Anybody make a kit to mini-tub a 66-67 chevelle? Lots of camaro/nova stuff out there. I'd like to get more tire under the rear without traditional frame cut and aluminum tubs. An inner fender change and a relocate of the shock mount would give the car some room. :yes:Thanks

Are you trying to go wider than 10" wheels?

I've seen it being done on a 66 at local restoration shop. The frame was being cut and moved in about 2" Still had to cut the frame and redue the inner wheel wells.

Not sure why you're looking to change the wheel wells without moving the frame. Not much to be gained there. Chevelles are totally different than a camaro/nova, for they have shock mounts outside of the frame and benefit from moving the shocks inboard. Your chevelle's shocks already are inboard.

Without cutting anything, you should be able to fit a 12 inch wide tire. Proper backspacing of the rims is the important thing.

Not sure why you're looking to change the wheel wells without moving the frame. Not much to be gained there. Chevelles are totally different than a camaro/nova, for they have shock mounts outside of the frame and benefit from moving the shocks inboard. Your chevelle's shocks already are inboard.

Without cutting anything, you should be able to fit a 12 inch wide tire. Proper backspacing of the rims is the important thing.

I know the shocks are inboard. I was just hoping somebody made a kit to move everything in a couple inches. I don't mind cutting the frame, I just would rather have it look "less prostreet", if you will. I've seen a fenderwell advertised for gen 1 camaro's. That was kind of what I'm thinking of. I'd like to get an 11.5 x 29" drag radial on an 8" wheel in the fenders without jacking the rear up. My wheels now are 15x8 with 5" backspace. With a 275/60 on, there is no room on the inside. Maybe space the wheel out 1/4"?:confused:

I split my frame in the area of the rear wheels and removed an 1 1/2 of material and welded the outer section back in to keep a "factory" look to the frame. I am also going to split the tubs and widen them two inches. in my opinion even if someone made a kit with wider tubs you still have almost the same amount of work in removing the original inner and installing the new ones, that is unless your factory ones are rusted beyond repair. i can post pics of my frame and the tubs when i get them done, good luck with your build.

5" backspace on a 15x8 puts the tire too far inward. 4 1/2 would of been better. I measured my 66 and came up with these measurements:

distance from wheel mounting hub to frame: 6 1/2 inches
distance from wheel mounting hub to fender lip: 6 inches
total wheel tub width: 12 1/2 inches (stock wheel wells and fender lips..no trimming)

A 15x8 with 4 1/2 backspacing, or a 15x9 with 5" backspacing would work nicely.

For the record, I have my measurements from my 72 Chevelle and they are as follows:

distance from wheel mounting hub to frame: 7 inches
distance from wheel mounting hub to fender lip: 6 1/2 inches
total wheel tub width: 13 1/2 inches (fender lips were trimmed)

A 15x10 with 5 1/2 backspacing, or a 15x8.5 with 5" backspacing would work nicely.

5" backspace on a 15x8 puts the tire too far inward. 4 1/2 would of been better. I measured my 66 and came up with these measurements:

distance from wheel mounting hub to frame: 6 1/2 inches
distance from wheel mounting hub to fender lip: 6 inches
total wheel tub width: 12 1/2 inches (stock wheel wells and fender lips..no trimming)

A 15x8 with 4 1/2 backspacing, or a 15x9 with 5" backspacing would work nicely.

I have 15x8 with 5"bs now. Your 72 has a slightly wider rear axle than the 66. The car sits low and it clears the 275/60 with no problem. I tried the same tire wheel with 4 1/2 bs and it would have rubbed on the outer lip if it ever twisted, like crossing a low dip on an angle? I probably should have ordered 4 3/4 bs but it looks good now. I'd just like to get the 295/65's under it.
Thanks for all the replys. I LOVE this site!!:hurray:

I have 15x8 with 5"bs now... I probably should have ordered 4 3/4 bs but it looks good now. I'd just like to get the 295/65's under it.


I ran 15X8 with 5+" BS on my '66. Fit 295/50-15. The tires rubbed the inner fenders slightly when going in a driveway or over a speed bump at an angle, and some of the rubbing was on the frame rail, so without notching the frame, you might not really gain any room. So I added 7/32" inch spacers (thinnest I could find at the time). That put it just under 5" BS (about 4-7/8"). Worked great.

4.5" BS would have not been enough IMO (would have been too close to the outer lip which could cut the tire, whereas, the inner fender only "rubbed")... 4-3/4" BS would have been about perfect.

I have seen people shorten the crossmember and then move the brackets and spring perches on the rearend, but that seemed like alot of work just to gain a few inches...

I am planing on the frame notch with some extra reinforcing and adding a strip to the inner fender ... I'd like to fit a 315 tire with ease...

I have some 15x9 rims with 5 1/2 backspacing with 295/50-15's on them. I tried bolting them up to my 66 chevelle and they rub on the inside. If I could space them out about 3/8" then they'd work. I'm amazed that you're able to fit your wheels (295/50's and 15x8's 5+" BS) on your 66. Although your backspacing is less than mine, your sidewall would extend further due to you running a one inch narrower rim.

If you don't mind, could you do this: take off one of your wheels, put a straight edge over the entire rear of the tire, then measure from that down to back of your rim, where the hub would touch. This is similar to measuring backspacing, except this includes the tire bulge in the measurement. Mine measures 6 1/2 inches, which just touches the inner fender well.