Hey guys, I need a little help here. I found a graet deal on some wheels for my 66 coupe but I dont know if they will fit. I have mideye leaf springs in the back, 1" drop springs up front and I'm doing a "Shelby drop" on the uca. I know that the "shelby drop" won't lower it all that much but I donn't know if the 17"x 8" will fit. Any help will really help. I would love to buy these wheels before they sell. Thanks in advance.
I gotta tell you, they may bolt up, but the fender clearance will be a problem and the car will not handle properly without a major reengineering of the suspension, also you may find the car looks disproportionate...I'd stick with some 14 or 15" max
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"Goose, Hollywood's fine, I want Viper"
1995 Mustang GT Cnv 347(427 stroker being built!) almost done!
1996 Cobra with Kenne Bell 2.1 Supercharger and every other conceivable part you can bolt on it...650hp upgrade in the works
2003 Infiniti M45 V8 340 hp...a methadone treatment for reformed Mustang drivers
If they are late model wheels I can tell you they will have the wrong BS.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Manystangs
I gotta tell you, they may bolt up, but the fender clearance will be a problem and the car will not handle properly without a major reengineering of the suspension, also you may find the car looks disproportionate...I'd stick with some 14 or 15" max
Fact: I have used 17x8 for years without an issue on my 65 with new stock components (shelby drop, 1 inch drop coils in the front, 5 leaf mid eyes in the rear). I also ran a 235 45 17 on the front without rolled fender lips (I run 245s now and still don't have rolled fender lips in the front). I will agree that if you have 40 year old suspension you might not be happy if you just slapped a set of 17s on, however, I would say the same thing if you had 40 yr old suspension and wanted to slap 15s on....replace the worn out suspension parts first.
Fact: I have compiled a chart of many other people successfully running 17 inch rims on their car without an issue which can be viewed on my site Dodgestang Archives
Opinion (and all opinions are valid): looks disproportionate? To each their own, I had 15s I couldn't get enough rubber on the road to drive with my Cleveland stroker motor (which everyone will tell you doesn't fit in a 65 mustang) so I had to go up to 17s to fix maximum foot print on the road and for some much improved performance compounds (255 40 17 with the rear lips rolled for the street and 275 40 17 for the strip).
Well there are many things to consider and if someone has never done swaps before they may spend money to find out something doesn't work for them and wished they had known before...that must be one really tight suspension for those fenders not to rub those 17" tires..too me it's boderline disproportionate, I wouldn't want my Stang to look like it belongs in a rap video
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"Goose, Hollywood's fine, I want Viper"
1995 Mustang GT Cnv 347(427 stroker being built!) almost done!
1996 Cobra with Kenne Bell 2.1 Supercharger and every other conceivable part you can bolt on it...650hp upgrade in the works
2003 Infiniti M45 V8 340 hp...a methadone treatment for reformed Mustang drivers
It's not very stiff, same springs rates many many people run on their cars with 14s and 15s. I have full range of motion. But I also understand 'stiffness' tends to be a bit subjective.
In the photo above I actually have 245s on the front, I cheated a bit and run -2.5 camber because I have the car setup to run opentrack and given the number of miles I put on it I was less concerned about shortening tire life (since they will be old long before the tread is gone).
There is alot of room in the front with the way i have the alignment set. I have my 275s on the rear in these photos which I admit are a very tight fit and where not possible to run on the car for anything other than straight line drags until I put in the watts and 3 link setup, but the 255s on the 8 inch rim with 4.75 backspacing a rolled lip are a well proven combination with a standard leaf sprung rear setup. http://www.dodgestang.com/emAlbum/al...y/DSC02386.JPG http://www.dodgestang.com/emAlbum/al...y/DSC02387.JPG
If someone doesn't want to push the envelope quite that far 235s fit the rear without fenders rolled and the front with the shelby drop, and -.5 camber without rolling the fenders. If you don't want a little negative camber for whatever reason or the shelby drop, then you would also need to roll the front fender lips. Adjustable strut rods make it easier to get the alignment you want and helps eliminate the deflection you can get from the bushing and probably also contribute to if you roll the fender or not.
A 17 inch rim doesn't make the overall diameter of the wheel/tire combination larger. Meaning a 235 60 15 versus 235 50 16 versus 235 45 17 are all about the same size OD (I might have the exact profile numbers confused but I think you'll get the point). The larger rim allows you fit the wider tires because you are eliminating sidewall flex. You also pick up the benefit of a much larger tire selection and improved compounds, stuff you just can't get in 14s and 15s, as well as improved cornering that stiffer sidewall will add.
As for rap videos....I just can't post these enough
I run 17x8 on my 65 looks great, if you want to see them look at my profile. I have 225 45 17 up front and 245 45 17 in rear. But I did have to roll the front fender some had some rubbing as I turned not a lot but I didn't like it rubbing my paint
I run 17x8's also, 215/40's out front and 255/55 on the rear.
