Rear Wheel Fitment

[jocko124]

I recently purchased a set of wheels and I was wondering how well a rear wheel should "fill" the rear wheel well. I have 3/8" of space between the face of the wheel and my fender and 2" of space from the rear of the wheel to my frame. I am planning on narrowing the rear end, after which I will have 1 3/16" room on each side of the wheel. I am wondering how well other member's rear wheels fit?

[wmhjr]

Running 275s on 10" rims. Have VERY little clearance on the inside (frame) side. There is sometimes a slight rub. Probably have 1/2" on the outside, all after modifying my wheel houses. Only way for me to get more clearance would be to modify the frame.

[rjsjea]

The guy who owns the shop your car it sitting in would be the guy to ask. Too much discrepancy between cars. I ask him random stuff all the time, hahahaha

[jocko124]

Originally Posted by rjsjea

The guy who owns the shop your car it sitting in would be the guy to ask. Too much discrepancy between cars. I ask him random stuff all the time, hahahaha

He thinks 11's will fit!

[wmhjr]

Originally Posted by jocko124

He thinks 11's will fit!

Whoa! There must be WAY more room on the back end of those Olds! Don't forget, if you're going to participate in any autox or road events you'll get a little movement back there as you articulate the suspension. What works great while the car is stationary isn't exactly what you get when you start working the car out.

[jocko124]

Agreed. But with the room I have back there I will still have a 1/2" on each side

Originally Posted by wmhjr

Whoa! There must be WAY more room on the back end of those Olds! Don't forget, if you're going to participate in any autox or road events you'll get a little movement back there as you articulate the suspension. What works great while the car is stationary isn't exactly what you get when you start working the car out.

[Biodds]

There is alot more to this. The wheel probably won't hit at all but you need to be concerned with tire rub. This depends on what tire size you run and if you have stock rubber control arm bushings or heim joints or a watts link or panhard bar to prevent side movement of the frame and body. Also it matters how much roll stiffness your swaybars have to prevent body roll.

I usually try to obtain 1" clearance between the frame/wheel tub and the inner tire bulge. The outer tire bulge can be much closer to the lip on the fender- like 1/4" or less.

Picture a right hand turn from the drivers seat. The body leans to the left with the left side moving down and left in relation to the tire and the right side moving up and left. On the right side the clearances get wider at the frame and the body moving upward keeps the fender from rubbing. But, on the left side the frame moves closer to the tire. Especially at the top of the tire. More roll stiffness and less compliant bushings allow tighter clearances.

[jocko124]

Thank you Paul, I will definitely take that into account.

[GFRDH-04]

I very much agree with your point of view