'70 Coupe Restification
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 309
Likes: 5
From: La Crosse,WI,USA
Great Project
I am also doing a restomod, I too am struggling with flare or not to flare.
For those who have done it.
Pros
Cons?
We need feedback
Also, 17" or 18" wheels?
I have 275/40R17 tires but the wheels you have don't come in 17X9.5" wheels but come in 18X9.5" wheels.
Are 17" tires going away? Or not really?
I plan on burning some rubber with this beast and I don't want to worry too much about having fun since tires are expensive.
Thanks
For those who have done it.
Pros
Cons?
We need feedback
Also, 17" or 18" wheels?
I have 275/40R17 tires but the wheels you have don't come in 17X9.5" wheels but come in 18X9.5" wheels.
Are 17" tires going away? Or not really?
I plan on burning some rubber with this beast and I don't want to worry too much about having fun since tires are expensive.
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 309
Likes: 5
From: La Crosse,WI,USA
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Thanks, they Boss 338's 18x9.5 rear and 18x8 on the front. As I mentioned though, they belong to my Cutlass. Since I'm putting polished side pipes on the car I thought I'd go with a set of 18" polished wheels to match.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
I am also doing a restomod, I too am struggling with flare or not to flare.
For those who have done it.
Pros
Cons?
We need feedback
Also, 17" or 18" wheels?
I have 275/40R17 tires but the wheels you have don't come in 17X9.5" wheels but come in 18X9.5" wheels.
Are 17" tires going away? Or not really?
I plan on burning some rubber with this beast and I don't want to worry too much about having fun since tires are expensive.
Thanks
For those who have done it.
Pros
Cons?
We need feedback
Also, 17" or 18" wheels?
I have 275/40R17 tires but the wheels you have don't come in 17X9.5" wheels but come in 18X9.5" wheels.
Are 17" tires going away? Or not really?
I plan on burning some rubber with this beast and I don't want to worry too much about having fun since tires are expensive.
Thanks
http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette.../fender-flares
I was thinking they might not require as much body work.
Not nearly as many wheel choices for a car with 4" rear flares. You'll need at least an 11" wide wheel. American Racing will do a custom order for their 18" Torque Thrust II wheels but you're going to pay $$$. I figure flares and wheels to fit the flares will cost an extra $3000 beyond not adding flares and using off the shelf wheels.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 309
Likes: 5
From: La Crosse,WI,USA
Sweet Ride
http://findyourclassiccar.com/2011/1...-carousel-1203
Looks like it might have the Mamo style flares you were looking at.
You are right, those 11" wide wheels are $
I thought I could get by with 9.5" wheels but may not look right.
Looks like it might have the Mamo style flares you were looking at.
You are right, those 11" wide wheels are $
I thought I could get by with 9.5" wheels but may not look right.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
http://findyourclassiccar.com/2011/1...-carousel-1203
Looks like it might have the Mamo style flares you were looking at.
You are right, those 11" wide wheels are $
I thought I could get by with 9.5" wheels but may not look right.
Looks like it might have the Mamo style flares you were looking at.
You are right, those 11" wide wheels are $
I thought I could get by with 9.5" wheels but may not look right.
I don't think a 9.5" wheel would work with a 4" flare. You could use a 10" wheel with 4" or 4.5" of backspacing with a 2" flare. One thing that concerns me about using an 11" wheel with 4" of backspacing (4" fender flares) is the load on the rear spindle bearings. Since the wheel is not centered over the spindle and bearings does it put a high load on the bearings and would they fail sooner? It's not like there is a long solid axle with bearings on each end to carry the load, it's all maintained within the trailing arm.
As much as I like the classic L88 road racer look, I'm leaning towards leaving the body as it is and use a 9.5" or 10" rear wheel with 5" or 5.5" of backspacing along with offset trailing arms to tuck the wheels under the car with stock fenders.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 309
Likes: 5
From: La Crosse,WI,USA
My car
I fit 17X9.5 on stock fenders.