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'66 Stang W/ .030 over 289, probe forged slugs, canfield heads, performer RPM,edelbrock 750, big crane cam, 8" mini spooled w/ 4.10's and a toploader 4. Best to date...13.12 @ 104.6 mph
My daily...'02 F-250 7.3 4dr. 4x4.... SCT tuner, 4" turbo back and a big a** air-filter
Opinion (and all opinions are valid): looks disproportionate? To each their own, I had 15s I couldn't get enough rubber on the road to drive with my Cleveland stroker motor (which everyone will tell you doesn't fit in a 65 mustang) so I had to go up to 17s to fix maximum foot print on the road and for some much improved performance compounds (255 40 17 with the rear lips rolled for the street and 275 40 17 for the strip).[/quote]
nice ride dodge stang. i got a 351c with hooker super comps and other bolt ons in my 65 aswell ( had to pound out the engine bay a bit to make it fit withem ) i got wc t-5 with hd cobra clutch, a stock 8"rear end with a lock right, and stock leafs with a 1 inch drop up front, 235 60r 15 in the rear. i was lookin to get some 17 or even 18 on it later on when the money is there, i have the same issue with traction on my launches, ill burn threw 1-2- and on 3 then it hits and goes, that or i have to take off at a really low rpm to get a rolling start. my question is this, i hear if i run anything bigger with my 8" i will snap the thing, that and what size rim and tire can i run comfortably with out rolling the rear fender lips (pounding out the inside for more back spacing isnt a prob), or do u highly recommend i roll the fender, doesnt that require me to repaint, and do some welding cuz of the two peices spot welded together on the rear fender?
sorry to thread jack, but im sure this question will help alot other too. seein how alot of us are still stuck with our 8"
thanks!!!
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65 stang (t code) 351c, t-5, 8" daily driver :)
87 fox lx 5.0, t-5, 8.8, on the drive way, gettin her back on the streets soon :D
its a damn fighter jet not a pony,
and we are fighter pilots.
First On Race Day ok, not that retarded gm mopar lame saying
BTW, all i listen to is bay area rap music, sum metal and indy rock, and corridos when my family is around or at the mexican bars. there is absolutely nuthin wrong with classics with big rims, i likem, gives that resto mod look. but aye, to each his own. i just hate the idea of my little 15's tire blowing out, and my front or rear smashing into the pavement at high speeds, and rippin my oil pan and exhaust to shreds, spewing oil and grinding the underside of my body( givin u guys a nice mental pic yet?) its just not right. i rather blow out a tire, ride on the large rim to a safe spot away from traffic, change the tire, and drive home, instead of makeing a murder scene out of my car.
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65 stang (t code) 351c, t-5, 8" daily driver :)
87 fox lx 5.0, t-5, 8.8, on the drive way, gettin her back on the streets soon :D
its a damn fighter jet not a pony,
and we are fighter pilots.
First On Race Day ok, not that retarded gm mopar lame saying
nice ride dodge stang. i got a 351c with hooker super comps and other bolt ons in my 65 aswell ( had to pound out the engine bay a bit to make it fit withem ) i got wc t-5 with hd cobra clutch, a stock 8"rear end with a lock right, and stock leafs with a 1 inch drop up front, 235 60r 15 in the rear. i was lookin to get some 17 or even 18 on it later on when the money is there, i have the same issue with traction on my launches, ill burn threw 1-2- and on 3 then it hits and goes, that or i have to take off at a really low rpm to get a rolling start. my question is this, i hear if i run anything bigger with my 8" i will snap the thing, that and what size rim and tire can i run comfortably with out rolling the rear fender lips (pounding out the inside for more back spacing isnt a prob), or do u highly recommend i roll the fender, doesnt that require me to repaint, and do some welding cuz of the two peices spot welded together on the rear fender?
sorry to thread jack, but im sure this question will help alot other too. seein how alot of us are still stuck with our 8"
thanks!!!
Not sure I understand exactly what you are asking here but I'll give it a shot.
You can generally run a 245 40 17 on a 17x8 with 4.75 backspacing without rolling the rear fender lips. If you look on the charts on my site you can compare you specific combination of suspension and wheel/tire sizes and see if anyone is running something similar and how it works for them in terms of fitment.
hmmmm, whether u understood me or not u answered my questions . lol, ive launched at 3k a few times on the street with my stock futura super sport tires, more burn out than anything. i guess my trusty 8" is doomed huh? hahaha. ill be sure to check out ur site. so i heard right, if i put anything stickier, im fudged. gonna have to look into beefing up a 8.8 or somethin, if i want bigger tires. thats fine by me, i think id like ford lsd, over the lock right.
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65 stang (t code) 351c, t-5, 8" daily driver :)
87 fox lx 5.0, t-5, 8.8, on the drive way, gettin her back on the streets soon :D
its a damn fighter jet not a pony,
and we are fighter pilots.
First On Race Day ok, not that retarded gm mopar lame saying
17"x 8" fit on a 1966 Mustang Coupe? 
) i got wc t-5 with hd cobra clutch, a stock 8"rear end with a lock right, and stock leafs with a 1 inch drop up front, 235 60r 15 in the rear. i was lookin to get some 17 or even 18 on it later on when the money is there, i have the same issue with traction on my launches, ill burn threw 1-2- and on 3 then it hits and goes, that or i have to take off at a really low rpm to get a rolling start. my question is this, i hear if i run anything bigger with my 8" i will snap the thing, that and what size rim and tire can i run comfortably with out rolling the rear fender lips (pounding out the inside for more back spacing isnt a prob), or do u highly recommend i roll the fender, doesnt that require me to repaint, and do some welding cuz of the two peices spot welded together on the rear fender? 
