Can anyone comment on whether or not a 10 in. rear wheel will fit on a 71 Cutlass-S with a chevy 12 bolt rear end (I've read the 12 bolt rear end is 1" wider than the factory Olds 10 bolt)? ...I found an old set of Western aluminum slots... backs are 15x10, fronts are 15x8 (3 1/2 in. back spacing)...
Looking for tire size suggestions that will work yet clear, keeping in mind after market disc brakes as well...
Thanks!

 

12 bolt Chevy axles come in different widths depending on whether they were installed in a 64-67 car or a 68-72 car. If you have a 68-72 axle it should be the same width as the original axle.

10" wide wheels will fit fine until you decide to put tires on them, then the size of the TIRES will determine whether the tires clear or not. If you are saying that both the 8" and 10" wheels have 3.5" backspacing, then neither will allow the tires to clear. You want as close to zero offset as possible. That's going to be about 4.25" backspacing for 8" wide wheels and 5.25" backspacing for 10" wide wheels.

 

It's a 68/72 rear end... Thanks for the info!

 

67 Chevelle could have had the wide or narrow axle 12 bolt from the factory.

 

Yes, and the 67 Cutlass came with the exact same Type O housing as the 68. I was trying to simplify since the OP was talking about a 71 A-body.