i am deciding what rear end ratio to build. i want to put the tallest and widest tire in my 70 station wagon. i will buy custom offset wheels to insure that i center the tire in the space available. so, reguardless of offset or rim size, wht is the largest tire anyone has put in a 68-72 elky or wagon without allowing it to stick out from under the quarter panel? thanks

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Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
www.EINSTYN.com (http://www.EINSTYN.com) updated 6-7-02 TC#1460, VCEA#2
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1970 Chevelle 454 Wagons

www.chevelles.com/showroom/tempwheels.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/tempwheels.jpg) Don't know what the sizes are though... Budnik is real good about fitment. If you order something they haven't put on your make and model they put up the red flag before going into production on your wheels...

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...Dennis
The '69 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fine69_03.jpg) & the '96 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fine69_02.jpg)
Team Camaro (http://www.camaros.net)
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thanks, let me simplify my question. forget about rims sizes, all i am looking for is what size tires are people running in the rear of their el camino's?

I must be from the old school, I like to see more rubber than rim on these cars. BillK calls them "fork lift" tires and wheels. 17 or 18 inch wheels with little short sidewalls, just looks strange to me.

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www.muncie4speed.com (http://www.muncie4speed.com)
Gold 67
1967 Malibu, 2nd owner.
1971 Malibu, been in the family since new.
There is nothing like rowing through the gears at 7500. Stick cars are so much fun they should be a controlled substance!

I had 30.5" tall pickup tires on my 70 coupe last year for a couple of hiway trips. It slowed my motor down about 300 rpm at cruisin speed.

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Bob Von Kaenel
70 SS 54k orig miles

FO_FDYFO,

I'm running 275/50-15 on my 69 EC. I could probably run a taller tire, but it looks like there's not much room left to go wider without rolling the lips.

295/45/18 and they do not look "riced out". The tires are 28.4 inches tall which gives over 5 inches of sidewall. Do a search on my name and there are a couple of pictures in which the tires and wheels can be seen.

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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

"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
*Drew Carey

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/tempexhaust1.jpg
Do you mean this pic?
what is the deal with clearing the shock mount? is it, once you get over a certain wheel size it no longer is restricted my the shock mount?
can you post the pics you are refering to again to avoid all the searches. it does not take any more server space.

What I was getting at is you could use the knowledge and experience of a wheel maker like Budnik to help you attain your goal. the picture is just meant to highlight a lot is possible. I don't like the 20" look but 17's and the right tire isn't gonna rice out a classic!

As for what gears, check out the last 3 or 4 calc's on this page. www.smokemup.com/auto_math/index.php (http://www.smokemup.com/auto_math/index.php)

i think you took what i meant to say the wrong way. i was asking , what is the relationship between the rim size and the shock mount. another words, is there a clearence advantage with larger rims that allow you to go wider and not hit the shock mount. i personally think i am going to go with 295-50 R16's. i dont mind the look of larger rims i just want more side wall for cushioning without going to a larger overall diameter tire.

17's and above allow the wheel to go "over" the shock mount and allows for 6 to 6.25 inches of backspacing. That is the correct picture and as I am doing body work I can't take new picures that would be worth posting.

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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

"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
*Drew Carey

As far as the shock mount goes, I ran some searches here a while back and two guys raised it or said it was ok to raise it 1" to clear the rim. Many others said it wasn't necessary for them to do it. This was regarding 15x10 rims. Must be a variation due to tolerance stack-up.

I had 15X10s on the rear of my 71 Elky.

Had to move the shock up a bit to clear the inside of the rim with 6" backspace.

Tires were 305/50-15 and in the side view they matched up pretty good with the 235/60s on the front. So from the side it looked like I had 235s all the way around but when you walked around back you just kept seeing more and more tire http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

K

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64 2 Door 400SB/TH350 (actually IN the driveway!)
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