Need opinions : To cut or not to cut? - Lateral-g Forums

ChassisPro · #1 10-29-2012, 08:34 PM

Hey guys, I need some opinions. I'm trying to decide weather to mini tub the camaro or not.

Just to give you a little history. I've owned the car since I was 14. It's been restored since 1990. I have never had any intention to modify the car at all until last spring. I drove it to a local car show and realized that the stock car just didn't do it for me anymore. So I have dicided that if I was going to get it out and enjoy it, I was going to make it enjoyable for me. I picked up another sub-frame that I plan to modify for coil-overs, rack and pinion, ect. in the rear I plan on running a 4 link(that would be a bolt in design like the Ridetech kit) with watts link. The orignal plan was to turn the car in to a pro-touring car, without any heavy modifications. That way if in the future I wanted to put it back stock I could. Problem is I want to run a large rear tire. I know I can get a 285 under it without cutting, but I don't know if that is going to give me the look I want. I have access to a set of 295's mounted on some 18X10 wheels and some 335's mounted on 18X10 wheels. I already have a set of 18X8 front and 18X9.5 rears. I'm not sure the 335's would fit the wheels correctly anyway. But I think a set of 315s may be ok for the 9.5s.

So my question is, would you try to sqeese some 295's on it (with a little massaging here and there) or would you bite the bullet and mini-tub it and put either 315s or 335s on it?

Thanks in advance,
Scott

**Swain** · #2 10-29-2012, 08:58 PM

18x10 is going to rub. I would mini tub it only if ur going to go with better suspension up front.

You can put some 18x8's and 18x9.0' or 9.5's max also lower the car a little

Larger wheels will change the look a lot. 15's just don't do it these days

**Flash68** · #3 10-29-2012, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChassisPro

But I think a set of 315s may be ok for the 9.5s.

I would definitely not do this. A 315 should be run on at least a 10.5 wide wheel. Ideally 11.

Mkelcy · #4 10-29-2012, 09:49 PM

I have a '67 RS/SS and faced the same dilemma. My decision was not to cut up the body, and only to do mods which could be easily reversed.

So, stock subframe, AFX spindles, Bilstein shocks, IROC box, SPC UCA/LCA, AFCO springs and adjusters and Hotchkis sway bar up front; Flex-a-Form composite leafs with swivel bushings front and rear, Bilstein shocks, Fays watts link and sway bar (if needed) out back; Hotchkis SFCs (I like DSE SFCs but, again, didn't want to cut the body) and solid subframe bushings.

I'll run 275-18's in the back and 245-17's up front - because that's what you run on cheap and readily available C5 wheels. Frankly, unless you're a great driver, you'll never know the difference between these tire sizes and what you want to run - particularly if you're contemplating a 40mm+ difference between the front and rear tires.

I have a '68 which has been minitubbed, and for a variety of reasons - not the least of which was trying to avoid any tire rub under any conditions - I'm running 295's out back. However, they'll match up well with the 275's up front and what I'm going for is good balance and handling, not the most impressive look in the parking lot. That said, YMMV.

**GregWeld** · #5 10-29-2012, 10:27 PM

Cut to cure!

Says a guy with about half a zillion ways to cut metal....

John510 · #6 10-29-2012, 10:32 PM

335s on a 18x10? You mean 18x12 right?

Up to you man. Obviously if your on this site we will say cut it and if you ask on camaros.net they will say keep it stock.

Vince@Meanstreets · #7 10-29-2012, 10:39 PM

Obviously you are not going to sell your car any time soon so I say do what makes you happy. Its worth the time and money. Plus the DSE tub looks stock if done properly.

**Streetking** · #8 10-30-2012, 05:08 AM

Bigger is better

Cut..

Sparks67 · #9 10-30-2012, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChassisPro

Hey guys, I need some opinions. I'm trying to decide weather to mini tub the camaro or not.

Just to give you a little history. I've owned the car since I was 14. It's been restored since 1990. I have never had any intention to modify the car at all until last spring. I drove it to a local car show and realized that the stock car just didn't do it for me anymore. So I have dicided that if I was going to get it out and enjoy it, I was going to make it enjoyable for me. I picked up another sub-frame that I plan to modify for coil-overs, rack and pinion, ect. in the rear I plan on running a 4 link(that would be a bolt in design like the Ridetech kit) with watts link. The orignal plan was to turn the car in to a pro-touring car, without any heavy modifications. That way if in the future I wanted to put it back stock I could. Problem is I want to run a large rear tire. I know I can get a 285 under it without cutting, but I don't know if that is going to give me the look I want. I have access to a set of 295's mounted on some 18X10 wheels and some 335's mounted on 18X10 wheels. I already have a set of 18X8 front and 18X9.5 rears. I'm not sure the 335's would fit the wheels correctly anyway. But I think a set of 315s may be ok for the 9.5s.

So my question is, would you try to sqeese some 295's on it (with a little massaging here and there) or would you bite the bullet and mini-tub it and put either 315s or 335s on it?

Thanks in advance,
Scott

I own a 1967 RS, that I owned since 1983. The rotisserie restoration started in late 2004, but a friend's Dad did the bodywork. I was also involved in doing the restoration, but I learned a lot more about the car. Actually, until you start cutting on the car, you won't know the condition sheet metal. I thought my trunk floor was solid in the rear, it wasn't. The plan from the start was pro-touring, because the biggest issue with 67-69 Camaro's is stopping and handling. Yes, it was minitubed and we have 18 x 12 with 335 size tires on the rear.

I have the DSE quadralink as the rear suspension. There is several different options available from other vendors, but I probably wouldn't recommend a bolt on kit. The original plan was to use the stock subframe with DSE coil over bracketry, but DSE later came out with DSE subframe. So, I do have a stock frame that is straight with coil over bracketry installed, and yes it was installed on the car. I sold the DSE components long ago, but if you need a subframe that has already been modified then you might want to send me an PM. The subframe is already painted black, but it will need the DSE components.

Let me know if you want to see the photos of that subframe.

Jeff