I was thinking of putting some Big Fat Wide tires on my Chevelle when I get done with the restoration, but really don't know the best way to raise ( jack it up ) the rear of the car. I have thought of air shocks, but what manufacturer etc..??
Should I go hydraulic??

Why not just find the largest size tire that will fit without doing any of that? What you are planning to do will cause nothing but problems in the rear suspension. Can you say wheel hop? I think its a bad idea.

There is no good way to lift the rear...

You can fit up to 12.5" of rubber in the back of a '69 without lifting it at all, although moving the shock-mount on the axle would be required with 15" wheels... 17"+ wheels clear it without any problems, and you won't be able to use rubber bushings, if you go that tight with the tire clearances.

There is no good way to lift the rear...

You can fit up to 12.5" of rubber in the back of a '69 without lifting it at all, although moving the shock-mount on the axle would be required with 15" wheels... 17"+ wheels clear it without any problems, and you won't be able to use rubber bushings, if you go that tight with the tire clearances.

Derek,
Can you elaborate more on how to do this? I wasted a ton of money on 15x10 ProStars, with 295/65/15 M/T drag radials, and they didn't come close to fitting on my '69. Aside from the shock mount issue, there was a great deal of conflict with the inner wheelhouse that would have required a ton of massaging to get clearance. The wheels had the correct 5.5" backspace that seems to be universally recommended.

Derek,
Can you elaborate more on how to do this? I wasted a ton of money on 15x10 ProStars, with 295/65/15 M/T drag radials, and they didn't come close to fitting on my '69. Aside from the shock mount issue, there was a great deal of conflict with the inner wheelhouse that would have required a ton of massaging to get clearance. The wheels had the correct 5.5" backspace that seems to be universally recommended.Are you sure yours has a stock width rear axle? Early Chevelles had a 1" narrower axle, which could cause the problems you had.

A lot of guys are running 17x11s with 315/35s on them and 6" to 6-1/4" backspace (depending on brakes) with everything stock, except rolling the lip. There's no reason a 295 on a 15x10 shouldn't work if the backspace is right, and the quarter lip was rolled.

The rear of my '72 is raised 1 1/2" and there is no wheel hop at all. I did it with spacers between the springs and the body. Don't do it with air shocks. That will make your ride too stiff (increasing the chance of wheel hop) and put a lot of extra stress on the shock mounts. The springs should handle the weight of the car, not the shocks.

Tom

The rear of my '72 is raised 1 1/2" and there is no wheel hop at all. I did it with spacers between the springs and the body. Don't do it with air shocks. That will make your ride too stiff (increasing the chance of wheel hop) and put a lot of extra stress on the shock mounts. The springs should handle the weight of the car, not the shocks.

Tom
on my 70 el camino i have the back end raised about an inch with a pair of really fat tires in the back, I can abck up what Tom just said, on mine I dont have any wheel hop, and I use a pair of wagon springs and spacers as well

You might want to search the Wheel and Tire forum.

I bet there are lots of posts about what will fit where.

you use not large fat just fat and large size tire MRF is a best company for TIRE

What wheels are you going with on your Chevelle? Mine has the stock SS wheels with P245/60R14's all around. The suspension is stock and there are no clearance issues in the front or back.

I was thinking of putting some Big Fat Wide tires on my Chevelle when I get done with the restoration, but really don't know the best way to raise ( jack it up ) the rear of the car. I have thought of air shocks, but what manufacturer etc..??
Should I go hydraulic??


My Rear's are 17 x 11 w/6.25 back spacing
w/Dunlop SP Sport 8000 series 315/35.17

They fit with no mods needed, however, I am going to trim the 1/8 - 1/4 inch lip (quarter pannel) that remains exposed after the wheel molding has been attached just for extra clearence.. This is on my 70.

JJ
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg161/jpr95/70%20chevelle/1970Chevellepics044.jpg?t=1229384739