73 duster 17" or 18" wheels ?

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1972 Duster /Demon Stock front suspension

FRONT
(Mounting Surface to Fender Lip 4.75") Check Yours!
Wilwood Brakes will shorten this to 4.50"

*18x10 Rim w/ 25mm Offset
(.9” from fender lip) IDEAL
Will take a 255-265 Wide tire

**18x10 Rim w/ 35mm Offset
(1.275” from fender lip)
Will take a 255-285 Wide tire

***18x10 Rim w/ 12mm Offset
(.22” from fender lip) TOOCLOSE
Will take a 245/40/18 Wide tire TOO NARROW FOR WIDE RIM


REAR
(Mounting Surface to Fender Lip 5.5"(1.5” wide lip) ) Check Yours!
(Mounting Surface to Leaf Spring 5.875") Check Yours!
=11.375" space or ~10" widerim
3/16” or 4.76mm Offset to position rim to center

*19x11 Rim w/ 15mm Offset (Seems to be standard by a lot of manufacturers)
(Trim rear fender lips by ½”to ¾”) If they are 1 1/2" wide Fender Lips now!
.653 Rear Wheel Spacer on15mm OS Rims)
Or Trim Rear Lips to ½” wide andZERO offset on 11” wide rims

Or buy the MiniTub and Spring Relocation kit from US Car Tool To increase the 5 7/8" to 7 7/8" , then trim your rear fender lips to about 3/4" wide and you can fit a
335/30/18" Tire on a 18x12-45mm Offset Rim
or
305/30/18 on a 18x11-20mm Offset Rim

You can fit an 18x10 rim on the rear with a 285 width tire with almost no modifications.



Wow. Holy thread resurrection batman.

43920861.jpg


And, BTW, your numbers aren't right. First off, stock suspension for a '72 Duster/Demon would include SBP brakes, and you won't find any of the rim dimensions you listed for SBP. If you did, your offset numbers don't match the narrower track width. As for the wilwood brakes, they have several options and not all of them result in the same offset.

You will not fit a 285 on a 10" wide rim up front without significant fender modifications. Not happening. I run 275/35/18's on 18x9" rims with a 27mm offset, and I am at the limit at both the fender and the frame. I've already re-worked the lower front fender corners and braces, and used all of the adjustment in the fender mounting to get enough clearance. Tomswheels ran a 285 on an 18x10 on the front of his Valiant, but he also pushed the front fender out with a hydraulic jack. 25mm to 35mm is the offset needed for 9" to 10" wide rims, depending on your brake package and car. 35mm will usually require some kind of increased offset with brakes and possibly a spacer. That's using 73+ disk brakes as the reference point for the offset.

In the back you won't get away with an 11" wide rim without cutting stuff unless your car rides as high as a 4x4. Remember, rims are measured on the inside lip where the tire bead mounts. An advertised 11" wide rim actually measures 12" on the outside edges. The rear quarter lip can only be trimmed back about a 1/2" before you get into the spot welds holding the quarter to the wheel tub. Cut any more than that on most cars and you'll have to reweld the tubs to the quarters. I cut mine back a 1/2" and still lost a few spot welds in the process.

+15 is about where you need to be in the back with an A-body 8 3/4 with BBP axles. Since you're talking about 0 offset, I'm going to assume you don't have an 8 3/4 (7.25" and 8.25" rears are about 1" narrower than the 8 3/4).

A 285 might be possible on a stock car, but only one that ended up with generous clearances or that doesn't sit at a lower ride height. On my Duster I was maxed out with a 275 when I had the stock spring locations and uncut quarter lips.

Currently I have 295/35/18's on 18x10's on my Duster. That required a 1/2" spring hanger/shackle offset (42" c-c on the spring perches) as well as a 1/2" trim on the quarter lips, and I'm still maxed out for clearance at my ride height.
 
I do have another question, yes my car does have the 7-1/4" rear. I am looking for a 8-3/4" and will be modifying the 7-1/4 for the time being so I can move it while work progresses. We are going to be doing a US Car Tool Mini Tub & Spring Relocation soon with the 7-1/4".

