Do I have to tub my 66? and if so Whats involved?

[Britt]

Ok, ive asked about moving in the leaf springs before and I didnt get much of a reply. I know comp engineering has sub connectors with provisions for moving the springs in 3 inches. But what about the rear leaf mounts? Where will they go? Also, Ive looked under the rear and unless I cut the wheel well out I wont be able to take full advantage of the 3 inches right?

Also do I absolutly have to move the springs to get at least a 275 tire underthere with out the tire sticking out or the rear being jacked up? I have an old 60 serise on a 14 inch rim right now (which is close to a 245 I think) and there aint much room. I think I could do with a little less backspacing with out putting the tire out side of the fender.

What is the widest wheel and tire combo I could go with that the tire doesnt sit out side of the fender and I wont have to worry about rubbing? Is 255 really the most rubber i can fit?

Also, Historic has widder rims with a narrowed rear. How can just narrowing the rear allow you to run bigger tires? Is it just making up for lack of backspacing options an AR wheels?

I find It hard to belive that every one settles with 17 by 8 with 4.5 ot 4.75 inch backspacing. How can you people get by running 350 + horse power with 245s?

 

[iskwezm]

I have 17X8's and 275's,I think 5" BS might work better,mine rubs a LITTLE,but it could be from the extra weight or 15 year old leafs

 

[2bav8]

I got 255s on the rear now and have seen 265s on another 65 coupe before (he had MUCH lower profile tires).

The one 65-66 I've seen with 275 tires were totally ripped up by the fender.
Its possible that with a little work they "could" fit though?

 

[68 Coop]

I know it's a different year, but I run 295 50's on 15x7's, but I do rub on hard bumps.

 

[2bav8]

67+ have wider wheel weels...
apples to oranges.

 

[outlaw66]

Britt,
FYI, in the Sept 2005 "Mustang Enthusiast' magazine, there is an article on page 90 concerning "mini tubs", titled, "Redesigning the Rubber Room" that may be of interest. According to the article, the stock rear seat can even be re-installed with only minor modification. Don;t know if the "mini-tubbing" will allow you to run the
275"s but the car gained about 2 inches of space.

Outlaw66

 

[Britt]

Thanks guys. Ive never seen mustang enthusiast magazine. Do they have a website?

What bacspacing and rim size would be optimal to fit the biggest tire? I like the look of the tire sitting out to the fender but not outside, so a little less bacspacing it fine with me.

Iskwezm - Wouldnt 5" of backspace cause the tire to hit the springs?

Another Q- What backspacing are 14 X 7 Mag 500s?

 

[rebel65]

on my 65, i've fit 295's ( they stick out of corse ) but they only hang out of the fender about one and a quarter inches. they are BFGoodrich Radial T/A's 15" by 295 on a 50 series. my only problem is the fender comming down on them when i accell..lol so i took them off. i'm not quite sure of the backspacing but if they had ANYMORE they would grind against the leafs, they are definatly fitting to the MAX. if you are insterested i could measure the backspace of them when i get home in two weeks.they are 15x10's.with a little mini tub, 2 inches would be more than enough to fit those monsters in there.

 

[65up2d8]

I would think this would be a very popular thread on here given the number of people who are constantly asking about what is the biggest wheel and tire combo that will fit on a '65/'66 or any model for that matter. For a stock car, Dodgestang's website sufficiently answers the question and is a great resource. However, has noone on this forum mini-tubbed a Classic Mustang? I'm interested but would like to know more as well.

As for the earlier post about Mustang Enthusiast doing a write-up on this topic, do you have any additional info as to how we could acquire that article? I looked at their website, but I'm not sure I want to subscribe without ever looking at the magazine. Even if I did subscribe sight unseen, I have reservations at this point as to whether I would ever receive the September 2005 issue, and I didn't see anything on the website concerning ordering back issues unless you are a current subscriber and have a damaged and/or lost issue problem. Any info located inside the mag regarding ordering back issues?

 

[outlaw66]

Ref Mustang Enthusiast...............
I just saw it and picked it up at a Kroger grocery store solely for the "mini-tub" article. Its AMOS automotive publishing, Lakeland . fl. Customer service # 800-448-3611. The magizine is all mustang, classic and late model but this issue had some interesting "how-to" articles..........it was worth the $3.99 cover price. I still like my "Mustang Monthly" but I enjoyed this article .

outlaw66

 

[iskwezm]

.

Iskwezm - Wouldnt 5" of backspace cause the tire to hit the springs?

well,my 275's are right at the wheel lip,so im guessing that if it moved a 1/4 inch the other way,it would be fine since theres still about 5/8" next to the the spring.Also my wheel lips are cut back to about 1/4 inch.

 

[HistoricMustang]

No tub here! No fender lips!

You begin to run into problems when the tire is too tall and they flex when turning.

Mine are 245/45 x 15 and no problems with a rear end narrowed 1/2 inch on each side. When I use a taller tire/wheel combo it is necessary to add a 1/4 inch spacer to keep the tire from rubbing.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

245/45 x 15 on rear with rear end narrowed 1/2 inch on each side:

 

[SitDown]

no car will be exactly the same, id just borrow a late model or high bs wheel with your desired tire (275) and a few increments of spacers. Then just start mocking things up using diff incriments of spacer. Doing this with the help of a BFH on the inner fender i came to the conclusion a 5/8 spacer did the trick quite well.

so, the 5.72" bs wheel minus a .625" spacer left me with a desired wheel bs of 5.095". this way you know exactly what u need and can order the proper wheel.

i actually wouldnt mind it out a bit furthur, so in my case a 5" bs wheel should be perfect. I was using a 275/40/17 nitto dr, so its a lil narrower than a typical 275 tire. havnt done a road test so im not absolute about rubbing, but i seem to have very similar clearence as iskwezm.

 

[mtbdoc]

How does a 17" x 11" rear wheel sound?

We relocated the leaf springs on my 'vert. Good bit of fabrication involved, but with the power this engine will have, we needed PLENTY of rubber.

Here is a construction picture: http://forums.stangnet.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37453&stc=1

And yeah, this car had a LOT of rust!!!

But, once all is said and done:

*331 Forged stroker
*AFR heads
*BIG blower cam
*Kenne Bell @ 12 psi
*HEAVILY ported GT-40 manifold
*little shot of giggle gas [just to cool it off!]

=> I will need TRACTION! And more structural steel underneath to keep this beast from turning itself into a pretzel.

 

[mr-fixit]

Crites Restoration lists a Falcon and also Comet rear leaf spring relocation kit. They say it gives 6’’ more tire clearance. The kit is only $139 Anyone know if it is adaptable to Mustangs? http://critesrestoration.com/comet.htm

 

[iskwezm]

Crites Restoration lists a Falcon and also Comet rear leaf spring relocation kit. They say it gives 6’’ more tire clearance. The kit is only $139 Anyone know if it is adaptable to Mustangs? http://critesrestoration.com/comet.htm

it probably would fit,but you still have to deal with the wheel tubs.

 

[BullittStangV8]

TTT because I want to see a mini tub set up!

 

[blown65]

I have 17x9 in the rear on my car with 275/40/17's. Very little rubbing and totally stock except for coil over shocks.