TheSamba.com :: View topic - 17" Escras and similar for 70' SB.... Couple questions

Thu Jun 13, 2024 7:47 pm

I've been reading threads, some new some older, some of the threads similar to my build but not spot on, so here I am with Q's :lol:

Still my favorite wheel, I know some people run a narrowed beam but I see that on a lot of early Squares in threads here. Trying to get my project to roller status, I am close.

I am lowered 4 clicks in the front now, granted it may be 3 clicks since the car sat so high before, previous owners may have raised over time, but I went 4 notches in front.

1) Is the front stock beam the same length on a 70' Squareback? I swapped out my 4-lug disc brakes for a no offset change wide-5, would these fit with a low profile tire and a little inner fender rolling?

2) The back I am converting to 5 lug stock early T3 drums, and currently I have no axels so I can always do short axles when I get my transmission built and put in. Back seems easier to get fitted?

3) BRM's are my second choice, and I've found some sites with wildly custom wheels but they are like $1000 PER WHEEL, and I don't even dig them that much. But my question, anything similar to a wide 5 BRM or ESCRA in a 17" with better backspacing/offset than Escras, that look similar, and aren't a zillion bucks? Links? Knowledge of.... any?

Thanks all.

8)

Fri Jun 14, 2024 2:26 am

You provided the diameter but not the width or offset/backspacing on those two wheels. Those are crucial to answering fitment.

Fri Jun 14, 2024 9:15 am

Escra
Diameter 17"
Width 7
Fitment 5x205
ET 30

mine are the 17x7 et 40 rader and I need 3/4" of spacers all around, I'm only down 1 or 2 in the front

Fri Jun 14, 2024 9:39 am

electronictofu wrote: I've been reading threads, some new some older, some of the threads similar to my build but not spot on, so here I am with Q's :lol:

Still my favorite wheel, I know some people run a narrowed beam but I see that on a lot of early Squares in threads here. Trying to get my project to roller status, I am close.

I am lowered 4 clicks in the front now, granted it may be 3 clicks since the car sat so high before, previous owners may have raised over time, but I went 4 notches in front.

1) Is the front stock beam the same length on a 70' Squareback? I swapped out my 4-lug disc brakes for a no offset change wide-5, would these fit with a low profile tire and a little inner fender rolling?
yes, they are the same width from the 62 model on thru the end of the 73 model year. Only minor changes thru the years too.

2) The back I am converting to 5 lug stock early T3 drums, and currently I have no axels so I can always do short axles when I get my transmission built and put in. Back seems easier to get fitted?
Are you staying IRS, or converting to swing axle? Just asking as the only short IRS axle is the AT left axle, which is hard to find. Plus you'll need to move the bearing assembly inward by cutting and welding. A very big job for a couple of inches.

3) BRM's are my second choice, and I've found some sites with wildly custom wheels but they are like $1000 PER WHEEL, and I don't even dig them that much. But my question, anything similar to a wide 5 BRM or ESCRA in a 17" with better backspacing/offset than Escras, that look similar, and aren't a zillion bucks? Links? Knowledge of.... any?
You're going to need rim width, off set, and back spacing numbers before you order your rims. This IS a must have. It doesn't matter which rims you use either, you still need those numbers.
Thanks all.

8)

I don't mean to be a dick about it, but we've already told you this multiple times when you asked these very same questions. This IS one of those deals you'll have to work out for yourself. I only say that as these cars age, the suspension changes too (the torsion bars sag as they age, and the rubber bushings change shape). Tire clearance is a big issue, and while it might look cool slammed on the floor pans, it might not drive worth a damn.
You have to basically fit your tire and rim combo to your own car. We've told you this multiple times, as there's no one way to do it. And trying to do it cheaply just doesn't work. Even without dropping the car, some rim combos don't work on our cars. Yes some here are running 8 spokes for example, but those rims have the wrong offset for our cars (+25).

The best way to look at it is these cars are more like FWD cars when it comes to rim offsets, as most Honda's and Toyota's use a 40mm or even a 46mm offset rim. This keeps the tires off the fender lips and out of the coil springs on those cars. Yes, I also own a Honda and a Toyota, so I know what's going on with those cars too.

Ideally you need a tire and rim combo you want to run, and do a bunch of test fitting like Mark (W1K1 on here) did when he went from 15's to 17's on his own car (a 65 red Squareback). He even went thru the trouble to do both cardboard and plywood mock ups checking the clearances (both straight and turning). Once he knew those numbers, he ordered his tires and rims. I think he still ended up changing a tire size as he was getting a rub.

Fri Jun 14, 2024 10:02 am

W1K1 wrote: Escra
Diameter 17"
Width 7
Fitment 5x205
ET 30

mine are the 17x7 et 40 rader and I need 3/4" of spacers all around, I'm only down 1 or 2 in the front

Mark, when you total up your ET numbers, you're almost 60mm (40 + 19 (3/4")=59mm. I know you've spent a bunch of time getting things right on your car, since you drive it everywhere. Your car is also a swing axle car, and you've played with getting the transaxle up a little more for clearance. Some of these things are needed to make a nice driver, and some are needed for the tire and rim choice you wanted to run. Like I was trying to tell the OP, you have to custom fit the tire and rim combo to your own car.

Fri Jun 14, 2024 11:36 am

[quote="Bobnotch"] W1K1 wrote: Escra
Diameter 17"
Width 7
Fitment 5x205
ET 30

mine are the 17x7 et 40 rader and I need 3/4" of spacers all around, I'm only down 1 or 2 in the front

Mark, when you total up your ET numbers, you're almost 60mm (40 + 19 (3/4")=59mm.

Spacers make the ET go down right? so Mark is at ET 21?

Fri Jun 14, 2024 12:19 pm

No worries BobNotch! I did ask about these when I first got my car but I've changed a lot of things since, but yeah, you're right a lot of things come into play regardless of stock or making mods, upgrades, changes, etc.

Fri Jun 14, 2024 12:20 pm

W1K1 wrote: Escra
Diameter 17"
Width 7
Fitment 5x205
ET 30

mine are the 17x7 et 40 rader and I need 3/4" of spacers all around, I'm only down 1 or 2 in the front

Nice job dude! All the posts and builds I've seen people running Escras are early Squareback and running swing axle. Having IRS and a 70' it's made the hunt for info a little challenging, I'll keep reading. Nice fitment on yours. I thought Escras didn't have enough backspacing and that was the big challenge on Squares, so running spacers messes with my brain, but aside from the basics of wheels and tires and backspacing it's all new good junk for my brain.

Sat Jun 15, 2024 12:12 pm

On a lowered SB what gives a better tucked in wheel look 15's or 17's? I would guess a 15"? I want the top of the wheels to disappear as much as possible. Like voila and such 8)

Sun Jun 16, 2024 7:53 am

electronictofu wrote: On a lowered SB what gives a better tucked in wheel look 15's or 17's? I would guess a 15"? I want the top of the wheels to disappear as much as possible. Like voila and such 8)

Air bags and a narrowed beam. I know Square On Air did it with his Squareback, and Brian Fye had bags on his Square too, but also had an issue as he bought the car with the front beam bagged.