Without getting into what width your rear axle is mounting surface to mounting surface... I am assuming if I measured your 1/2" trimmed rear wheel lip to the mounting face of your rear axle I should be at 7"?? (Mine uncut is 5.5"). I am assuming the Mini-Tub will get me 14-1/4" of room over the 12-1/4" stock. I am aiming for an 18" x 11" +20mm Offset rim with the 8-1/4 rear. Later with the 8-3/4" I will just add a Hubcentric Wheel Adapter...
 
You could run 18's in the rear and 17's in the front too.

Here is some eye candy for you
 

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I would rather run 18" in the front and 19" in the rear. 18's should miss the tie rod mounts on the knuckles, so I can run the widest tired that will fit.
Actually Kenny Wayne Shepard's Duster runs 18x8 225/40/18 & 19x10 285/35/19's.

But I agree, the Duster Demon body styles do lend to a taller tire in the back. I'm sticking with 18's F&R.
 
I do have another question, yes my car does have the 7-1/4" rear. I am looking for a 8-3/4" and will be modifying the 7-1/4 for the time being so I can move it while work progresses. We are going to be doing a US Car Tool Mini Tub & Spring Relocation soon with the 7-1/4".

Without getting into what width your rear axle is mounting surface to mounting surface... I am assuming if I measured your 1/2" trimmed rear wheel lip to the mounting face of your rear axle I should be at 7"?? (Mine uncut is 5.5"). I am assuming the Mini-Tub will get me 14-1/4" of room over the 12-1/4" stock. I am aiming for an 18" x 11" +20mm Offset rim with the 8-1/4 rear. Later with the 8-3/4" I will just add a Hubcentric Wheel Adapter...

My measurement from the wheel mount would be different, I use a 68-70 B-body 8 3/4 rear axle which is wider. My 18x10's have 7" of backspace. From the inner wheel tub to the trimmed quarter lip is about 13" on my car.

With a mini-tub you'll have no issues with an 18x11 as long as the backspace is correct for your axle and spring locations. As for the spacer, you have it backwards. The a-body 7.25 rear is narrower than the a-body 8 3/4 by a 1/2" per side. If you want the same rims to fit both rear axles, you'll need to use a spacer on the 7.25. If you size the rims for the 7.25 they'll stick out too far with the 8 3/4, so a spacer won't help. You have to size the rims for the 8 3/4 and use a spacer on the 7.25" to keep the wheels off the springs.
 
Thanks, that's the path I'm currently on. I love the stance of your car. I'm just trying to figure out how the suspension changes are going to effect future progress. I appreciate your help.
 
15s --
icon14.gif
-- I'm Old School.
 

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15s --
icon14.gif
-- I'm Old School.

Yeah that's old school all right. Air shocks destroying your shock crossmember, tires hanging out and throwing rocks and crap at your quarter panels and everyone behind you, 4x4 ride height ruining any chance you had at handling, and hockey puck tires for a great smoke show with no chance traction. Rides like hell because the rear springs and shocks are so stiff. Technology has come a long way since the '70's.
 
With a mini-tub you'll have no issues with an 18x11 as long as the backspace is correct for your axle and spring locations.

I can confirm that. I am running 11.25" weld wheels on the rear. Just take note of what the manufacturer uses for a measuring rim. Because using a wider wheel will increase the advertised section width of the tire.


Yeah that's old school all right. Air shocks destroying your shock crossmember, tires hanging out and throwing rocks and crap at your quarter panels and everyone behind you, 4x4 ride height ruining any chance you had at handling, and hockey puck tires for a great smoke show with no chance traction. Rides like hell because the rear springs and shocks are so stiff. Technology has come a long way since the '70's.

This /\ /\ /\



Here are some ol' school 15's on my car.

These are 15x11.25 welds with 28x12.50 MT's on them.
 

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So with 2" Mini Tubs and Spring Relocation...

I'm sizing the 18"x11" rears with +33mm Offset for the 8-3/4" Rear End
or 18"x12" rears with +58mm Offset...

I can use a 1/2" to 3/8" Hub Centric spacer while the 7-1/4" Rear end is still in the car.

On the front 18"x9" with +27mm Offset and I should be able to get 275/35/18's on with a little massaging.
 
3" mini tubs for relocation.

18x11's yes.

18x12's are pushing the limit. Check the overall width of those really close. Not saying it cant work but everything needs to be perfect.
 
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