i just put some 24s on my 76 cutlass, and wanted to know if anyone else has done this? and ask if you made any trans/brake/suspension upgrades? any info is appreciated

 

Just curious, were 26" not available?

 

I would suggest replacing the inner and outer wheel bearings. This is a cheap and quick repair that will give you piece of mind since your new wheels are much larger than the stock ones. You never know if your wheel bearings are good until you check them. Running larger rims will probably put extra stress on your wheel bearings.

I would also make sure your brakes are in good condition.

 

^^^ yesir the bearings are something i hadn't thought of, thanks for the tip!

 

I had some 22" rims on a 71 Cutlass Supreme. Those old cars aren't meant for big rims like that. I would upgrade your suspension before running those. The 22's rubbed over any bump above 5 mph and all my bushings started falling apart. Could be because it's just old, but either way it adds a lot of stress to your suspension and not to mention your transmission... Pick up that 24" rim and feel how heavy it is. I took them off because I didn't want to tear up my car. Just a thought.

 

No I really dont want to ruin what I worked so hard to get..........Big rims are a passing fad..............I hope.............My .02$...............Jerr

 

Maybe urethane bushings instead of rubber on control arms?

Ball joints in good shape?

 

Here is a link to an awsome tire size calculator. You need to make sure your tires are the correct size when you go to a bigger wheel. That way your speedo will remain accurate.

http://www.rimsntires.com/rt_specs.jsp

 

I really don't like big wheels on cars, but you will need larger brakes and different gear ratio to make it work.

Here is the only thing I like big wheels on.

 

and with the bigger rims wont he have to recalibrate the speedometer?

 

As long as the overall tire height is still the same, he will not have to recalibrate the speedo.

 

Anything above 18"s on these cars is obnoxious and has NEGATIVE performance factors.
24's is actually counterproductive to the suspension and handling. It's going to
ride like a horse drawn carriage. One good pothole and you'll need a good welder.

 

Or a VW New Beetle!

Whatever floats your boat though.

 

you guys are showing your age i wanted to know if anyone had EXPERIENCE with big rims.

just in case anyone wants to know, to run 24s you need to run longer studs and its is a good idea to beef up the suspension with some polyurethane and she rides like a cadillac video coming soon!!

oh yeah speedometer is on point!

 

I dont think it is a matter of showing our age. I have 26's on my escalade but agree that these cars are not designed for them and from my opinion 24's on an olds does not do the car justice or fit right. Maybe 20's in the rear but that is pushing it ( I have considered it )...but as stated it is your car, your taste and your money.

 

Post pics of your car stat!

 

I am considering 17" or 18". But 24" is too big for me. It reminds me of my drive through Lansing. I don't what area I was in, but you'd see these houses...shacks more like it, just about to fall over, but parked on the front lawn was a White Caddy with hugh friggin chrome wheels. Seems priorities were backwards. Everytime I see cars with big inch wheels now, it reminds me of that.

 

now tell me shes not purdy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSgMu6eBx7M

please watch in HD

 

HAHAHA thats how it is here in Southern California. You see these ghetto guys riding in expensive cars like cadillacs with huge rims or even an old car with huge rims and their living in the projects... I guess as long as you always meet people somewhere other than your house you look like your ballin'

 

Big rimz on a 4x4 (or Escalade as above for example) fine... but on an old Olds... you will have to answer to the Olds god in the afterlife.

 

Please keep it civil gents.

BTW, thanks for the link.

 

Yes it is a good lookin' ride. The wheels are a little big for my taste but then the wheels on mine are smaller than your taste. If we all liked the same thing it would get boring pretty fast. Enjoy your car, that's what the hobby is all about. Just one question, why is your plate on the side of the bumper (like the old Pontiacs) and not in the centre?

 

Yea I seen that I kinda like it there better gives a different look to the front breaks it up more ..........

