As for the frame connectors, I took measurements when I cut that big chunk of original outer rocker off the car and she didn't move on me. I tried forcing some deflection after I welded the new one in. I had the car on jack stands, rear axle and right under the lower ball joints up front. I jacked the center of the car and looked for deflection, long story short, I gained the confidence I needed to tie the frame right then and there, so I pulled the trigger on the welder and burned some wire.
As to the 6.5", well I went back and measured again, with my uni lug wheels I was able to drop the slider "spine" of a dial caliper down inside a lug nut slot alongside a wheel stud with the tire mounted and I used a straight edge on the outer face of existing tire... again, long story short, my hub face to outer wheel house lip measurement is 6.5", same as my hub face to leaf spring rub point, 6.5".
That leaf spring one is kind of tricky because the further back you go on the spring behind the axle the less clearance you have. That's where you will rub if it's ever going to happen, behind the axle since the leafs are slightly toed in at the front eyes.
6.5" seems to be the magic number for outer limits both ways. Although the outer clearance limit is reduced as the rear suspension compresses because the wall of the outer wheel house tapers in, the higher you sink the tire up into the wheel house the less outer wall clearance you have. About 2” up from the lip I am flush with the lip edge itself clearance wise. This is why rolling or trimming the lip is only good for so much suspension travel. So, if you only clear the lip by ¼” with the tire, it’s only going to be good for maybe 2.5” up into the wheel house and you might start rubbing the sidewall bulge on the outer house wall.
This has got to be why guys like Satelliteman are so adamant about zero offset in back. See he was runnin 10" wheels with the big 295/50's (researched from old posts).
On my 69RR, If I ran that wheel/tire combo with zero offset I'd have 1/4" clearance at the leaf spring and at the outer wheel house lip. Which looks freeking awesome but it also helps explain why Satelliteman being the good samaritan he is, often cautions people about using that combo and he seems to have stated repeatedly something to the effect of "next time I’m going with 275/60"
I'm getting wordy again and I apologize...
Bottom line, 275/60 is the tire for me.
Now what wheel? Well I think it could be done on 8", 8.5" or 9"... 10" too I suppose.
A 9" wheel would complement the 9" tread face on the 275/60.
So that leaves backspace which is all over the damn map depending on wheel brand and model.
There are only a handful of manufacturers that make a 15x9… If I go 9” I kind of want 4.5” backspace
The US mags 15x9 seems near impossible to find with 4.5" backspace. They have a part number for it, I just can’t find anyone that sells it.
8.5"? Yeah, American racing does it with certain variations of TT's. Backspacing I've seen for those are like 3.75" and 3.81" This would leave me with ½” clearance with the 3.75 or .56” with the 3.81 backspace.
8"? Lots of 8" wheels out there offered with many offset options to fine tune your look, but is 8” getting too narrow for the 275/60?
All I can hear is clicking noises in my head like an old adding machine that's going nuts.
:grin:
