like the looks of the 70 Cam. When we restored the car in 1995 we decided to leave the louvers on the hood. Have pissed off a lot of Mopar fans, but they get into their Hondas and drive away pizzed. Now it has half ased been handed to me, and I'm tryen to update it a bit, with a VERY fixed budget. Hence the question about wheels, local junkyard has a ton of newer wheels for really cheap. Here's another pic of the "scoops"

[anlauto]

Any 17" wheels with the same bolt pattern 4.5" and roughly the same back spacing 4''- 5"will work.
You can get decent "sets" of moderen wheels at fairly decent package prices

[ChallengerHK]

Well, I don't like them so much in close-up, but I still think it's a neat idea. 

[hemiken]

Just be careful of what new wheel you look at because their are some differences in stud patterns, the new Challenger has a stud pattern that is 115mm and the original 1970-74 has 114.3mm (4.5") Apparently the Nitro has 114.3mm that is the same as your Barracuda

[cbrxxtreme]

Thanks for the help, wife is gonna be pissed this summer when I swap rims with her Nitro!!!!   Yeah HK, most die hard Mopar fans don't like them. To each their own, dad liked it, and thats good enough for me!

[ChallengerHK]

I do like the idea of having something break up the hood, and I don't mind that it's not stock, or even mopar. I just don't care for the multiple side-facing vents. But you're right, if Dad liked it, why the hell not? 

[HP2]

As hemiken said, make sure you have exactly the right bolt pattern, which is 114.3 on 5. However, another concern with using later model rims is the offset. The Nitro may have 16x6 wheels, but if all of that 6" is offset inboard, then they will hit the springs, control arm, etc. Plus they will tuck the tires in further on the body and not necessarily improve the looks of things.

There are number of vehicles using that pattern, so with careful searching, you should be able to score something on craigslist. Start with a search on the bolt pattern to see what else you should pursue. Some Jeeps are one that comes to mind, some Fords from the 80s and 90s,some Mistsubishis. look around and verify. That will really open up your options.

[ragtopdodge]

You'd be amazed what you can find on craigslist as opposed to junkyard stuff.

I'd rather see steelies and dog dish caps than some modern, high offset junk on a cuda.

E.g.:

[Jousi]

Those vents on the hood comes from 1971-1975 Toyota Celica ST/GT. They originally have a small bulge under them.

[cbrxxtreme]

"I'd rather see steelies and dog dish caps than some modern, high offset junk on a cuda."

Its got the steel wheels with poverty caps on now, but 14 inch tires are very limited around here (as well as friggen expensive), and these look like pizza cutters from the front, or back... waaay too skinny. Plus, want something a lil taller to gear it up a bit... turns 3200 at 60mph. Also eventually wanna do a disk brake conversion on the front, and every application I've found require 15 inch wheels or bigger. Found a 15 inch rim / tire combo on Tire Rack, but hate to spend big money and have the offset wrong or something. Had to put in 70 Challenger because Tire rack didn't have a Barracuda listed. If I could find a cheap set of 15's, or 16's that are conservatively styled that would be great. It's a daily driver, so modern tires would be more practicle to buy, drive (especially if I get caught in the rain). I appreciate all the input, love this site!!!!!!

[cudazappa]

15" steel wheels are cheap if you don't need "era" correct.  Last set I got were off Late 70s B-bodies and 80s M-bodies.  Got them on the car now.  Only problem is 15" rubber is drying up. (at least in popular musclecar sizes)

93-04 Mustang Wheels are the next easiest to "adapt" will require at least a 1" spacer.  Figure $100 for spacers on top of the wheels.  If you find some cheap Mustang knockoff wheels the registers may be large enough to slip over the disc registers.  (I had a set of Konig's that did that)  The factory Ford Rims required me to modify the disc's slightly (because that was easier than modifying the rims).

I ended up selling the "Mustang" Wheels and spacers at a slight profit and bought a set of properly fitting 17s from Summit.

[cbrxxtreme]

I see what you guys mean by the off set, it does seem that all newer rims is inboard. Perhaps look towards the truck rims, they seem to have an offset outboard more? Don't wanna have a lot of screwing around, just want a set of wheels that I can put on, and take off without messing around with spacers... I do realize I may have to go with longer lug nuts, but that is a one time deal. Again thanks for all the help and input!!!!

[duodec]

If your wife has a Nitro why not just borrow her spare, check the offset, maybe even put it in place on front and rear just to get a feel for placement and size (if the offset isn't too far off)?  Obviously not going to move the car with it on one corner but it should still give you an idea about suitability.