Wheel Question

[Suicide-D]

Man, there's alot of dust on my account....anyway.

I have a 70 LWB with a 4/6 static drop. I want to put 17's on her. I want to put Torq Thrust II grey centers and I was wondering how to determine the backspacing I need? I have chrome reverses on there now and they rub on the fenderlips when I hit a mild bump at speed. I am going to start driving this truck daily and want to have less to worry about.

Thanks
Darryl

[SCOTI]

I have always found it easiest to figure back-spacing based on a 'known' measurement: the current wheel.

You say "they rub on the fenderlips when I hit a mild bump at speed" so that tells you the BSing needs to be more towards the frame. Measure the current BSing & add the amount you think it needs to be moved to keep it from rubbing.

With a 4/6 drop, typical BS is from 4" up to 5.25" w/a 8" wheel up front. My trucks run more BS to avoid the problem you're describing. It really depends on your tastes..... but 4.75~5" should work well & not buzz the fender lip @ all depending on your overall tire height.

Out back the BSing depends on the body style. Fleets & stepsides have different amounts of space w/the fleet allowing more room for a larger footprint. Both my trucks are fleets & they have wider wheels than the fronts so that's another thing to consider. My 68 would prob allow up to about 4.5"BS w/o buzzing the inner wheel wells so that's prob about the max on yours too (68's & 70's have the same width 12bolt unless yours has a later 71/72 rear end which is slightly wider).

I looked @ some ARE's & was thinking about 17's & this is what I was planning.....
Front: 17x8; 5" BS & 225/55's est. 26.75 tire height
Rears: 17x9.5 4.5" BS & 275/50's est. 27.8 tire height
For the record.... this would be stuffing those stock rear fleetside fenderwells fairly tight @ my 7~8" of drop. I also have trimmed my front a-arms to keep the wheel lip from rubbing @ full lock turns.

[2500HD]

See signature.

[Suicide-D]

Thanks,

I think anything that tucks inside the fender will be better. Those reverses stick out past the fender lip about an inch. I don't think the grey centers come in our bolt pattern. I will probably just get the polished II's. I do have a 72 rearend and disk conversion up front. They rub when I go over a bump and the truck comes back down.

[Captain Knievel]

After you get your Torq Thrusts on, can you post a pic or PM me? That is the exact same wheel with the exact same lowering on the exact same truck I am hoping for. Hmmm ... great minds must think alike.

[Suicide-D]

I got'em. (Front)17x8 4"BS 255/50/17 (rear)17x9.5 5.5"BS 275/55/17. Discount couldn't get the rears on because my bed was cocked to one side so I had to fix that when I got home. I also had to adjust my track bar.

on the rear, I have about 1/2" on the inside between the tire and the inner wheel well. Is that enough? Those are some pretty wide tires. I couldn't even imagine an 11" wheel in there...

I went the cheap route and ordered their stock BS on the front 4.5 to 4.75 probably would've been perfect. I didnt want to wait on a custom wheel either. I will probably massage the fender if it rubs. I think 5" on a 17 would be into the spindle/tie rod.

I'll post up some pictures tonight. it was too dark when I got them on finally.

[Suicide-D]

[IvelDesigns]

looks like the fronts are gonna shred tire to me. the rears look like they will clear, but the wheel well might need to be rolled to be safe.

[Suicide-D]

Yeah the fronts may buzz a little on a real hard bump. I know where to take it slow (thanks to the reverses) on my normal routes. I plan on swapping the front clip to 67-68 here very shortly and will roll the lips for my piece of mind.