I have a '69 SS that I just bought 15x10's with 295/50's for the rear. They tend to rub and I was wandering does anyone have a solution to my problem. I was thinking of changing the springs and maybe the shocks also. Does anyone know what springs I should use and what shocks. I Greatly Appreciate any help.

A bit more information would help. What backspacing do the wheels have? Where are the tire rubbing?

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Redrum (or Mike)

68 Corvette - 383 CI, 427 HP, 700R4, 12.56 @ 108 MPH
69 SS Chevelle - 502 CI, 610 HP, 2004R, 1320 unknown
97 Z-28 - totally stock still under 14,000 miles

How Many Roads Must A Man Travel Down Before He Admits He is Lost?

I've been thinking about that combination and would like to ask a couple of questions. What's the backspacing you're using? I've never tried this in person, but it looks to me like there's a good chance of the wheel itself making contact with the lower shock mount with a 5 1/2" bs. I've been measuring and it looks like the 10" wheels will be a squeeze on the outside and inside.

I'm eagerly awaiting some good responses to this post too.
I would like to buy some 15x10 wheels for the rear of my '69 Malibu, but there aren't many people speaking up about the tires they have on them. I think 275's are as big as you can go without rubbing or modifying, but I'm not sure.

I don't have 15-10s now, but I tried a pair of Crager SS 15-10s with 4 1/2 " backspace with a 275/60/15 drag radial. Ruined the tire on the left side on the first run. Didn't have 1/2 mile on the tire and sliced the sidewall so bad I would never trust the tire.
When these guys say you need 5 1/2" backspacing, you need 5 1/2", period.

Stinking Crager will NOT answer any of my emails regarding custom wheels. I want them to make me a Crager in 10" with the 5.5 backspace. They just keep ignoring me.
Summit plays dumb also when you ask.

Dave

A 295 will fit easily. What is the backspacing on those 15x10s? Where is it rubbing? You will need 5.5" of BS.

I run a set of prostars with 5.5" backspacing. tires are M/T sportsman pros 28.5-12.5. with the lip rolled there is quite a bit of room. I have rim screws installed and it is tight but it fits.

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1969 SS 396

I run a set of 10 inch wheels with 5.5' backspacing and a 295/50. I did have to slightly roll the outer wheelwell lip so the tires would not rub with 4 people in the car. If you want a tough looking tire/rim combo, this is one of them.

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Craig Sanden
"Oh, I see! And how is 'education' suppose to make me feel smarter??" Homer

Hi, I started a post recently and AdamLym sent a couple of pics. I'll try (this will be a first) to include the links here. If I can't, look for a recent post called "15x10's and the rear shock mount", or something like that. His is a '71 Chevelle with 295/50/15's. I don't know if the 71 has more fender clearance or not. Thought you might want to take a look. I think I'll end up using 275/60/15's on 15x8 with 4 3/4" bs or 4 1/2" bs and a lip roll. I don't know if anyone has 295's on a Monte Carlo, but I can't see it happening without doing stuff I don't want to do.

Dave, sorry to hear you cut up the tire.

[This message has been edited by Glenn1018 (edited 05-02-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Glenn1018 (edited 05-02-2002).]

Heres what you need to do to get the correct fit. You need a 5" backspacing on the 10's and no bigger than a 275-60 15. The 60 series will be a bit taller and will give the clearance. It wil be as tall as your 295-50 but the 60's side wall will taper in just a bit giving you the clearance our cars need.

Been there almost did that. saw a buddies 68 with 295's and had the same problem.
So I went with the 275-60 to keep the clearance..

RandyB..

The back spacing I have is 3.9 and I know that is wrong. But when I called American Racing they don't make 5.5 back spacing. The only thing else I thought of doing was put Air shocks in and raise the rear alittle. The tire is hitting the outer fenderwell. But it is only touching by a hair.

The problem is the backspacing. Raising the rear will not correct the problem and will create a whole new set of problems.

Raising the rear will change the geometry of the rear and will result in lower traction, poor pinion angle and related additional wear on the u-joints. In addition if you raise the rear with air shocks you will have a "Harsh" ride and potentially damage to the upper shock perch.

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Redrum (or Mike)

68 Corvette - 383 CI, 427 HP, 700R4, 12.56 @ 108 MPH
69 SS Chevelle - 502 CI, 610 HP, 2004R, 1320 unknown
97 Z-28 - totally stock still under 14,000 miles

How Many Roads Must A Man Travel Down Before He Admits He is Lost?

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Redrum:
The problem is the backspacing. Raising the rear will not correct the problem and will create a whole new set of problems.

Raising the rear will change the geometry of the rear and will result in lower traction, poor pinion angle and related additional wear on the u-joints. In addition if you raise the rear with air shocks you will have a "Harsh" ride and potentially damage to the upper shock perch.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree 100% with redrum. Send the wheels back period! air shocks suck and is not the right solution. Go on, give it a try if you want. You will regret it. Trust me on this one. Been there done that. Steve...

Thanks for the help. I am going to try everything I can. I called American Racing and they said that they will not take the rims back because I had already mounted the tires on them. They said I should have tried them with out the tires first. But I said how can you try rims on a car without tires on them. And they don't 15x10's with nothing other than 3.9 . So if I have to I will sell the rims and tires and put 15x8's with 275's.

If the tire rub is only a little as you say a couple of other options you could do are :
1.) roll the wheel well lip. This can be done relatively cheap but you have to be really careful. For a good procedure search this forum.
2.) Take some metal out of the wheelwell lip with a small metal cutting tool.
Of course if you don't want to do something permanent to the wheel well both of the above options are not something to do.
Another suggestion is to go talk to the local guys who sell ARE wheels. Depending on your approach you might get decent trade value out of the current wheels to get the 15x8s. Good Luck. BTW my 68 has 305/50s on 15x10(5.5bs) Draglites and I have a slight rub (about what a squeegee would do to remove tire dressing) I run air shocks from Gabriel (available everywhere) and if I carry a passenger only then do I put in extra air and even then its only enough to stop the rub and not maxed out.. Otherwise I live with the slight rub. And my car rides great, but its not a lowered corner carver like what redrum has. Good luck on your quest

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Jeff Angerstein
ACES#841 TCG#158 CECCO #16
68 SS396(roller 454)
68 Pro Street
69 SSRS 396(427) 4spd
87 MC SS
99 K2500 Burb 7.4L(454)

My Chevs (http://www.tcg158.homestead.com)
OLD BLUE (12.42@108.6) (http://tcg158.homestead.com/files/drvr.jpg)
(10 second motor in a 14 second chassis)

That sounds like a good idea. I am going to give some of these options a try. You probably know you learn from you mistakes. And I have learned that I should have checked the BS before I ordered them.

I tried the air shocks and so far they are working fine. I tried to return the rims but they wouldn't take they back because the tires where mounted on them. The car isn't sitting as high as I thought and for now all worked out good.