15x8 Rear Wheel on a stock 65 Barracuda ??

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scottylack

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Can you get a 15x8 on a stock 65 Barracuda rear suspension... running a 245 or 255/60 tire...????
 
Time to break out the measuring tape! I have rear tires that measure 26" tall by 9" wide and to get them to fit without rubbing, I had to trim the inner lip of the wheel opening just a little. They may have worked without the trimming but I didn't want to take the chance of cutting the side wall on a hard side thrust. If I had wheels that offsetted a little more to the inside, I could probably use a slightly wider tire but not much wider without having to relocate the springs. Not all these cars were built exactly the same so you'll have to check your rear end centering to see if you have enough fender clearence.
 
I had 15x9 Center Line Auto Drags on my 65 Valiant. They had M/T ET streets on them 28/11.50/15. All I did was get the MP 3/4" spring relocation kit and roll the inner lip of the outer wheel house up. I am sure a 15x8 will fit with no mods at all with the right B/S.

I did leave out that I had 002 and 003 SS springs.
 
Here's what I did. Jacked up car and took off wheel, then lower jack until axle was even. Then I put a plumb line from the inside of the fender lip, one from the spring and one from the drum face. Then I measured the distances of the 3 plumb lines and had an exact measurement. Do both sides to make sure they're the same. I have 10 inch rims under my '72 Duster with SS springs.
 
I've posted this so many times, should be a sticky... anyway I ran 15" x 8" with 4.875" backspace. 245/60/15 tires fit NO PROBLEM. The rims were from Wheel Vintiques. They can make any wheel you want.

However, there is one caveat - I did replace my leaf springs with new ones from ESPO that were arched 2" OVER STOCK. Tires did not rub unless you really leaned around a very sharp turn or had two 200lb dudes in the back and drove over large bumps. Even after the springs settled it was OK.

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I run 255/60/15 MTdrag radials on my 65Valiant
Wheels are 8x15 with 4,5"BS.
I had to cut the inner fender wheel lip so that the tire has enough space.
Rear is a modyfied 8 3/4 B-body axle housing narrowed to 52 5/8.
i think 245 ones are the better choice.
 
I just bought a set of 15x8 to go on my 66 Valiant. They have 255/60r15 on them and I am going to see if they fit without scrubbing. It does all depend on the backspacing and springs.

I have some springs I bought from a guy who had them on a street car he raced but I have NO clue what they are. I just stuck them under the Valiant because the originals were sagging and they gave it a great stance but HARD ride over bumps.

I am picking the wheels up tomorrow and I hope to get them on Saturday. Dont know if they are going to fit or not especially since I will be running adapters. The guy I bought them from said they were on a 68 Dart with no problems so I will see.

I will post pics as soon as I get them on and go for a drive.


Before picture

valiantfromrightrearview-1.jpg

The 255/60r15 is 27 inches tall by 10 inches wide. That is compared to the 215/60r14 that I took off that are 24.2 inches tall by 8.5 inches wide on stock rallye wheels. Just FYI.

The wheels I bought have a 5" backspace. Pray for me and my car. LOL
 
like the rake!!!!

Thanks! It happened totally by accident. LOL
If I had been actually trying to get that look, the front end would have set up 3 inches.

I am changing the wheels because I just got tired of the look it has had for the last 10 years. When I actually get around to restoring it, I think I am going to mini-tub it and put some 295/50r15 under it.
 
hi scotty my tires on rear are 245/60/15 on steelis 8x15 4 zoll bs no problem on a stock 65 Barracuda rear suspension

:)
 
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