Okay so my father has a 73 eldorado with 40k Miles on it, he’s had it since before I was born (I’m 21) and for as long as I’ve been able to use the Internet I have been helping him search for anything he needs for the car, as well as rare parts etc. I recently came across a set of aftermarket Eldorado rims for sale, and i know through experience that these fit 67-78 eldorado/toronados. I emailed the guy and he said that the rims came off an 80’s Eldorado and that they were an 80’s dealer option. My question is. Would these fit on an 80’s Eldorado as well as 70’s eldorados? Also what other rims have you seen on 70’s eldorados? (Aside from the 3 main Aluminum dealer rims available, appliance, western wheel etc) I also know about the new wire wheels made but I haven’t been able to find them for sale for the past few years.
Some pictures
http://www.breznick.com/toronado/wheels/
Those don't look like the 'official' 79-85 wheels. Ask the seller to confirm the bolt circle. 67-78 was 5". 79-85 was the smaller 4 3/4.
There was also 2000's Jeep Grand Cherokee wheel that fit the 67-78's. I considered it at one point but at the time they were going for way more than I wanted to spend. Now I would guess nice examples would have the same problem.
Sorry to say, but the 80's Eldorado was a lightweight compared to the 1971-78 Eldorado....they weighed 3600-3700 pounds, and 1970's were 4800-5500. That's around 1300 pounds lighter....and the rims designed for the 1979-85 are not strong enough to hold that. Also...the 1970's wheel bolt pattern is a 5x5, and the size shrank to 5X4.75 for 1979...so you would have to use wheel adapters. I'd not advise that on the heavy Eldorado. Those 80's Eldorado wire and aluminum "touring" wheels just are not up to the task. :-\ :-\
EJ
P.S. The Toro and Eldorado were 5x5 patterns since 1966. I have seen a rim similar to that on Eldorados, very scarce though. Not sure if that manufacturer once offered it in a heavier 5x5 pattern or somebody is rolling the dice and using adapters.
These rims are for 67-78 Eldos, but I feel the guy who’s selling them thinks they are for 80’s Eldorado. I do not believe these rims were made for the later cars. I’ve only seen them on 67-78 eldorados and toronados.
However in my research this threw me off....
Now those (on white 1985) were actually made for the 1977-78 Eldorado (and would work on yours)...so in that situation the rims are much stronger than needed......that guy had to use wheel adapters though, to make the 5x4.75 up to 5x5". Those early aluminums were rated around 1250-1500 pound capacity, making 5000-6000 total...basically an Eldorado with 2-3 people in it max. Cuts it close! ::) ::) They have gotten so much better since then as aluminum technology has progressed. There are modern rims that have the 5x5 patterns or you can also have some wheels custom drilled for bolt patterns. Needs to have a good offset though... I doubt anybody is making them in 6" width per original GM steel wheels.
The bolt pattern for the 79-85 eldos is different from the 67-78 cars. There are also differences for the earlier wheels for drum or disc brakes.
They made at least two different types of aluminum "touring" wheels that will fit on your 81. The 79-81 type and the later Touring Coupe wheels.
The larger Eldo rims would be a poor choice for your car.
Take your dad's spare and try to bolt it onto your 81 to get an idea,
Brian
These would be for my dads 73 eldorado, not the 81.
The ones in the photo are for the older type so they would fit on your dad's car.
Does the guy have the centers?
Brian
No he does not
Quote from: 76eldo on February 20, 2018, 08:57:48 AM
The bolt pattern for the 79-85 eldos is different from the 67-78 cars. There are also differences for the earlier wheels for drum or disc brakes.
They made at least two different types of aluminum "touring" wheels that will fit on your 81. The 79-81 type and the later Touring Coupe wheels.
The larger Eldo rims would be a poor choice for your car.
Take your dad's spare and try to bolt it onto your 81 to get an idea,
Brian
There's no difference in the wheels for the 1967-78 ElDorados for disc brakes or drum.
The only thing is that with the Appliance Wheels, they cannot be fitted to the Eldorados with the rear fender skirts.
It isn't they the skirts won't fit, but that the wheel fouls with the inner fender in the centre of where the skirt attaches, and this protrusion cannot be removed without major surgery.
Bruce. >:D