5.5 inch 356 wheels

[RichardinNZ]

Does anyone have any pictures of an early Bug with 5.5inch 356 style wheels with a stock beam?

I was looking for 4.5s but have found a set of 5.5s here in NZ. 

Thanks
Richard

[Rennsurfer]

Look around for pictures of John L.'s black early Bug. Pretty sure that he has 5.5" 356 style wheels all around.

[RichardinNZ]

Hi Fred
Thanks; will search.
Richard

[johnl]

Look around for pictures of John L.'s black early Bug. Pretty sure that he has 5.5" 356 style wheels all around.

I've run 15x5.5 Porsche style rims on my '63 sedan for 30 years.  Recently I installed Koni Shocks at each corner and between the rims and shocks the car handles very well.  The front beam is stock and the car rides at stock height on 165x15 tires.  Photo attached.

[RichardinNZ]

Thanks John
Are they 165s? 
regards
Richard

[johnl]

Thanks John
Are they 165s? 
regards
Richard

Yes they are.  Review my previous post and you will see I've stated such.

[RichardinNZ]

Whoops, yes I must start reading this on a computer not a phone...the writing is far too small!

You've never thought of lowering it?

Many thanks
Richard

[johnl]

Whoops, yes I must start reading this on a computer not a phone...the writing is far too small!

You've never thought of lowering it?

Many thanks
Richard

Over the past couple of years since I've become more active in the Cal-Look thing it has crossed my mind.  My problem is I've owned this car for 30 years and it is an unmolested example and everything works very well the way it is.  I've been down the road of modifying things which is never ending.  Should I lower this car I would have to change the tires and wheels on the front and I just don't see a need.  I guess you can say I'm living what we did just prior to the Cal_Look era and that is fine with me.

At times I think of building another car, but at this time I have way to much inventory in collector cars and I'm not 20 years old.  What used to come without effort takes much today.  Once you get to this point in life you will understand.

[DeanoVW]

My old '63 with 5.5" 356 wheels, 155x15 front + 165x15 rear. Lowered with 2.5" dropped spindles.

[RichardinNZ]

Hi DeanoVW
Were the front wheels the same offset as the rear, or isit just the angle of the photo?
Thanks
Richard

[DeanoVW]

You know what Richard, I am beginning to think that the fronts are 4.5" wide. It was a few years ago now!

[johnl]

You know what Richard, I am beginning to think that the fronts are 4.5" wide. It was a few years ago now!

I was thinking the same thing, but kept my mouth shut.  I think with a 2.5" lower and 5.5 rims even on 155 or smaller tires you could still be dealing with a rub issue.  If the front beam has been narrowed this could change.  It appears to me that the front rims are 4.5" with a .5" offset and the rears are 5.5" with 1.0" offset.  I could be wrong on this but I don't think Porsche 356 rims were factory offered with any offset and I remember them to be 4.5" in width.  The offset examples I thought were ONLY available in the aftermarket.

[RichardinNZ]

I've seen a couple of ball joint cars with 5.5s on the front on the 'other' Cal-Look forum (there is a 356 wheel thread on there).  Would there be issues with the 5.5 on a link pin car that wouldn't be present on the ball joint car?  I will be lowering the '58 eventually; not sure whether to use spindles or adjusters yet.

Thanks
Richard

[hotrodsurplus]

Food for thought. The garden-variety A and B wheels and the aftermarket versions are 4.5" wide and have approximately 3.875" backspace for a 28mm offset (a touch more than an inch for statesiders).

The aftermarket Porsche A & B style 5.5" wheels have the same approximate 3.875" backspace as the 4.5 wheels for a 16mm offset. In other words, they move the tire centerline outward 12mm or half an inch per wheel which translates to an inch wider track.

More food for thought. The EMPI fives that I've measured are 5.5 with either 3.75" backspace for 13mm offset or 3.685" for 11mm offset. In other words, they push the wheel out another 3mm to 5mm MORE than the 15x5.5 356 wheels that you want to run. The EMPI five is a perennial favorite wheel and it seems to work well on lowered kingpin cars.

Would a 165 tire rub if lowered? Definitely. A 145 tire? Probably, but only if you slam the car. But if you wanted to slam something you'd build a mini truck anyway, right?