1963 valiant front runner sizing suggestions needed

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prorac1

prorac1

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The car is a 1963 Plymouth valiant. 1974 E body disk brakes. Large bolt pattern.

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We are planing on buying American racing wheels torque thrust D's.

15 x (7-8) with 4.5 back space for the rear with a 275/60/15.

15 x 4.5 fronts.

We're leaning towards 165/80/15.

But would like to see others early A bodies with front runners.

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Here's the victim. Lol. Thanks. Eric.
 
Love the build! Been following it. I was not aware you could fit E-body disks on the front. Good to know. I don't have skinnies on mine, though they are slim 14 x 5" wheels and generic radials. I'm kind of partial to the dog dish caps also on our early As. Also, I have a 295/60/15 DR on my mini-tub and it rubs when the rear end leans on one side or the other going up inclines. My next set will be 275s for sure. Not enough real estate anywhere on our Early Abodies.

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subcom said:
Love the build! Been following it. I was not aware you could fit E-body disks on the front. Good to know. I don't have skinnies on mine, though they are slim 14 x 5" wheels and generic radials. I'm kind of partial to the dog dish caps also on our early As. Also, I have a 295/60/15 DR on my mini-tub and it rubs when the rear end leans on one side or the other going up inclines. My next set will be 275s for sure. Not enough real estate anywhere on our Early Abodies.

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Thanks. Beautiful car.

What size and backspace are your rear wheels?

We're using offset hangers, but not mini tubbing. I think a 275 will fit on the rear, but will be tight for us. We will post our results.

I do know for a fact that a 255 drag radial fits very well in a stock wheel well with the right backspace. So a 275 should be doable
 
And the brake conversion was easy.

Same knuckles and lower ball joints as a 73-76 a body.

We used ball joint spacers from dr Diff, factory upper joints, lower 73 dart joints, and stock tie rod ends.
 
15x10 Backspace 4.5"
295/55/15 MT ET Streets which are pretty tall. Like 29"
 
Ahahahahahahahah! 275 under a stock early A?! I wish. 255s are an aggressive fit imho. If you manage to make it fit please let us know how you made it fit.

I'm currently running 245/50R17s on a 17x8 with 4.5" bs on my '64 dart. I am planning on going to 15x8s shortly and am hoping to squeeze 255/60s back there.

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vntned said:
Ahahahahahahahah! 275 under a stock early A?! I wish. 255s are an aggressive fit imho. If you manage to make it fit please let us know how you made it fit.

I'm currently running 245/50R17s on a 17x8 with 4.5" bs on my '64 dart. I am planning on going to 15x8s shortly and am hoping to squeeze 255/60s back there.

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1964 valiant.
255/60/15 drag radial. Stock spring location. Stock wheel wells.

15 x 7 with 4.25 or 4.5 back space. I can't remember.

Fits really well.

255 drag radial is within a 1/2" section width of a standard 275.

I will report back as soon as we get it done.

Right now the plan is to offset the spring hangers.
 
prorac1 said:
With 4.5 backspace how did you fit a 10" rim? Is your axle narrowed?
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Yes. I think it ended up being 49.5" flange to flange. I tried to get it as centered in the mini-tubs as possible.

Here is a link with my build and the mini-tub specific part of the build. Don't go wondering around too much in my build thread. You might decide to turbo your Early-As also!
Ebay GT45 + 5.9 Magnum + E85 blow thru
 
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I am running 15x6 with 3.5 b/s, 195/60/15 on front with large bolt pattern. 15x8 with 5.5 b/s, 255/60/15 on rear. Rear has offset shackles.
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prorac1 said:
How much clerance do you have to the spring and to the rear quarter with 5.5 back space? Thanks. Eric
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I will go out and take a measurement in the next day or so, maybe a picture. I believe I have about an 1" on the quarter panel side, not sure on the spring side.
 
I run 155/80 x15 TA radials on 4-1/2" torque thrust Ds. 245 /60 15s on black steel wheels on a 64 valiant. The car is driven daily has 323s and a sure gripp
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Thanks.
Thats basically stock ride height. Its all poly bushed. 383 torsion bars. Rear springs are made from used early B body springs. Theres a side shot from mopars at the strip couple years ago as my avatar. kinda distant but it enlarges ok.
 
prorac1 said:
How much clerance do you have to the spring and to the rear quarter with 5.5 back space? Thanks. Eric
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Took some measurements and have 1.5" to spring and 1" to quarter panel lip. With wheel movement up, this 1" reduces to about 1/2" as the inner part of the quarter is closer than the lip.
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prorac1 said:
Awsome! Thank you very much for taking the time to take those measurements. And, what rear axle do you have in there? Thanks again. Eric L
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Much of the 8-3/4" rear end came from Dr Diff - iron 489 case, 3.73 True Trac with A body 5x4.5 conversion axle package. The housing was sourced from a Dart. Right Stuff disk brake conversion. We had to relocate the spring mounts for the offset shackles. I don't recall that we shortened anything.

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reddog said:
Much of the 8-3/4" rear end came from Dr Diff - iron 489 case, 3.73 True Trac with A body 5x4.5 conversion axle package. The housing was sourced from a Dart. Right Stuff disk brake conversion. We had to relocate the spring mounts for the offset shackles. I don't recall that we shortened anything.

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Ok. Thank you. From the back space you have, it had me thinking you had the wider B body rear axle. Now you have me scratching my head on my math. Lol
 
prorac1 said:
Ok. Thank you. From the back space you have, it had me thinking you had the wider B body rear axle. Now you have me scratching my head on my math. Lol
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My brother sourced the housing from a 66 barracuda 273 but he is not sure it was OE to that car. He did not shorten it at all. If you can't make out the math, I can get some more overall dimensions once I get it on my lift in a few weeks (have other cars in the way!)
 
reddog said:
My brother sourced the housing from a 66 barracuda 273 but he is not sure it was OE to that car. He did not shorten it at all. If you can't make out the math, I can get some more overall dimensions once I get it on my lift in a few weeks (have other cars in the way!)
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I greatly appreciate the trouble your going to.

If you ordered large bolt pattern a body axles, and they fit, I don't think it can be any thing other than an a body housing. But an overall width measurement would be awsome. Thank you again. Very very much.

Eric
 
Sorry for the delay. Was on holidays for a bit. Valiant is on lift now getting ready for spring.

No troubles getting info for you.

Flange to flange dimension of the rear axle is 52.75" +/-. This confirms from an A body. The distance from the outside of rear tire to outside of rear tire is about 66" even.

Let me know if you need any other measurements, pictures etc. Car will be on the lift over the weekend as changing oil, fan, plugs and few other odds and ends so I can actually drive it this summer!
 
VW size tires, I think they are 145s? Michelin XZX or Nanking

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