‘72 Dart - Road Race Resto

[72bluNblu]

Fun things this week - Finally got new tires - Falken Azenis RT660 295/40r18. The original RT660s were 255/35s and were well worn, as they came with the wheels when I upgraded the brakes & changed to the 5x4.5 bolt pattern.

I went with 295s/40 because:

1. Tire Rack had a clearance deal making them same price of the narrower options (if discount was not available, likely would've done 275s.
2. I really like the look of the current NASCAR wheel package and wanted to emulate it. Hardly the same, but the taller and thicker sidewall, is a step closer vs the look of the prior setup.

In the rear, I knew there wouldn't be an issue getting them to fit since the Dart is mini-tubbed, but i did try to retain the 3/4" wheel spacer that i had been using to maintain its original stance. Had to eighty-six the spacers ultimately - no amount of rolling and "massaging" of the quarter panel lip would provide enough clearance to not rub. All things considered, offset doesn't look too bad with the 3/4 Spacers. I'll leave it as-is for a while and see ho how i like it before deciding if i'll add back in a thinner spacer.

Up front, honestly, it was a dice roll. Did a little digging and couldn't find anyone else mention doing 295s upfront and what they did to fit them (but may i didn't look hard enough), but I had decided I was going to be stubborn to make them fit

I got lucky how decent the the initial clearance was when bolting them on. No contact with fenders when static. Of course, the clearance during driving is another store. Again, Rolled as much of the fender and fender lip as i could.

A little trimming of the fender up front was needed for clearance when turning too.

Under hard cornering I hazard there will still be a bit of an issue with clearance, but ok for cruising and around town. May have to cut out the fender opening up to the crease, ultimately? Or machining wheels to lessen positive offset or look into different wheels. But thats a headache for another day

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Yowza! 295/40/18's up front! Wow.

I have the 295/40/18's on the back of my car, but dang they're like 27" tall. I couldn't run anything taller than 26" in the front, at my ride height and with the extra travel I get from my QA1 LCA's I already have the 275/35/18's at the top of the inner fender with the suspension fully compressed. I could probably swing 295/35/18's, but not the 295/40/18's in the front.