Wheel width/tire diameter ?'s

[challenger_affair]

How much you gonna put in the trunk? 
I don't have the 555's, but a couple people I know like them.

 

I could tell you whats in the trunk but...   

Tall tire fits on the back of my Barracuda. I've got 28.5" tall 295/45/18s on the back of mine with stock wells/axle housing. I'd keep it tall for aesthetics.

I have 555's, they're old now, but haven't given me any trouble.

 

I contacted Nitto yesterday and they said for a 1970 big block the minimum load index spec is 95.  Of course, the Nitto 555 255/45/17 you have, and I was also hoping to use up front, are 92 load index    I don't fully understand the drawbacks but maybe if you haven't had problems its ok??     The Kumho Ecsta SPT does seem to be an alternative with higher load index...

As far as keeping it tall, at 27" dia., as far as I can tell the 255/50 is about as good as it gets in a 17" wheel.  Nitto 450 has a 275/50 but the corresponding front would have to be 255/50, which from what I've read here is too much for the front... 

While I have you here, I think you guys run disc brakes in front, if I convert from drum to disc should I expect any wheel fittment issues?  The 17x8 year one rallye's actually have 4.25" backspace so if that's going to be a problem it would probably force me to go with the 9"... 

[dfrazz]

As far as keeping it tall, at 27" dia., as far as I can tell the 255/50 is about as good as it gets in a 17" wheel.  Nitto 450 has a 275/50 but the corresponding front would have to be 255/50, which from what I've read here is too much for the front... 

While I have you here, I think you guys run disc brakes in front, if I convert from drum to disc should I expect any wheel fittment issues?

If it helps, I switched from drums to discs on all 4 corners and am running 17x9.5 Torq Thrust II's with 6 3/8" BS.  I'm running Nitto 450s 255/50 on front and 275/50 on the rear.  At full wheel lock the front just barely clips the lowest part of the front fender so I bent the inside up and in about 1".  Its not noticeable unless you are physically inside the fender well.  There are no clearance issues with the new brakes.

 

[moparman82]

Can't wait to see it out on the road Dfrazz

[dfrazz]

Thanks MM82 - engine should be here next week, hope to have her out by the first week of June.

[moparman82]

What motor are you going to be using?  And what became of they crate 360 that was in it?

[72bluNblu]

If it helps, I switched from drums to discs on all 4 corners and am running 17x9.5 Torq Thrust II's with 6 3/8" BS.  I'm running Nitto 450s 255/50 on front and 275/50 on the rear.  At full wheel lock the front just barely clips the lowest part of the front fender so I bent the inside up and in about 1".  Its not noticeable unless you are physically inside the fender well.  There are no clearance issues with the new brakes.

What brakes are you running up front? That's a lot of backspacing on those rims to clear the tie rods and the  frame unless the disks are adding some offset (most do). Just curious. They look good!

[dfrazz]

What brakes are you running up front? That's a lot of backspacing on those rims to clear the tie rods and the  frame unless the disks are adding some offset (most do). Just curious. They look good! 

Thanks!  The front brakes are just NAPA premiums and the backs are from The Right Stuff's rear kit.  A good friend of mine did this on his Cuda and a couple of other E-bodies, and I didn't have the funds for SSBC or Wilwoods.  I also installed a vacuum pump in the trunk as I did not like the hydro option.  No issue clearing the rods and frame, just the inner front of the fender.

[/quote]

What motor are you going to be using?  And what became of they crate 360 that was in it?

A new 408 stroker from Carolina Machine Engines is on its way.  I sold the 360 to help finance the new engine, which I did not have any history on as it came with the car when I bought it last year.  There were some issues with engine and the machine shop offered me a fair price. After researching how much it would cost to R&R the engine with a stroke kit, it wasn't too much more for a new engine.  I also researched MANY builders, talked to a lot of people, and picked CME.  I will let you know how the engine is once it is here.

 

[bigblue73]

I run a 285/40/17 (26 inch tall) Nitto 555 on the rear of my car.  Straight up (0) zero backspace.  No rubbing issues and the width looks killer.

[Strawdawg]

Suspect you mean offset?


Steve