Just took my beast out for gas and my first drive.Noted some rubs and grating sound rear end over even small bumps.Right rear tire is only 3/4" from the wheelwell, it had a few small rubber slivers in it! Tires are 27" high...Yokkohama 275 60 R 15 107T on Wheel Vintique rims. Don'twant this thing jacked so high I need seatbelts just to stay in my seat, but what am I looking at for ? new springs...?size and make...?cost. Want to fix this ASAP as summers are too short here!..thanks.Derek

 

I like cargo coils off a vista cruiser ...

They are variable ratio and give you a little lift ...

glare2.jpg

 

sounds like you need more backspace

 

X2 on the Vista springs, I use used ones from a six passenger- (the nine passsenger is way too stiff, the shocks are topped right out)...

 

X2 on the backspace. You need at the VERY LEAST 3.75"

4.25" to 4.5" would be ideal.

 

There are spacers for the shocks but I didn't need them

 

Guess I'm not too good at description of problem....There is 3/4" between the top outer edge of the tire and the chromed edge of the fenders wheel opening passenger side....about an inch on the driver's side.Derek

 

We understand it right. The tire is comming up and hitting the 1/4 or trim. You need more backspace, a narrower rear with the same backspace or roll the inner lip of the 1/4 and trim or you will continue to tear up your tires.

 

O.K......my bad , wanted to be sure....So you suggest tire /backspace changes,and I was hoping a cheap and easy fix would just involve a coil swap.The prior owner drove it last year...either on different tire/rim combo?or the coils have given up some" sproing "....Derek

 

I understand that. Your problem is the wheel's hub is likely welded to the rim with a 2.5" space from the inside rim to the bolt flange. This makes the wheel and tire too wide for your car. Most wheel manufacturers offer different backspaces for the same model wheel. In your case the same wheel with a deeper backspace would solve the problem.

I'll use Cragar as an example sice I have them on my car.

I run a T/A Radial, 275/60/15 on Cragar SS 15x8 rims model #61815. This wheel fits perfect on my car.

If I had bought the Cragar SS 15x8 model # 61817 I would be having the same problem you're having.

The only difference is mine have a 4.25" backspace and the other has a 2.5" backspace which would make the tires 1 3/4" closer to the wheel well of the car.

The bottom line is, you have the wrong wheels and need to change them for the correct backspace. You can jack the car enough to mask the problem but in the end it's gonna look awful and handling and ride will suffer.

 

Thanx for the schooling guys...taking the time [and example ] to explain this is one of the reasons I spend so much of my rare spare time on this site! Hopefully a local rodder will take these off my hands [$ ] and I'll get the correct size and backspace as suggested.

 

4fortwo ,
I'm actually picking up some cragers-(15x8-or 15x10-rear) for my Car now and have the 69 in the picture to the left. I'd like to go with the same tire size you have but thought a back space would be a problem. I was going to do without one. Are you saying the back space actually pulls the wheel in some more so it doesen't hang out in the wheel well? Appreciate the help. I want a big wheel but of course I don't want the tire hanging out at all in the rear. And don't want to jack it up at all. Hate that look. I'm going to go with the new mickey thompson Drag radial tires that look like old school.

 

Here are two other shots and I agree about the jack up, it looks like crap. I have room to lower the car with this set-up and after moving the battery to the trunk and making some other weight distribution moves I will be bring the car back to the factory spec height 9.46 front and 9.33 rear. That ever so slightly higher front is a must. I would just compare the Mickey Thompson dimensions to the T/A and stick with a 15x8 rim.


DSCN2202.jpg

DSCN2206.jpg

 

I always wondered if th e '70 442 should sit low in the back ( dago rig) ...

I like mine up just a taste ...

 

Since there is no tire wheel section I moved this to the best place we have. Nothing 442 specific about this topic. Should get more looks here.

 

You could go with a lower profile tire to get a smaller diameter to cure the problem

 

Still a band aid and will also change the effective gear ratio and make the car look goofy. Rolling the 1/4's is the only real solution without getting new wheels.

 

I've rolled many. It's rather easy if you take your time and have a nice dolly ...




Which rear springs are you using ..?

 

4fortwo , Thanks for the help and the time you took and also to take the Photo's it is/was appreciated.

 

That pretty much killed it.