1969 Camaro tru-turn

[glr0212]

Wanted to give my 2 cents (earned the hard way) on the ridetech tru-turn and the ability to put a 10” 275 tire on a 69 Camaro.
The short version is it doesn’t really fit.
My setup is probably pretty common for people buying this system.

• Stock subframe
• ½” Drop body bushings
• Full ridetech front suspension with the muscle bar
• 18x9.5” front wheel w/ 6.25” backspace
• 265/35 tires

The car has been fully aligned per the Ridetech's specs.
Here is how well it “fits”

***** I added back in several of the key pictures on this thread that disappeared when third party hosting was dropped. Mine is the green car. The blue car is the car done by a ridetech guy later in the thread. The yellow fender is the modification done for a custom car to make larger front tires fit.

[glr0212]

As you can see it really doesn’t fit well. The fender sits on tire when the wheel is turned.

What you can’t see is the rear of the tire hits the frame rail long before I reach lock on the steering wheel. I would probably have to do a 3 point turn when taking a right at a stop light if I left it this way.

I’ve said in another thread and will say it in this thread - I don’t see how you stuff that much tire into the fender well with a stock subframe. There just isn’t enough room to make it work.

The only options I have at this point are:

1)New wheels and smaller tires upfront
2)Raise the car 0.5”-1” and hope I can clear the fender and just live with the mile wide turning radius

With option 2 I think I still may have to get stiffer springs in order to keep the tire from riding up into the fender while turning over a large rise in the road (aka turning into a parking lot)

[glr0212]

I am not posting this to flame on ride tech. I think they make a nice product. It goes together well and probably handles great. On the other hand it is not a great solution for fitting larger tires into a 69 camaro.

I just wanted to post another viewpoint besides “yeah, everything fits right in there with the right backspacing” In my experience, it doesn't fit. I have no room to give on either the front or back side of my wheel.

[jlwdvm]

I have the same set up as you on my 69 firebird project, except I have solid stock height body bushings. I haven't ordered wheels yet, but already have new Toyo R888 275's for the front. I hope the solution is different back spacing with the stock bushings...guess I'll have to measure and see while crossing my fingers! Thanks for the post

[Josh@Ridetech]

Hey GLR0212,

I'll be happy to help you figure this out, I just want to check into a couple of things to see what we're working with. I saw up above where you said you used our alignment specs but can you tell me exactly what you have your camber set at? We ran a 275 on the 69 GG/RS Camaro that we just finished. We just need to see where your problem is coming from.

[130fe]

Do you think putting "regular" height body bushings on it would help? It might get you some more clearance.

[Regal454]

Originally Posted by Josh@Ridetech

We ran a 275 on the 69 GG/RS Camaro that we just finished.

Josh,

How wide and what was the back spacing on the front wheels of the Goodguys Camaro?

Were the tires a 275/35/18?

What was the camber setting on the alignment?


I'll be ordering a set of wheels soon for my Ridetech equipped 69 Camaro soon so any help would be greatly appreciated.

[bret]

Your tire hits the outer fender because the 265/45-18, at 27.4" tall, is about 1.8" taller than the 25.6" tall 275/35-18 tire that we (and most others) use. It hits the subframe at full lock because you've selected the wrong wheel back spacing by 1/2". Our printed recommendation for back spacing is 5.75".
If you install the correct parts on the car it will fit just fine.

[Rod P]

Originally Posted by bret

Your tire hits the outer fender because the 265/45-18, at 27.4" tall, is about 1.8" taller than the 25.6" tall 275/35-18 tire that we (and most others) use. It hits the subframe at full lock because you've selected the wrong wheel back spacing by 1/2". Our printed recommendation for back spacing is 5.75".
If you install the correct parts on the car it will fit just fine.

ummmm yep

[glr0212]

1st of all you cant make a hard BS recommendation because you don't know what my track width is. Depending on what brake setup people have the track width can move by as much as 1/2" or more.

2nd, and most important - If you look at the pictures the fender is practically sitting on the tire. adding an extra 1/2 of backspacing in my case and the fender will be sitting on the tire.

Basically I can not move the tire out towards the fender any more.