 

i think it looks good man, you keeping the color or doing a differant color? just remember to SERIOUSLY watch those potholes and bumps and dont go peeling out in it or you might F-up your rear majorly (heard too many stories on them lol). and thank you for not buying stoopid looking rims like those 2 or 3 blade ones that people think are sexy for some reason. still has the muscle car look but with a twist. but on a side note, was that fur in the back seat? i ahd no sound when i watched it so idk if ya mentioned it.

 

Thank you sir, i just liked the way it looked there, i got a ticket for no front plate and i never had the original bracket for the center so i attached it to the bumper rubber.

dont get me wrong i love the look of some fresh rallies! i just ride those in the winter

 

@sickyolds Thank you sir, i was thinking about doing a 2 tone paint job brandywine over silver (it was originally burgundy) probably next summer.
the guy that build my rear-end said it wouldnt be a problem doing burnouts because the overall diameter of the wheel is only 2" difference, same with my speedometer.

that was my wifes jacket in the backseat with the fur trim on the hood... LOL no diamond tuck and fur for my cutlass!!

 

lol thank god cause i was about to say....
and the thing with the burnouts and such, from my perspective, is not the wheel differance but the weight differance of the wheel/tire combo. and depending on how you do the 2-tone it may or may not look good imo but i think 442much said it best "If we all liked the same thing it would get boring pretty fast" just keep us posted with the pics is all i request lol.

 

Actually I have to give ya props for it.
I didn't think I'd like it, but you did it with a nice set of rims that complement the car. Plus you didn't elevate the car into a donk. I think Donks are retarded, but you did yours much nicer.

The car looks great actually. My aunt had that same year car in all black when I was a shorty in the 80's. I always had a thing for that year. You need to get some new front seat material though, that interior is too nice to have seat covers on it.

 

^^^^^^^Thank you sir i appreciate that, next on the list carpet and front seats! i actually been dreading that because its a whole different world under that carpet no rust but its gonna be a lot of work-

 

You can get aftermarket interior kits from Kanter. SMS, Legendary, and OPI have "OE" interiors available.

 

^^^^thank you sir, i have a local guy that quoted me $450 for custom white and burgundy, i think our only problem is gonna be matching the "grain" if thats the right term. i also have another guy that does upholstery from home quoted me ALOT cheaper, but im waiting to see more of his work...

 

dang 450 for 2 color see how much he wants for just black color

 

Your car is very clean and many of us on the board would be happy with it in the condition it is now. I would recommend trying to save as much of the interior as you can and selling it on this site. If you can find a parts car or buy a ratty interior to use. Since the guy will be re-covering everything anyway.........know what I mean? White interior in that condition is probably not too common. Good job on the engine compartment detailing too, the chrome radiator blinded me!

 

Dude that's CHEAP......especially if that's front AND back seats.

I paid $500 to a local shop to remove the seat material just off the back of
4th gen Camaro seats , add material, and put it on my 2nd gen Camaro rear
seats so it matched the front seats from the 4th gen.

I'd definitely check their quality of workmanship before committing though.

 

did u take that video at sl marina??

 

@aceshigh the $450 i was quoted was to re-wrap the front seats (white, burgundy piping), we are trying to find a material to match the back seat. this guy does alot of the customs in my area so the quality is not a problem. the other guy in my area quoted me $250 but ive only seen one of his jobs so i dont know...

@oldsguy my interior was thrashed about a month ago, i bought alot of those pieces off this site. i cleaned and spayed everything with that vinyl dye. the only thing im paying to have done is the front seats. trying my best to keep it original i wish i would have taken before and after pics!

@mattbeasty yesir home sweet home

 

I believe SMS manufactures OE seat materials.

http://www.smsautofabrics.com/

 

how often do u take out ur cutty ive never seen u around town

 

its been sitting for about 6 years i just started working on it in febuary, started drivin it on the weekends about a month ago

 

76 Cutty, nice whip. I have a '71 that I am "considering" adding on 22 inch wheels. I've seen several in my neck of the woods (Memphis, TN). Maybe I'll just try it out for ONE summer to see how it looks.