Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: speedy515]
#646398
03/21/10 12:00 AM
03/21/10 12:00 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN
Evil Monkey
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I have 255/60/15's on 8" wheels with 4" backspacing on my '74 Cuda, and I had to modify my fenders to keep from rubbing. They rubbed on the very bottom of the front of the wheel opening. 245/60/15 with 4.5" backspacing might work without fender modifications, but I don't know for sure.
1974 'Cuda 360/TKO
1990 Ram Van
1998 Neon
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: speedy515]
#646401
03/21/10 12:12 PM
03/21/10 12:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,405 Pikes Peak Country
TC@HP2
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Wheel backspace is critical. I used to have 235/60x15 on a 8" wheel with 4.75 ackspace, and had no rubbing anywhere with plenty of room. I've recently switched to a 255/50x15 on a 8" rim with 4.5" back space. While everything fits, it is very close and body roll will deterimine interference. I'm thinking I may need to roll the fender lip to avoid cutting the tires. That difference in .25" spacing may be the difference. 235 255
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: TC@HP2]
#646402
03/21/10 12:24 PM
03/21/10 12:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,560 So Cal
autoxcuda
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So Cal
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Quote:
...
I've recently switched to a 255/50x15 on a 8" rim with 4.5" back space....
255
What brand and model tires are those?
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: speedy515]
#646405
04/15/10 04:41 AM
04/15/10 04:41 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN
Evil Monkey
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I'll shoot you a picture later today when I get home (I work the night shift) I was just working on my front wheel openings yesterday in getting the car ready for paint. The modification is small, and is really not noticeable. I did it years ago and have never rubbed, with hard driving and hard cornering.
1974 'Cuda 360/TKO
1990 Ram Van
1998 Neon
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: Evil Monkey]
#646406
04/15/10 09:42 AM
04/15/10 09:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,862 the frozen wastes...
Pale_Roader
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the frozen wastes...
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Here's a more extreme perspective.
I've had 255/50/16's on 16x8 rims on the front ov my 72 Rally Challenger no issues. The backspace was a bit extreme for my tastes, 5 1/2" but i had a 1/4" spacer in there for a total 5 1/4" backspace. No issues, but looked a bit off. Still better than a narrower tire that fit better in my opinion though.
Right now i've got 275/50/15 BFG's on a 15x7 steelie on the front ov my 70 Challenger. So far its passed the sit in and crank the wheel test, and i even took it around the block very slowly (solid rear susp at the time and no insurance...) and the fronts seemed fine. But driving at speed might be a different story.
Mitch Lelito's T/A had 255/60/16's on 10" rims up front, with (if i remember correctly) 5" backspace. That car was lowered and raced, but i'm not sure if his fenders were modded or not.
My 70 will have 275/40/17 or wider and i'll make them fit without ruining my virgin fenders.
Actually, right now i've got 295/50/15 BFG's on the front ov that car, sitting. That with 15x8 steelies and they pass the sit and crank the wheel test too, though i'm not optimistic about the drive test. They REALLY fill the wells, and are especially close to the lip ov the front ov the fender. Maybe theres a way to make those work too... Hmmmmm... . . .
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: speedy515]
#646407
04/16/10 12:16 AM
04/16/10 12:16 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN
Evil Monkey
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Here's the pics I took today. Sorry about the quality - The only digital camera I've got is my cell phone, and I've got cramped quarters in my garage.
The first one shows the area I had to modify. All other areas of the wheel opening are unaltered and have no issues.
Last edited by Evil Monkey; 04/16/10 12:16 AM.
1974 'Cuda 360/TKO
1990 Ram Van
1998 Neon
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: speedy515]
#646408
04/16/10 12:18 AM
04/16/10 12:18 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN
Evil Monkey
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The red line shows the approximate original line of the fender. The wheel is turned to the right (about half way) in all these photos.
Last edited by Evil Monkey; 04/16/10 12:22 AM.
1974 'Cuda 360/TKO
1990 Ram Van
1998 Neon
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: speedy515]
#646409
04/16/10 12:27 AM
04/16/10 12:27 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN
Evil Monkey
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This one shows that the edge of the lip has a slight triangular shape to it. I didn't cut any metal when I made the modification, I just re-did the 90 degree bend on the lower section, creating a trianular shape to the edge
1974 'Cuda 360/TKO
1990 Ram Van
1998 Neon
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: speedy515]
#646410
04/16/10 12:32 AM
04/16/10 12:32 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN
Evil Monkey
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Another shot showing the trianular shape of the bottom edge of the lip. I re-did the 90 degree bend for the lip by straightening the lip out some, then using 5 or 6 big vice-grips, clamping them on, and then moving them all at once to create a new 90 degree bend at the angle I wanted, then using a hammer and dolly to get it the right shape. I'm sure there are better ways to do this, but I was working with what I had available.
Last edited by Evil Monkey; 04/16/10 12:41 AM.
1974 'Cuda 360/TKO
1990 Ram Van
1998 Neon
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: speedy515]
#646411
04/16/10 12:37 AM
04/16/10 12:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN
Evil Monkey
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Last one. This is a closer shot from the side, from down low, with the wheel back on. With better tools (and someone that does better body work than I do) you could make this modification so that no one would notice it. Hope these help!
1974 'Cuda 360/TKO
1990 Ram Van
1998 Neon
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: Pale_Roader]
#646413
04/16/10 03:09 PM
04/16/10 03:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 27 Ca
speedy515
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Thanks for the Pictures...I'll show these to my body shop. I'm sure that with your images and description we'll make it work. Who knows, after the mod, maybe I'll be able to squeeze 275s in Thanks again Speedy
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Re: Widest front tires for an Ebody Challenger
[Re: Pale_Roader]
#646414
04/16/10 11:34 PM
04/16/10 11:34 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN
Evil Monkey
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Quote:
I'm just having trouble bringing myself to mess with perfect, original fenders.
That's a 'problem' I didn't have. My original fenders are long gone - the car was a rust bucket when I got it, and they were not salvagable. The swap meet replacements that I have are far from perfect, so I didn't have any problem with modifying them, but I can see where you might not want to modify yours.
1974 'Cuda 360/TKO
1990 Ram Van
1998 Neon
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