15 x 8.5 vectors

[F8-4life]

Yesterday I scored a set of 15 x 8.5 general lee vector looking wheels.  Correct 4.5 pattern and $180 paid, so I am pretty excited about them.
The seller called them rocket hurricanes.
I did not find a manufacturer on the rims.
I read on here you cannot put 8.5's on the front?
Is there anything I can do about this?

[ACUDANUT]

Damn, why can't I find a deal like that.

[c00nhunterjoe]

8.5's with 245/60's on the front of mine.

[F8-4life]

Looking good!
Did you have any clearance issues?
People on the forums where saying an 8.5 would not clear the ball joint.

[Mike DC]

 
The NEW REPRO 8.5" wheels don't clear the balljoint. 

AR made the new 7" repros with the same offset as the originals, but their new 8.5" repros are an inch farther offset towards the inside (probably done so they wouldn't have to change the styling as dramatically.)

[Brock Lee]

I used 8.5's on the front for a couple years. Every once in a while I would hit a bump and get some rub of the tire on the inside of the fender. Otherwise, they were fine.

[F8-4life]

Thanks guys this is great news.
At first I was bummed that the set may not work.

[ACUDANUT]

You need to sell them to me. 

[SwiftJonny]

I have 15 x 8.5 Vectors on the front of my car with 235/60/15 Radial T/As.  Now the trick is to find better tires...

[TylerCharger69]

They are made by American Racing.

[jaak]

Those are AR Vectors. Below is a pic of a Rocket 10 spoke (I think, someone correct me if I'm wrong).



Jason

[F8-4life]

American racing made them, cool. Thanks for the info on them.
I am starting to realize I got a hell of a deal on these rims.

[miamivice]

That's a great deat!   

I have thought about trying to find a full set up 15x8.5 to change the look of my ride a bit.   

Good luck with the rest of your project!

[F8-4life]

small update-
I went back to the same seller this weekend and bought a set of authentic rocket hurricane mag wheels, universale lug- 15x7 fronts and 15x8.5 rears.
They are similar to the vectors but have more spokes.
Anybody have insight on these? I think they are failry desirable wheels but I'm not sure.
I also need to strip and repaint both sets and was wondering what is the best way to go about it.
Would chemical paint remover be the best option?

[xoman60]

Do they look similar to mine?

[MaximRecoil]

That's a great deat!  

I have thought about trying to find a full set up 15x8.5 to change the look of my ride a bit.

That would be a shame in my opinion. I have a picture of your car from a couple of years ago saved on my hard drive:



I saved it because it is perhaps the most perfect looking General Lee replica I've ever seen (plus it is a good picture taken at a good angle), and part of what makes it so perfect is the 7" wide Vectors all around (which nearly all actual Warner Bros. General Lees had). Your blackwall tires are another nice touch (they appear to be BF Goodrich Radial T/As ... what size are they?). I've never understood why so many General Lee replica owners go with wider wheels and white letter tires, which partially defeats the purpose of making it look like the General Lee (unless you are going for the 2005 movie look).

[Lennard]

Looks great!
I've been trying to find two old style 15x8,5 vectors for a long time now...they seem impossible to find.

[F8-4life]

xoman60- yes they look similar to your set up (car looks great btw)

I am thinking of selling the rocket wheel set. I will post up pics in the next day or so.
They are damn cool wheels but I already have the vectors.

[Lennard]

Keep the Rocket wheels and sell the Vectors to me.

[F8-4life]

[F8-4life]

Now for sale in the parts section.^

[ACUDANUT]

What are those, 15/16  spoke rims ?

[F8-4life]

Looks like 15 spokes on both front/rear.

[F8-4life]

Update, just picked up some original 15x10 vectors at goodguys.
Chevy pattern but the price was right!
Seller said if they were the Chrysler pattern he would have sold them ten times over by the time I bought them.
I think people just think GL when they see these wheels and nothing else. Haha

[myk]

I drove around on those rocket rims for 18 years.  If they had been larger in diameter I would've kept them...

[c00nhunterjoe]

Ive got 5 ar turbines that i cant give away. Look very close to the rockets. Also have 8 vectors in 8.5 and 2 in 7....but im not selling those.... lol

[Lennard]

Also have 8 vectors in 8.5 and 2 in 7....but im not selling those.... lol

Tease! You sure you don't want to sell me two? 

[c00nhunterjoe]

Lol, i have drag radials on a set for cruising and bias slicks on the other set for the track. 2 more are unilug which most frown upon.

[Lennard]

Well, since I need two Vectors for the front I'm not keen on mounting unilugs on there either.  The two 15x10s I have for the rear are unilug. They don't get as many side way forces on them as the steering wheels.

[c00nhunterjoe]

I would love to get a pair of 10s for my car. Nearly impossible to find at a respectable price.

[F8-4life]

I would love to get a pair of 10s for my car. Nearly impossible to find at a respectable price.

I got these for $125 for the pair.
Can I stuff these under a stock 68 charger well?

[skip68]

They'll fit in the back without rubbing depending on tires.     

[c00nhunterjoe]

Im at the point that if i had someone local, i would trade 4 of my restored 8.5s for a pair of 10s.

[skip68]

Here's how they look on back.   

[Lennard]

Im at the point that if i had someone local, i would trade 4 of my restored 8.5s for a pair of 10s.

Vectors in general are becoming hard to find, and if you find them with Mopar bolt pattern they want a small fortune for them.
I guess I'm willing to trade the four Rallye wheels I have for sale for two 15x8,5 5on4,5. bolt pattern Vectors

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,118817.0.html

[F8-4life]

Small update that is appropriate for this thread. This weekend I scored a pair of original AR vectors 15x8.5 for $80 cash. Mopar 4.5 pattern! Deals are still out there!

