3rd gen G-Machine wheel/tire upgrade?

[70ELCO]

The G-Machine craze is hot! Pick up any issue of PHR (popular hot rodding) mag and you will see some beautiful classic rides that now handle the curves better than ever.

I want to go with bigger wheels on my '70. I'm running 15-8 1/2's Americans front and back with 235-15's in front and 265-50's in the rear.

I would like to go to 17 8's in front and maybe with the correct backspacing a 17-11 in the rear. Of course having the widest tire that will tuck in without rubbing. I don't want to mini tub.

Anyone test or pushed the limits in wheel/tire size with a 3rd gen elky?

Here is the wheels I want to use...The "new" 200s just out by American with painted centers to match my old 15" wheel scheme I have now.

[txbusa]

402-Custom 17x11 5.25-8.0

This is the backspacing you have to work with.

I think the wheel is too wide.

John

[Supercharged 86]

Talk to Dennis68. I think he's running 300+ tires in the rear with no problems. I like some HRE wheels and even the ASR-1s I see in TireRack ads all the time with the painted centers and polished/chrome lips. They're pricey though and don't always fit the looks of certain cars. Have you been to Pro-Touring.com? They'd probably have quite few suggestions for you.

[70ELCO]

Hey thanks, I will check out that site. Will contact Dennis also as we are both in the bay area.

The 17-11's in the rear is an extreme. I do think the 9-1/2 17's in the R are more realistic.

[txbusa]

When you do decide to buy, check out this site.

It is the cheapest I found for the Torque Thrust II's I put on my 72.

www.newstalgiawheel.com

John

[70ELCO]

Thanks for wheel site tip John! Very nice!

When am I buying? Good question as I still have to explain to my wife why I need new wheels when there is nothing wrong with the ones I have. Then I have to tell her I also need tires for the up-grade in wheel size....I think I have a little time!

[txbusa]

Just be blunt with the wife and tell her that your car is out of style and show her this pic of the latest trend in wheels.

John

[dennis68]

Ready to take the P-T jump? Get your wallet out; it’s as expensive as it is addictive. Of course after wheels you will realize that you need bigger brakes, and some suspension might not hurt either, then maybe a turbo or two, and…..

17X11's with 6" of b/s will fit no problem, the catch is tires. I have run 315/35's at 2-3 of drop with no problems, WITH THE REAR FENDER LIPS ROLLED. At my current ride height 315's get tore up. I am running 285's now and even under the most extreme conditions (wide open on a road course) there is no tire rub at all. Current drop is about 5" or so for reference.

There is a whole bunch of room to be had in the rear on the outside fender well, most guys will cringe at this but if you remove the rear wheels and take a short 5 lbs sledge hammer to the outside fender well you can open it up a good inch or so with no affect to the outside sheet metal of the 1/4 panel. I was swinging pretty hard (tire clearance was more important than cosmetics) but it didn't make so much as a bow in the 1/4 panel.

There are a couple from pt.com running 315's with no problems (they are all at about 2-3" drops). Wheel backspacing is the key, it has to be right at 6-6.25"