Can someone check quick? Wheel Space
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 238
Likes: 96
From: South Carolina
Can someone check quick? Wheel Space
Just had the suspension on my 73 convertible completed replaced/rebuilt. It cost an arm and a leg.
I have about 2 1/4" space between the rear tire and the wheel flares and 3 1/4 space on the drivers side.
Would this be acceptable to you? Can someone here who has a rather new/non sagging rear suspension measure theirs and tell me the spacing between top of tire and the wheel well?
I pushed the car up and down and could not get the wheels within an inch of the flares(keep in mind I have the standard 15 inch tires but they're extremely wide for racing so they do not sit inside the lip). However my mechanic wants to make sure I'm 100% satisfied.. Figure I'd ask here before wasting his time with my paranoia. I just don't want to see the wheel rub/crack the body.
Thank you so much!
I have about 2 1/4" space between the rear tire and the wheel flares and 3 1/4 space on the drivers side.
Would this be acceptable to you? Can someone here who has a rather new/non sagging rear suspension measure theirs and tell me the spacing between top of tire and the wheel well?
I pushed the car up and down and could not get the wheels within an inch of the flares(keep in mind I have the standard 15 inch tires but they're extremely wide for racing so they do not sit inside the lip). However my mechanic wants to make sure I'm 100% satisfied.. Figure I'd ask here before wasting his time with my paranoia. I just don't want to see the wheel rub/crack the body.
Thank you so much!
Last edited by TanksFull; Feb 1, 2016 at 11:35 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 136
Likes: 17
From: mackinaw IL
We have about 5 in on our 68 which I know is too much, but with all new springs and bushings on front and rear we need to drive it just a little and let things settle in. we also put 10" bolts on rear spring to lower the body. what does the angle of the halfshafts look like when car is on wheels?
Dean
Dean
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 238
Likes: 96
From: South Carolina
I will need to check. I know that it does not change when turning in either direction and parking.
The spare is still under there.. I wanted to remove it but the purists would come find me and take the car away for good.
I still may take this in to the mechanic.. Just want to see if 2 and a quarter is within safety level.
The spare is still under there.. I wanted to remove it but the purists would come find me and take the car away for good.
I still may take this in to the mechanic.. Just want to see if 2 and a quarter is within safety level.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
In your original post are you saying you are an inch higher on the drivers side vs. passenger side? That isn't anywhere near normal. My wife's 78 has 3" from the top of the tire to the fender lip and my 69 has 2". Both are on 15" tires and passenger and driver sides on both cars are the same distance. Measure your fender lip to the ground on both sides. Both on my 69 are 28.25 and both on the 78 are 29.0".
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,689
Likes: 2,571
How about some detailed pictures of how you have the bolts adjusted on the ends of the spring and also the strut rods both inner and outer ends?
Have you checked the condition of the back body mounts which can be seen in the rear wheel well area?
Have you checked the condition of the back body mounts which can be seen in the rear wheel well area?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 935
Likes: 20
From: Indianapolis Indiana
I checked on my 69 last night. A lot of people thought the car looked to high on the back so I was always wondering.
My fender to top of tire for my car is 3.25 to 3.5.(hard to measure where top of tire was exactly)
My fender to ground measurement was 28.5.
I kept my old springs but did replace the rubber bushings which looked quite a bit thicker than my squished old ones.
I added a picture to show my tires.
On a side note. While looking at my tires I noticed a very very slight negative camber. The lower part of tire was slightly out more than top equally on both sides. Is there supposed to be any camber at all on the rear tires?
thanks
jim
My fender to top of tire for my car is 3.25 to 3.5.(hard to measure where top of tire was exactly)
My fender to ground measurement was 28.5.
I kept my old springs but did replace the rubber bushings which looked quite a bit thicker than my squished old ones.
I added a picture to show my tires.
On a side note. While looking at my tires I noticed a very very slight negative camber. The lower part of tire was slightly out more than top equally on both sides. Is there supposed to be any camber at all on the rear tires?
thanks
jim
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 238
Likes: 96
From: South Carolina
Hey Xpoc, thanks for taking the picture and measuring. I do not know what you mean by chamber?
As for the bushings, yes EVVVVERYthing was replaced. The entire rear is new or whatever could be replaced was. So I have no idea what it could be.
Guess I should take it to the mechanic this week as it seems most people have at least 3 inches of space.
As for the bushings, yes EVVVVERYthing was replaced. The entire rear is new or whatever could be replaced was. So I have no idea what it could be.
Guess I should take it to the mechanic this week as it seems most people have at least 3 inches of space.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 935
Likes: 20
From: Indianapolis Indiana
Camber, if I understand it right. Is the angle of the wheel and tire to the ground.
You can have your tire perfectly vertical or the bottom of the tire can be angle in or out from the top. Ive seen people make the tire bottom angle out some to help add grip on some tracks.
You can have your tire perfectly vertical or the bottom of the tire can be angle in or out from the top. Ive seen people make the tire bottom angle out some to help add grip on some tracks.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,133
Likes: 477
From: NM
Just measured my 73 Coupe and it is 2.5" clearance & 28.5" to ground on the drivers side and 3" clearance & 29" to ground on the passenger side. It has a composite mono-leaf spring in place of the stock multi-leaf steel spring.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 121
From: Kernersville NC
Mine is a bit lower. 27.75" to wheel opening lip and between 1.75and 2.0" between tire and opening. Both sides are the same. I have 8 inch bolts on the 7 leaf springs.
It should have some negative camber. I don't remember the spec but you should be able to tell the tires lean in at the top slightly.
It should have some negative camber. I don't remember the spec but you should be able to tell the tires lean in at the top slightly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Zero Degrees Camber
...I added a picture to show my tires.
On a side note. While looking at my tires I noticed a very very slight negative camber. The lower part of tire was slightly out more than top equally on both sides. Is there supposed to be any camber at all on the rear tires?
thanks
jim
On a side note. While looking at my tires I noticed a very very slight negative camber. The lower part of tire was slightly out more than top equally on both sides. Is there supposed to be any camber at all on the rear tires?
thanks
jim
Good luck... GUSTO
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 195
Likes: 22
From: Ellenton, Florida
Suspension height
I have a 1978 Pace Car with the original suspension and a removed spare tire and tub. The measurement on the rear is 2 and a quarter inches on both sides between the top of tire and wheel lip. The measurement on the front is 2 and a half inches on both sides between the top of the tire and the wheel lip. Hope this gives you something to compare with.