Maximum wheel width w/stock rear end

[chevyrestoguy]

What's that maximum wheel width you can run in the rear of the 60-66 trucks with a stock width rear end? This would be on a lowered truck with the tires tucked in the wheel wells.

[billybaloo]

I also would like this information.

[Rich 5150 69]

10 inch with untouched fender wells, still have to roll the outside fender lip for clearance.

[chevyrestoguy]

Do you remember what the backspace was? On all my later trucks (73-87) it had to be around 4.25-4.50 on the backspace to fit, and that really narrowed down my wheel choices.

[Rich 5150 69]

If I`m not mistaken that was the backspacing,,

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Do you remember what the backspace was? On all my later trucks (73-87) it had to be around 4.25-4.50 on the backspace to fit, and that really narrowed down my wheel choices.

I ran 10" wheels w/5-5.50"bs on my 74 & as low as my stuff was, there's no way 4.25-4.5"bs would have worked. The point being 'what works' also depends on the amount of drop.

I'm running 10's on my 64 w/5.50"bs & mini-tubs because it's going to be loooooooooooooooow. Any less back spacing would interfere w/the exterior bedside sheet metal.

If the bed floor is cut & tubs stretched, 14" wide wheels will fit w/the right back spacing & some slight modding.

[protrash64]

On my SB with 5.25''bs I had to widen the rear tubs. Somewhere in the high 4''+ area of backspace is where you will hit I believe. My 'burb has a '71-72 rear axle and I was able to get a 295/50 on a truck Rally wheel in there. Trimmed the lip completely off.

[Surfdaddy]

The rears on my truck are 9.5 width. (stamped on the rim) there 16.5's and the tires are 31 x 10.5 and they fit with a heavy camper on the back. So the ratio might be simular. Squatted and full fenderwell . Just another data point to look at.

[shrunken66stroker]

I have a 9" rim with 0 backspace and a 255 60 17 tire and it fits very nice. There is about 1" on either side of the tire. I could probably put a 275 on there but it would be tight. There's also about 1" of fender lip I could cut off of my fleet bed if I want.

[lakeroadster]

There simply is no substitute for measuring your specific vehicle.

Jack up the truck under the rear axle, or under the front lower a-arm, remove the wheel/tire ass'y., get your straight edge and tape measure out, and start measuring.

Deep breath... longbed, shortbed, fleetside, stepside, stock drum suspension, swapped in disc brake suspension, stock springs, lowering springs, bagged, 6 lug, 8 lug, 5 lug, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, stock track bar, adjustable track bar, super track bar, track arms, leaf springs, 15", 16", 18", 20", 22", GM 12-bolt rear, Eaton rear, Dana rear, 2x4, 4x4, stock spindles, dropped spindles, stock lower control arms, cupped lower control arms, stepped lower control arms

You really can't buy tires and wheel based solely on "What some other guy did", even if your truck is bone stock. If you're buying Cragars than you obviously don't have a stock set-up (none of these trucks were sold with 5 lug wheels) and other peoples advice therefore should be merely the starting point of your search.

From the factory these trucks had dimensional variations, let alone tweaking and parts interchanging after nearly 50 years of use and abuse.

Not trying to be a smart a$$, but in my experience this is one of those times where you need to follow the good old adage of "If you want something done right, do it yourself".

[shrunken66stroker]

Exactly. Everything everyone else wrote is to give you an idea of what is possible. There's no substitute for a tape measure. Heed lakeroadster's advice.

[chevyrestoguy]

You really can't buy tires and wheel based solely on "What some other guy did", even if your truck is bone stock. If you're buying Cragars than you obviously don't have a stock set-up (none of these trucks were sold with 5 lug wheels) and other peoples advice therefore should be merely the starting point of your search.

I agree with you 100%. I've always had wide tires and lowered vehicles, and I always measured before I bought anything. I'm very familiar with what works on the 73-87s, and I haven't messed with the 60-66s until now. I was merely asking the question to get an idea because it's raining here and I don't want to lay on my back in the mud to get a measurement that I won't need for another 6 months. I was just kinda' feeling the water, if you know what I mean.....

I ran 10" wheels w/5-5.50"bs on my 74 & as low as my stuff was, there's no way 4.25-4.5"bs would have worked. The point being 'what works' also depends on the amount of drop.

I ran the 15X10 truck rallys on a few of my 73-87s, and I could swear that they had a 4.50 backspace. It's been awhile, and I could be mistaken. I got them from Summit, who sourced them from Wheel Vintiques. I used to run a 285/70-15, and it was reaaaal tight, but they cleared. Most of them had flip kits and a leaf removed from the spring pack.

[blackedoutharley]

Or the simple way to measure:

http://www.percyshp.com/WheelRite.html


This could come in handy also....

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=52