Just put a set of Cragar SS on my 72. I've got 15x8 on the back with 275/60/15 Nitto drag radials. The tires are extremely close to the springs. Is this normal? Wheels have 4.25 backspace. I called a place in town and they have 1/4 inch spacers that I plan to pickup Friday. Will this solve my problem? Thanks
My brother has a 67 Mustang fastback that is backhalfed now but he had the same problem with his slicks before rearend was narrowed, he took the hubs off and put 1 flat washer on each stud then put the hubs back on, it was just what he needed for extra room, he ran all season, even won the Fun FordWeekend at Ennis that year with slicks running mid 11's, the spacers will work but I don't think NHRA aproves of them , should be fine for the street
Pretty wild. I'd feel safer with a 1/4" spacer than a handful of washers, but I guess if you can run 11's on slicks with 'em then washers must be alright. That's surprising.
Yes that is normal. But with those wide tires, if you put a spacer on them, they will end up hitting the fender lip (may be hitting it already if your rear sinks that far). Same rims I am using but I cannot go over 245 without rubbing on fender. 245 cleared no problem. 255 cuts into the tires when I do a hard launch. I have maybe a tight pinky-worth of space between rubber and spring.
It's easier to trim and/or roll a fender lip than a spring though. One day I hope I'm brave and skilled enough to give my wheel openings this treatment:
I have semi-rolled my lips with a baseball bat. Enough to soften the blow to the tires. I need to get the tool to finish them correctly.
Thanks for the info. I put the spacers on and while I had the wheels off, I "massaged" the openings with the appropriate tool.....I think it was the 3 pound one. As long as the air shocks hold, I will be ok. Need to acctually roll the lip up all the way. Sounds like a project for the winter.
In case nobody's told you yet, air shocks are known to be a bad idea on these cars. I wouldn't leave those on for long. Some people have been lucky with them, others have punched right through the trunk.
How close is "extremely" close? Remember the wheel to spring doesn't change,unless you corner hard. The wheel to fender and inner fender is most important. If the tires clear the springs by ½",you should be good there!
Thanks for the heads up on the air shocks. They were on the car when I bought it and have been fine so far. Will look into something different. Simple man, before the spacers, it was probably about 1/32 to 1/16 clearance. It did rub slightly on the way home going around corners.
