late model hemi into early b bodies

[5.7 hemi]

Thanks for the compliment. It's almost over after 6 years and cant wait drive it on the streets "legally"!!!

 

[5.7 hemi]

Got the drivers seat mounted and took for a cruise around block. The brakes work awesome and from a dead stop, dropped the hammer, and hides went up in smoke. Gonna have to buy stock in bfg!!!lol!!! And yeah, still no windshield, got some thumbs up, and some double takes. Still gotta put in the passenger side seat, but waiting to do that til' I get some new carpet.

Heres some pics of today, hope ya enjoy!! Almost forgot, heres a pic of the cracked windshield, it really pissed me off, but whatcha ya gonna do??

 

[Joe Mopar]

Looking good Zack ! What size wheels / tires did you end up putting on the car? The stance looks awesome.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Joe, the fronts are 15x7 245/60/15 4 inch back space the rear is 15x8 275/60/15 with 4 inch back space.

 

[Joe Mopar]

Zack I ordered new wheels for the back 15 x 8 w/ 4.5 backspace. How much room do you have between the tire and springs if you don't mind me asking? :tread_on _me.gif:

 

[5.7 hemi]

Tire and springs is plenty, it's the tire and wheel lip that has my concern, but it hasn't rubbed yet and so I hopeful that when i drive it out on the streets it'll be ok, might be wishful thinking though.

 

[HitIt]

I measured and then ordered some 15x8 with 4.5" backspacing and I ended up sending them back. Like Zack says the outer wheel lip is the problem. Actually the lip is ok it's where the quarter panel tightens at the upper wheel well. To run an 8" wheel and 9 or 10" tire on our cars I measured and needed 5.5" backspacing.

I am going to run a 29" tall tire btw,it all depends on what tire you want to run and how high or low your back end is. A lower profile tire on that 15x8 would have been fine on my car for instance.

Now I have some 15x7 with 4.5 backspacing that seem to be just what I wanted. Also decided to go down to an 8" wide tire.

 

[HitIt]

what I measured with my 15x7s:

here is the inner clearance- 3.75" (photo1)
outer clearance - 4" to inside of fender lip. (photo 2) (the 15X8s were 3" with the same backspace)

 

[Joe Mopar]

Well the place I ordered the wheels from called me and said there was a nationwide back order on them. I'm going to try and have one of the new tires mounted on the 7" wide rims I have and see how it fits. ( 3.75" ) back space.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Yeah if it weren't for the inner part of the wheel lip I dont think I would have any issues.

 

[Tincup]

Hey Zack, what's new?

 

[5.7 hemi]

Hey Mike, not too much. I got the outside mirrors installed, also have done some clean up work of the wires under the dash, mounted the aldl connector and finally the overdrive off switch and the electric speedo button inside the ashtray.

Now for the bad news, my tires are gonna rub the inside of the wheel well, so I may have to narrow the rear. I'm so pissed at myself for not triple checking this **** out, but thats the way it goes for me. Not alot of money to throw at it now that my son is out of school and in daycare, it's double now until he goes back to school in August.

 

[5.7 hemi]

And the bad news just keeps coming!!!! Pulled the drivers side tire off to double check the "meat" on the back side of the rim for machining, and wouldn't you know it, there is only alittle over a 1/2 inch, so machining is out of the question. Now I'm down to a few alternatives......
1. Get steelies with the right back spacing...old school look
2. Buy some smaller tires 255-60-15....hell it has problems with traction on the 275-60-15's now
3. Narrow the rearend...by far the cheapest way to go, but more labor intensive

What am I going to do???????

 

[Joe Mopar]

Zack when I bought my car I think the guy told me that the rear in mine was shortened. Not that it will help your situation at all but just curious what you have in length for the rear in yours. I will check it against what I have. I guess the easiest way would be inside to inside of the brake housing.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Ill check the length tonight, but the rear is out of a 68 charger. I did measure the factory axle splines and they are 1.5 inches and the aftermarket axles that I have measure 4 3/8 for the lenght of the splines, so I'm good to go. Now I just have to get it narrowed, cant wait to have my buddy show me how it's done so I can learn something new.

 

[Joe Mopar]

Well I got home late from work, but I ran out and measured 51" from inside to inside of the ridge towards the outside of the brake drums. Curious as to what you have so I will have a heads up for when I put the bigger tires on.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Just measured from the backing plate to backing plate (where the outside rolls into the brake drum) just under 55 inches.

 

[Joe Mopar]

Just measured from the backing plate to backing plate (where the outside rolls into the brake drum) just under 55 inches.

Holy Shmolly! That's a big difference. Wonder what Hitit's is?

 

[5.7 hemi]

It's from a 68 charger, and yeah it's alot wider than what was originally there. At least it bolted in and I didn't have to move the spring perches.

 

[Revhendo]

Hey Zack, that is looking awesome! Too bad about having to narrow that rear. Just don't go thinking you have to mini tub it just to compliment the narrower rear.

(I can see the post now, "Oops, narrowed the rear too far, now I have to....")