[Lennard]

Damn, I bought a pair from a member here for $350 a couple months ago.  

[F8-4life]

I found these at a local swap meet. They were asking $150.

[Lennard]

You got an awesome deal!   Even for $150 I would've jumped on them.

[F8-4life]

You got an awesome deal!   Even for $150 I would've jumped on them.

Thanks man, it defiantly made my weekend.

[Brock Lee]

I have no problem running unilugs. Get the correct lug nuts and they are fine. We have around 12 sets of Vectors kicking around, there are two sets of actual Chrysler bolt pattern wheels in there if I wanted to use them. The unilugs have never, ever exhibited an issue in the 13 years I have been running them. We have another GL with them we have literally driven in 40 states on over 15 years and never, ever had an issue.

[Mike DC]

Yeah, but jump one decent size creekbed and the wheels are liable to crack at the bolt holes when you hit the ground.     

[Brock Lee]

 

That makes me think of those Vectors we saw at the Veluzat's. The ones with huge chunks missing.

[Mike DC]

Those wheels at the Valuzets' place were BEAT.


I was just in LA a couple weeks ago.  I took a walk through the Valencia property.  It's still there, undeveloped, looking as overgrown as ever.  

The town square set on the Warner Bros backlot has the gazebo removed (in storage.)  The small trees that were growing on the gazebo's island are taller than the buildings now.    

They didn't have their GL on display.  All their other movie cars were temporarily stored for an exhibit of Batmobiles (promoting the Batman vs Superman movie).  

[Brock Lee]

I went to the Valencia ranch a few years ago. It was overgrown and the roads were washed out in spots. There was a memorial across from the Boars Nest parking lot, by the split for the overlook road. So someone must have died there at some time. Going so soon after the wildfires was the absolute best time.

I have been back to the Veluzat's too. They have a warehouse of stuff we never saw. Stacks of GL doors, hoods, fenders, roof skins, pushbars, wheels..etc..ofcourse they refuse to sell any of it..and have no need to.

[Mike DC]

  
I usually take a walk through the Valencia place when I'm in LA (every 2-3 years or so).  I can't remember if I saw that cross there last month or not.  Can't say I was looking for it.  There is always some random crap left in there by local people.  Backpacks, a tent or two, an empty plastic toolbox, a sofa, etc.  


I haven't been back to the Valuzets in a while though.  They have only been open for lookers on certain days.  I might try to make a point of visiting again eventually.  

[ACUDANUT]

I have no problem running unilugs. Get the correct lug nuts and they are fine. We have around 12 sets of Vectors kicking around, there are two sets of actual Chrysler bolt pattern wheels in there if I wanted to use them. The unilugs have never, ever exhibited an issue in the 13 years I have been running them. We have another GL with them we have literally driven in 40 states on over 15 years and never, ever had an issue.

Nor do I, but you have to check them a lot.  Mine tend to get loose after a couple hundred miles and I have to retighten them. 

[Brock Lee]

I never had them loosen up..but until last year I still ran the factory studs (reverse threads on the left)..so maybe now it will change. I will keep an eye on it.

Not saying this is the case, but I knew a guy running unilugs on his Lee that always had them loosen. He was talking about it one day when I was over and I looked at it. His shanks were too long and bottoming out. It was just slightly different from the wheel depth so it felt firm and no visible gap. We ground them down a bit and he says they have been fine since.

[Calif240]

8.5 x 15 up front and 10 x 15 in back... Both 10 spoke AR vectors.
Terry

[Lennard]

8.5 x 15 up front and 10 x 15 in back... Both 10 spoke AR vectors.
Terry

Picture?

[Calif240]

Here is a shot from the side. I'll try to get one from behind, as she looks pretty fat and nasty from the rear. I have a custom narrowed Moser Dana 60 on the back (narrowed 1" on each side), so my 10" vectors fit nicely inside without tubbing anything. Let me know if you want a specific shot and I'll see what I can do.

[Lennard]

No specific shot needed, thanks.  Car and wheels look great!

[lukedukem]

8.5 x 15 up front and 10 x 15 in back... Both 10 spoke AR vectors.
Terry

i thought the new 8.5 would hit ball joint on the front. what size tires you running

Luke

[Lennard]

8.5 x 15 up front and 10 x 15 in back... Both 10 spoke AR vectors.
Terry

i thought the new 8.5 would hit ball joint on the front. what size tires you running

Luke

He has the old school ones.

[Dreamcar]

An older thread that I just noticed. I'm in the minority, but I actually like the traditional look of the 7 inch wide version on all four corners (like all screen GLs). I think the 2005 movie also had this size except with white letters out. Size was 235 in the movie I believe. I think 7" vectors with 245s on all four corners would look great.

[Mike DC]

 
If I was emperor of the world then AR would be reproducing a Vector with about a 7.75" width.  Right in between the old 7" and the old 8.5" ones. 

[RCCDrew]

I wish they would come out with the 10" wide again. There would be the General Lee crew and the Grand National crew buying them.

[lukedukem]

An older thread that I just noticed. I'm in the minority, but I actually like the traditional look of the 7 inch wide version on all four corners (like all screen GLs). I think the 2005 movie also had this size except with white letters out. Size was 235 in the movie I believe. I think 7" vectors with 245s on all four corners would look great.

that's what I'm running. they are the reproductions from American racing, but i put 245/60s on all four corners

Luke

[Dreamcar]

An older thread that I just noticed. I'm in the minority, but I actually like the traditional look of the 7 inch wide version on all four corners (like all screen GLs). I think the 2005 movie also had this size except with white letters out. Size was 235 in the movie I believe. I think 7" vectors with 245s on all four corners would look great.

that's what I'm running. they are the reproductions from American racing, but i put 245/60s on all four corners

Luke

I like it