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#1
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What is the biggest tire and rim width that anyone here has run on a 66 bonneville or catalina? I am thinking of having some custom made american racing salt flat specials made in 16x8's Will these fit?
The light at the end of your tunnel is just a freight train coming your way - Metallica
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The light at the end of your tunnel is just a freight train coming your way - Metallica |
#2
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The front and rear springs are 2 year old heavy duty units from Espo, but once installed, the car still sat mostly level, and to me was jsut too low in the rear...and I do not care for the low riding look with a factory fullsize. (The center cap on rear wheel was halfway hidden behind the fenderskirt, and it just looked bad.)
So I stretched the rear springs out by chaining the pair between a large tree and a tractor. The stretching made the springs gain about 3-4" in height unloaded, and once reinstalled (quite a task), lifted the rearend about 1.5". Then the taller 285\70 tires shown have lifted it a bit more. Ride quality is unaffected by the spring stretching. The pictures seem to make the rake look like more than it really is in person.
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Red\black 65 Grand Prix 467 E-head stroker, Viper T-56 6-speed, 4.10 spool |
#3
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OK, you can get off the edge of your seats now...here are the AFTER pics! 285\70R15...I had to do some minor trimming on the fender skirts for clearance, but that was all part of the plan to fit the widest rear tires possible on the GP.
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Red\black 65 Grand Prix 467 E-head stroker, Viper T-56 6-speed, 4.10 spool |
#4
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Another angle, rake is not quite as steep as the picture makes it look...I took the photo from a low position to show the tire tread width more.
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Red\black 65 Grand Prix 467 E-head stroker, Viper T-56 6-speed, 4.10 spool |
#5
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Got the new pair of 15 x 8" 5.500" backspacing rims yesterday! Here is a test fit pic from last night...note the lower shock modification for clearance. Hope to get the rims painted tomorrow, new P285\70 tires next, then will post the "AFTER" pics.
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Red\black 65 Grand Prix 467 E-head stroker, Viper T-56 6-speed, 4.10 spool |
#6
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Be careful at the rear. The very top half of the well opening where the skirt meets dosen't give much clearance. You also have to remember that the shock mount is pretty close to the wheel too. I dunno about an 8" width. Id stay safe and go 7". You need as much backspace as possible. As big as those cars are, there isn't much room for wheels under there. Keep in mind they had a 14x6 from the factory as a standard wheel.
_____________________________ Foolproof and Sucka free since 1979. |
#7
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What is the biggest tire and rim width that anyone here has run on a 66 bonneville or catalina? I am thinking of having some custom made american racing salt flat specials made in 16x8's Will these fit?
The light at the end of your tunnel is just a freight train coming your way - Metallica
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The light at the end of your tunnel is just a freight train coming your way - Metallica |
#8
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Whew, that is close! Imagine if the body rocks sideways on a curve...
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#9
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Yup, that is why I am going to change things up!! Just not sure exactly what I am going to do. Since the car is going to get painted, I think I am going to crate a little clearance around the wheel opening so that I can keep my options open.
Basically this is showing that there is no more than 4.5" from the hub face to the outer wheel opening before it touches. I would say at most 4.25 for clearance purposes and even at that you would want to have things tight in the rear and maybe a little extra shaved off the wheel openings.
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Brad Hansen 65 Cat Ventura, 66 Cat Vert, 63 GP |
#10
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Brad I measured my KD coded 15 x 7 rally II wheels again tonight, backspacing is exactly 4-3/8". The KD is stamped near the valve stem hole.
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Red\black 65 Grand Prix 467 E-head stroker, Viper T-56 6-speed, 4.10 spool |
#11
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Thanks. I checked all the usual spots for any markings and did not see a thing. With no markings as well as the backspacing on these, I am going to say these are wheel vintiques or some other reproduction that they use to make.
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Brad Hansen 65 Cat Ventura, 66 Cat Vert, 63 GP |
#12
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Read every post ... and man am I more confused than ever ... lol
I just wanted to put 15 x 7's on my '66 and now can't figure if any tire will fit under the skirts ... I may just have to go 15 x 6 but didn't want to ... or just scrap it and put the 14" 8 lugs on the car and cry about tires ... crazy ...
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1970 GTO Convertible 455 Ram Air M-21, Atoll/Blue/Black, Hood Tach, 3:31 12-Bolt Posi, A/C, Console 1966 Grand Prix 421 Tripower 4spd, Marina Turquoise/Turquoise, a/c, console, posi, reverb. pa, pb, ps, remote mirror, mats 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic, 6spd Hemi, Detonator Yellow, black stripe, black leather |
#13
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Quote:
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#14
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you can, but you have to get the right backspacing and may end up with a custom made wheel.
I may go with a set of 18x7 torque thrust wheels as they have a 4.25 backspacing and have seen them on other vehicles. I would go with 17x7, but the backspacing is only avail in 4" and will be tighter than I would like. 5x5 or 5x127 is the bolt pattern so options are limited.
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Brad Hansen 65 Cat Ventura, 66 Cat Vert, 63 GP |
#15
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Quote:
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#16
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Does anyone have info about wheel well space in a 1964 Bonneville? I was looking at 15x7in or 17x7in American Racing 200S "Daisy" wheels but they only come in 4in backspace. Does anyone know if this will fit if i run a 205/60 (15in) or 215/45 (17in)?
Further complicating the issue is my car rides on air suspension and i dont want the car resting on the wheels (which will push on the bodywork) when it is aired out. Narrower tyres should help this but i am concerned the outer edge of the wheel will contact the inner face of the guard/fender Currently i have 15in Cragar S/S with 205/60 tyres. I dont mind altering the rolling diameter (by running smaller tyres) as i will have to run a speedo adapter to suit the TH400 i have installed to replace the dead Super-Hydro 4spd. |
#17
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Quote:
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Autocrossing, diesel loving, tri-power loving grandpa Architect |
#18
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4.25" backspacing should work depending on the width of the tire and may still be tight. Don't think the 4" will work with skirts.
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Brad Hansen 65 Cat Ventura, 66 Cat Vert, 63 GP |
#20
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I Have a 67 GP with 15x6 Rally's and 225/70-15 tires. Plenty of of clearance in the back on both sides. I just ordered 17x8 Cragar 69 wheels with 4.50 backspacing and 0mm offset. Will be using 225/60-17 tires. Same height and width. Should be no issue from what I can tell.
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"Everyone is entitled to be stupid sometimes, but you're abusing that privilege" www.musclecarsgalore.com www.nikivee.com [www.reverbnation.com/nikivee 1967 Pontiac GTO 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix 1972 Pontiac Lemans Sport Convertible 2015 Dodge Challenger ScatPack 392, 6 speed 2017 Ford Explorer AWD |
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