72' Grabber Restoration with Sub-Projects

Trying to Decide on Wheel and Tires for the Car

So while continuing to tear the car down, and labeling zip-lock baggies with all the nuts, bolts, hardware, etc...

...I have been researching Wheel and Tire combos to put on later. My rear end is from a 73' Maverick and has
the (smaller and earlier) 2.4" wheel hub diameter. The rear end gear ratio is a 3.00, but I am going to put an
Eaton 3:55 posi-trac in the center. My front hubs are from a 1976 donor Maverick's Power Disc Brake setup,
and the spindles have the (larger and later) 2.75" wheel hub diameter.

(*I believe the 73' Maverick and Mustang slotted Rims were the same, and the only year for the Maverick
to use the smaller 2 3/8" (close to 2.4") hub opening on the slotted Rims. I think the 73' Rims were lug centric,
where the 74' and later Rims, with the larger 2.75" (2 3/4") hub opening, were hub centric. So this is something
to remember, and consider, when making sure these Rims are perfectly balanced, especially if any machining
is done to them.)
In other words, if you put a larger hub/hole 74' rim, on an earlier Maverick spindle, or vise versa (with machining),
you may have balancing problems, if care isn't taken, due to the difference of lug centric, and hub centric.)

*So if you're looking at slotted rims on Ebay, advertised as Maverick ones, make sure to ask what the
wheel hub diameter opening is, and measure your front and back spindle diameters, to be sure.
The Factory ones were 14" Rims, 6" wide, with a 5-bolt lug pattern of 4.5".
The Lug Nuts are the 1/2"/20 Thread, Chromed Acorn Nuts,
which fits a 13/16" Tire Wrench/Socket.



I really have always favored the Factory Maverick Slotted Mags. My 73' Grabber I owned back in Illinois had those Rims.

Here is a pic of what the Factory Slots look like:



Here is a Comet version...the same as the Maverick other than the center cap (Seth's Comet GT):



I don't plan on trying to aquire a nice set of the Original Factory Slots, so I'm thinking about getting a set of the
American Racing Ansen Slots, and modifying them to fit the Reproduction Center Caps, and maybe even having the
"Black Band" powder coated into the rims.

A mockup picture I edited, to have an idea of what a Modified Ansen Slot would look like,
with a Maverick Center Cap and Black Stripe/Band:



Here is a pic of a 73 Grabber with the Ansen Slots:



I will use BF Goodrich Radial T/A's on these rims, just like the above 73' Grabber has.
I will probably test different rim size/tire size combos at a local Tire/Wheel center
to get the look and stance that I like.
By the way, although the above White and Orange Grabber is one of my favorite color combos,
the same as the 73' Grabber I use to own, I am not going to paint my car in those colors.

Here's a picture of another style Aftermarket 15" slotted Rim made by HRH Classic Alloy.
With HRH's being 8" wide, and that deep, I think they would stick out the sides too much,
and I don't want to roll my fender wells on this resto.



A picture of a Challanger with the HRH Slots:



The Lug Nuts I will use will be the 1/2"/20 Thread, 2" long Chrome Acorn Nuts,
which fits a 13/16" Tire Wrench/Socket.

Here's a pic of the shorter Factory Lugs for the slots:



You should really have at least 10 turns on these lugs, so I will probably use a longer Acorn Style lug like this:

 

Great write-up on the steering wheel. It really came out nice.

I like your ideas on the wheels, too. Slots are a great look.

Don't write off those 8 inch rims so fast. They might work well. I have 15x8.5 repopped Magnums on the back of mine and I wish they were another .5" deeper. Plenty of room outboard, but with the stock axle, they are tight near the spring and the inner wheelhouse.

Seeing them on that Challenger isn't really the same because most modern cars have the wheels shoved as far outboard as possible.

Are you trying to run the same size wheels and tires on all 4 corners? If so, you will probably be OK, but look at the clearance near the disc caliper. I have 15x7s on the front and they are fine, 14x7s were very tight and wouldn't work without a little grinding for clearance. Depending on the inner contour of that wheel, it will likely be OK. Then you just have to look to see if the tire clears through the whole arc of travel. The only way to really know is to use the actual wheel and tire you plan to use. Sometimes switching a tire brand will make the difference too ... BFGs run big, Cooper run small, even though they are "the same size".

Long lug nuts .... I run those in my Magnums and they look great! A lot more substantial. I scavenged mine from those funky wheels that came on late 70s T-birds... the ones with the vinyl patterned centers. Good to find there is still another way to get them.

 

Thanks for the nice comments Jeff.

I am most likely going to put a slightly more narrow wheel/tire combo on the front, compared to the back. I don't favor the very narrow tires on the front, but don't wan't them to be too wide.

Thanks for the suggestion on the wider HRH Slotted Mags...I WILL still consider those, if I can make them work without too much trouble. I actually like the deep dish look of those better than the Ansens.

The longer Acorn Lugs seem to be harder to find. I actually like the look of the domed lugs, pictured on Seth's Comet GT Slotted Rim above, but the only ones I can find that look like that, are supposedly the incorrect style, that does not have the 60 degree taper at the bottom, and require adapter washers, to give them the correct seat. I have no idea where Seth found those lug nuts...but they look really nice.

 

I've been saving a set of slots for years,( and even one for a spare ) for my 74 Grabber, I even scored 4 NOS Center caps a few years back. I think they awesome.

 

I totally agree, the factory wheels are simply awesome looking! Roger, with your experience and expertise, I am sure you will come up with a stunning wheel setup.

 

The Mustang hinge covers do not fit the 73/74 Maverick / Comet bucket seats.

 

That's true....thanks for pointing that out...I originally thought I was being asked about the same hinges I used for my 71 Grabber Buckets.

The 73-74 Grabber buckets hinge covers were different than the 73 LDO hinge covers, but I believe the 73-74 Grabber bucket hinge covers were the same as the 73 Pinto Bucket covers.

Here is the Exploded View of the 73 Grabber Buckets, showing the Hinge Cover and Part number: (And it says it's the same as the Pinto)



Here is a pic of a 73' Grabber Bucket Hinge Cover:



And here is a picture of a Pinto Bucket Hinge Cover:



Here is pic of an LDO Bucket Hinge Cover:



So if you're looking for the 73-74 Grabber Bucket Hinge Covers, maybe look for later Pinto ones too....
they seem hard to find, but I've seen them on Ebay before.....

...And...it looks like some of the Mavericks and Pintos had a version of that Hinge Cover,
that was "smooth faced" and not "terraced on the face".

Here is a picture of 67fstbk's Hinge Cover:



And here is a picture of a Pinto smooth-faced one, for sale on Ebay:



And aother NOS one (terraced face style):

 

Thanks for the nice feedback and comments guys Much appreciated.

 

They may not be wide enough to hang 285's on, but for me, I've always liked these wheels. The black stripe around the outer edge seals the deal, and gives it that "factory" touch. I should be getting my set from Ontario delivered before Christmas. The Maverick centers are a MUST, and are the main reason I bought the set I did.