I figured if I changed the offset I could go 4" flares
I have a small spacer in the back and a 1" spacer in the front.
I have an 84 Z51 front and rear suspension so the width is different
On your bearing question it is a valid concern. But take into concern that if you can center the wheel mounting you are putting the least amount of stress on your bearings. So if can get close to center on your mount the bearing doesn't care how wide your tire is.
Food for thought.
I figured if I changed the offset I could go 4" flares
I have a small spacer in the back and a 1" spacer in the front.
I have an 84 Z51 front and rear suspension so the width is different
On your bearing question it is a valid concern. But take into concern that if you can center the wheel mounting you are putting the least amount of stress on your bearings. So if can get close to center on your mount the bearing doesn't care how wide your tire is.
Food for thought.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 309
Likes: 5
From: La Crosse,WI,USA
What it will look like
If I don't flare. I put the L88 hood on and will paint blue.
Questions questions......
I don't think the 2" flares give it enough pop
I would also use the flares to make it appear lower by closing the gap in the wheel wells a bit.
Thoughts?
Questions questions......
I don't think the 2" flares give it enough pop
I would also use the flares to make it appear lower by closing the gap in the wheel wells a bit.
Thoughts?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
I fit 17X9.5 on stock fenders.
I figured if I changed the offset I could go 4" flares
I have a small spacer in the back and a 1" spacer in the front.
I have an 84 Z51 front and rear suspension so the width is different
On your bearing question it is a valid concern. But take into concern that if you can center the wheel mounting you are putting the least amount of stress on your bearings. So if can get close to center on your mount the bearing doesn't care how wide your tire is.
Food for thought.
I figured if I changed the offset I could go 4" flares
I have a small spacer in the back and a 1" spacer in the front.
I have an 84 Z51 front and rear suspension so the width is different
On your bearing question it is a valid concern. But take into concern that if you can center the wheel mounting you are putting the least amount of stress on your bearings. So if can get close to center on your mount the bearing doesn't care how wide your tire is.
Food for thought.
Last edited by SteveCurry; Oct 4, 2014 at 03:02 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 309
Likes: 5
From: La Crosse,WI,USA
Nice illustration
Here's how I see it. To me, if using a 9.5" wide wheel with 4" flares, you'd need 1.5" of backspacing to get the outside edge of the wheel in the same position in relation to the outer fender as the factory 15x8 wheel with stock fenders. I think the perfect wheel for 4" flares would be 12" wide with 4.5" of back spacing, or 11" wide with 4" of backspacing and a tall tire sidewall with a lot of section width. If not using an 11" or 12" wide wheel, the wheels and tires get tucked back too far into the wheel opening.
Charlie
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Ran into some problems this past weekend. The left side trailing arm pocket is completely rusted out. I was very surprised and then angry when I uncovered this mess, the right side is in pretty good shape. The area was packed with dirt and crud, the more I dug at it with a chisel and screw driver the worse it got. Not sure what to do now.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 309
Likes: 5
From: La Crosse,WI,USA
Ouch
Ran into some problems this past weekend. The left side trailing arm pocket is completely rusted out. I was very surprised and then angry when I uncovered this mess, the right side is in pretty good shape. The area was packed with dirt and crud, the more I dug at it with a chisel and screw driver the worse it got. Not sure what to do now.
What are your plans to fix it?
If it's in the budget, my vote is SRII frame. Those are very strong and you can bolt on a ton of options.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,017
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Ran into some problems this past weekend. The left side trailing arm pocket is completely rusted out. I was very surprised and then angry when I uncovered this mess, the right side is in pretty good shape. The area was packed with dirt and crud, the more I dug at it with a chisel and screw driver the worse it got. Not sure what to do now.
Do this first..........................RELAXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX!
(Removing that trailing arm was the hardest part)
Then find a thread or video on how to repair/replace the rusted section.
The more you learn........the smaller the problem gets!