20s for the Demon - how low can I go? (big wheel haters don't look)

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Idaho

Idaho

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This is after cutting out the entire wheelwell, with a borrowed 275/45/20 sitting as low as the inner structure where the well seam was cut away will allow. Sorry about giving everyone the finger :)

More details are in my thread for the build.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=161976&page=3

I'm posting here with questions. In that position I have about 7 1/2" ground clearance to the frame in front of the wheelwells. I'm not sure what's too low in terms of ground clearance. Up front I know headers don't survive if its too low. I don't want the back much lower than the front. I want to lower the front just to what the torsion bars and headers allow.

I also need to know how much room I need to allow in the tubs for rear suspension travel.

Hoping some who've tubbed and lowered will chime in since its all new to me.
 

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i think it would be easier to stick with 18's personally. are you wanting looks,or performance?
 
That tire is 29.5" diameter. I intend to step down to a 275/40/20 which will be about 28.5". Wheel and tire diameter are not really the issue, just figuring out how much ground clearance and room for suspension travel I need.

It will have some of both :)
 
That looks good, I have the same wheels on my 96 Ram haha. See if you will have enough ground clearance in the front if it was 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 inches from the ground. That would be a sick ride, I like re-using factory stuff so I hope it all works for you!
 
I actually think the wheel could be nice on the Duster but its just something I borrowed from the tire shop for mock up purposes. I'm planning to use something like this in 20s and 18s:
 

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nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
 
Idaho said:
I actually think the wheel could be nice on the Duster but its just something I borrowed from the tire shop for mock up purposes. I'm planning to use something like this in 20s and 18s:
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I think that wheel would look killer! I hope you do it and Can't wait to see it finished.
 
are you running coil overs? if so you will only need 2in of up travel that will be plenty. im gona run 18's and 20's with 5.5-6.5 inches of ground clearence under the factory rails.
 
Choosing the correct look, attitude and performance takes perseverance and not caring what others say..
 
Asking for advice on that endeavor is kinda a waste of time really. With all that diameter your suspension is gonna have all the ground clearance in the world. I would allow 2 inches of up travel for the tire as a minimum. Its up to you where you end up since nobody has really went that route that I know of. You could always tub it clear to the trunk filler panel though if ya want.
 
I'm NOT a fan of big wheels....but you know what? If that is close to where it will sit in the wheelwell, I think it'll look good.
 
First off you are a BEAST! I love how it tucks in the wheel well. I will be following this build closely. SUBSCRIBED!
 
What diameter tire you plan on the front? Depending on taste, your front to rear proportion may be odd (tall rears - short fronts). The front is only going to take 24-25.5" tall tire.
 
To each their own. To me wheels that big are ricey. They are nice looking wheels but not on a muscle car.
 
LOL I just knew the big wheel haters would come calling.

ocdart, the finger was just for you (kidding).

Hotlines, I'm totally in that mode. In fact I wasn't expecting to go so big in fact I was planning 15" steelies with white letter tires but couldn't find a wide enough white letter tire. So I went looking, saw a Chevelle that looked killer with 20s and 18s, decided to try the look and it got to me.

72BBSwinger thanks for good advice on my useless question :)
Coilovers crossed my mind as a way to reduce rear travel but I don't know enough about it. Something to reasearch I guess.

Cody, do you have a build thread? I'd like to see what you're doing.
 
I have to admit I am not too big of a fan of big wheels either. But the more I look at this it is growing on me. :D
From this statement, "I don't want the back much lower than the front. I want to lower the front just to what the torsion bars and headers allow." I would guess you are already lower than you will be in the end unless you go different suspension there as well. I could be wrong though, I am no expert. Sounds like you need to put the front where it's gonna be and work off that. Good luck it is coming along nicely. Two thumbs up here!
 
Dart vader is my build thread. I only have the front mocked um rite now. My four link hasnt arrived yet and there is some other things i need to do b4 i do that. You can see thr 18's i used for mock up in front. It will prob come up an inch in the front. Its at 4.5in of clrarence under front frame rails.



Idaho said:
LOL I just knew the big wheel haters would come calling.

ocdart, the finger was just for you (kidding).

Hotlines, I'm totally in that mode. In fact I wasn't expecting to go so big in fact I was planning 15" steelies with white letter tires but couldn't find a wide enough white letter tire. So I went looking, saw a Chevelle that looked killer with 20s and 18s, decided to try the look and it got to me.

72BBSwinger thanks for good advice on my useless question :)
Coilovers crossed my mind as a way to reduce rear travel but I don't know enough about it. Something to reasearch I guess.

Cody, do you have a build thread? I'd like to see what you're doing.
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Idaho said:
LOL I just knew the big wheel haters would come calling.
.
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I hope your weren't including me in the "big wheel haters".....since you didn't address my question?

Obviously it's not the case......:shaking2:
 

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Most of the cars today that are being built have nice billet wheels. Most cars are being restomoded.not many ppl these days build cars to original specs. And with all the stuff avalb no why bother with old technolgy
 
gdrill said:
Sounds like you need to put the front where it's gonna be and work off that. Good luck it is coming along nicely. Two thumbs up here!
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Makes sense and thanks. I guess I'm hoping someone will be able to say something like, better keep the K member at X inches off the ground to avoid header problems. Or, the front suspension will be on the bump stops with the K member around X inches off the ground, and it should be raised about X inches above that for reasonable front suspension travel.

I do have a Dart Sport parts car with suspension intact but no engine. I could put some weight up front and take some measurements. Input about headers and front travel would still be needed. I understand TTIs tuck higher but I won't be buying them.

how did you get that bolt pattern?
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The car is a bare shell sitting on a rotisserie with no diff. The wheel is just for mock up.

that looks too "Oakland, Ca" for me...
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I think I'd have said the same thing until a few days ago. My daughter thinks its rad. The front frame of this car is off a Duster she wrecked. After seeing this wheel on, she wants another one. I'm from another place that starts with C - Canada, way up there on the Alaska highway. Never saw anything that looked like this up there.

About coil overs, my first thought was the overload type shocks. Shows how little I know. I was not planning to convert the rear suspension to coil over type. As long as a leaf suspension does not require more than about 4" travel I think I can build the tubs with enough clearance. Perhaps I should add a leaf or get stiffer springs. It would be nice to keep the factory trunk lid spring. I think I can keep it and provide about 3" of tire clearance. I'm searching for leaf spring travel info but so far not finding it.
 
rjsjea said:
I hope your weren't including me in the "big wheel haters".....since you didn't address my question?

Obviously it's not the case......:shaking2:
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Hey, I just realized your Demon was one that I looked at while obsessing over the wheel and tire choice. Yours looks so good to me it had a big impact on my decision. Is that the same car in the thread "couple cool pics" with different wheels?

IIRC you're using 255 35 18 with 8" rim and 345 30 19 on 12" rim (I've pored over your thread). Your build is outstanding, way beyond my plans.

I'm planning 18s on the front, and considering a 225/40 which is 25" tall.
OwdKasd
I think that wheel would look killer! I hope you do it and Can't wait to see it finished.
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Thanks for the kind words.

StrokerScamp I'm NOT a fan of big wheels....but you know what? If that is close to where it will sit in the wheelwell, I think it'll look good.
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Thanks. You are one I look to for good advice.

hemitheus To each their own. To me wheels that big are ricey. They are nice looking wheels but not on a muscle car.
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You are water and I am a duck's back :D

I appreciate all the posts. I don't even mind the big wheel haters. Even Mr noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I always get good help here.
 
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