Hey all, I have searched around the site trying to find threads on tire and wheel fitment. most deal with stock or near stock sizes. I am going to run 15 inch tires and wheels. I'm not to worried about the front, they will be near stock width. I'm planning on running 15X4 Weld draglites on the front and 15X8's on the rear. I am quite sure the 15X8's will fit, no problem. (4.5 back space). I will probably run 225 60 15's. all this is not set in stone, but I just wanted to throw it out there and see what others have done. so if there are any of you that have run these size tires and wheels or similar, please chime in...
I have run 235/70's on my car and presently running 275/60 BFG Drag Radials on 8" Centerlines with 4 3/4" back spacing. It's a little close to the springs, but they havent rubbed and they are completely under the car and not sticking out. My car is an 80 model, but I think all the rear wheel wells and spring locations are the same. You should have no problem at all running what you want. At most, you may need a 1/4 inch spacer, but they're cheap and work great. Good luck with your project.
yeah curtis' car fits the wheels nice.... im runniing 255=60=15 on 2 pintos with 15x8 rims.
thats great, thats exactly what I was wondering, just how much tire can I get in that wheel well ? can you guys post some pics ? Pinturbo75, whats the backspace on your 15X8's.
anybody else, 8, 9 or 10 wide ? pics ? whatever ya got. I wanna see pics...
I'll play ;)
These are pics of an '80 ESS. Front end was lowered with lowering springs, rear end had the block removed to lift the back and add a little rake. Front has 14x7's, and the backs are 14x8's. I can't remember the size of the tires though. The fronts to rub a little if I turn the wheel all the way, but the backs have no issues at all.
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l478/blindfaith429/IMG_2253.jpg)
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l478/blindfaith429/IMG_2255.jpg)
275-60-15 BF Goodrich
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/STREETREBEL/DSC00463.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/STREETREBEL/DSC00462.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/STREETREBEL/DSC00481.jpg)
looking good 80_2.3_ESS, it wood appear that 15 X 8 may be the optimun size wheel here for these cars (on the rear). Mr. STREETREBEL, whats the backspace on those Draglites, and do you have the stock rear axle housing ? I see a aircleaner poking out of the hood so I suspect a axle swap ?
4 1/2 back space. It's a 9", 1957 ford passenger car rear. UNCUT! Nice fit too.
I've been told it's the shortest width rearend Ford made. Hard to find now.
Yes it is a very nice fit. do you know what the outside dimensions of that rear are ? Axle dimensions will have a direct impact on backspace.
Flange to flange is 52 1/4". That's what the book says.
The leaf spring perch locations line up perfect on a Pinto!
Here's what I found.
"The 1957-1959 full-sized Ford passenger car 9-inch rear ends had a housing width of 52 ¼" across, flange-to-flange (same as 1965-1966 Mustang 8-inch rear end). These rear ends also share the same leaf-spring perch locations as the 1965-1978 Mustangs with a 43-inch distance center-to-center. (direct swap for '65-'70 Mustang [will give '67-'70 Mustangs slightly more wheel well clearance]. These "narrow" 52 ¼ housings will also fit the '71-'73 Mustangs but wider wheels & tires will be mandatory unless spacers are used with the stock wheels to space them back out."
The '57-'59 Ford big-car rear ends came in two housing configuration styles: (1) Large axle bearing housing. (2) Medium axle bearing housing (same bearing size as early Mustang 8-inch rear end).
(1) The Large bearing housings can only be found in the '57-'59 Ford station wagons and in the '57-'59 Ford Rancheros and also in the *1960 model T-Birds.
(2) The Medium axle bearing housing will be found in all the other '57-'59 Ford passenger cars.
Interesting, I just picked up a 8" out of a 68 falcon and it measures 52" flange to flange. its also a factory posi...the only downside is the gear ratio, 3:00. that will have to be changed. I'll have to measure the spring perches and see how lucky I am. I would actually like to get a 8.8 under it, as strong as a 9" but lighter and less friction.
I would do the 8.8.
I have over a grand in my 9"!
Complete rebuild with Detriot Locker and new gears.
yeah, I could have a complete 8.8 under it for around $300.00 and thats a posi and 373 or 410 gears.... so, I suppose I need to figure out what rear is going in the car befor I can figure what backspace I need. that being said, it does seem that 15X8 is the wheel to go with. no ones posted anything wider.
what rear axle do you have ? Very nice looking car by the way. now those fill up a wheel well ! do you have a shot taken from the rear ?
If I remember correctly, my tires are 245-60-14's in the rear. I am running a Ford 8" with drilled axles to convert to 5-lug. The 8" was from a V8 Mustang II and it fit perfect, spring perches were perfect and the width was just right.
MUSTANG II 8 inch .
That is simply awesome. did you have to redrill your mustang II axles ? I don't know if they come in five lug or not ?
only thing left from the mustII is the housing. all internals are after market from M/W. 35 spline axels and spool - 5/8 wheel studs.
Yes & No.
I did re-drill them to be 5-lug. We converted the front to bigger brakes & 5-lug, so we did re-drill the axles on mine. We left the rest alone, still running the 3.00's for gears. Might swap them out for a posi unit sometime with 3.55's or something.
If you want to go 5-lug, yes, you have to re-drill. If you wanna keep 4-lug to match the stock front, no re-drilling.