LittleJake

Im working on Swatos 78 pace car and he has 255's on all the way around. His front left inner front wheel lip is gone because of it and the tire rubs the inner frame on the front left.

Here is the before pictures


Here is the in process of getting fixed pictures

NBC3

I have spoke wheels and I bought 4 255s only to find tha tthe fronts rubbed on the fender fibreglass in front. Just a touch, but enough for me to abandon the fronts for 235s. I wish they had fit though. If anyone knows how to remedy this without grinding my fenders down, i would be eternally grateful

CHeers
Bill

LittleJake

After some help from other members it seems the 78's and 79 pace cars came with 255's factory. The factory ground down the front fender lips so it would clear. In 80 and up they changed the openings so they would allow for the larger tire size.

swtato

Jake,

I think you left out the most important pic of your body guy after he found out he had to grind down the lip he had just built!

I'm Batman

Some will, some won't. My 77 has had the fender lips trimmed, but I've never had an issue with rubbing on the frame, and I've been around the car since 1991. It had 255s on it when my dad bought it, and it has different 255s on it now.

As far as the rear goes, I don't know when the factory relocated the parking brake cable bracket, but it was before 77.

str8upchevy

You can run a lot wider than 255's on a 80-82 model. I'm running 295/50's on the back, and 265/50's on the front of my '81. I'd only go with 255 or 265 if you don't want any of your tire to stick out.

L82shark

I had been looking at the fender lip rebuild on Swato's car by Little Jake. I figured my Pace Car fenders had been worn down by the tires (255x15's) also. So the factory ground them down? I was going to lay some glass behind them to thicken them up since it's paper thin in a couple of areas on the fender.

swtato

I will post the section from the NCRS tech manual later.

Alex/plus

I have 255's on my 78 with only a slight rubbing on the frame on full steering lock which I very seldom have happen. I have absolutley no problems......my car is stock!

swtato

Some do some don't. On my Pace Car, the right front fender had been replaced and was not shaved and did not rub. My driver side is original and was shaved. I chose the shaved for both sides for originality.

den(thevetteman)78

My '78 came with 255's and the front fender are shaved. Under the front spoiler the lip completly disapear.

Engage

255's fit no problem on 81.
Be warned that it will throw speedo off slightly,kick up more stones,and be harder to steer with wider tire up front.