I have a 1967 Cutlass Convertible with a 330. I also have oversized tires 235/r15. If I hit a bump, once in a while they will rub. I put disc brakes on the front and the tires rub too much to drive it now. Also, I have a 455 sitting in the garage which I am planning to put in the car. I believe my fix is to put a pair of heavy duty springs on the front end as well as add polyurethane bushings. I believe this will lift the front end up enough to accommodate both the tires and the added weight of a 455.

Question: Is my fix correct or am I wrong? Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, this car has been sitting in my garage for the last ten years. The chrome wheels are looking really old and in places starting to rust. Is it possible and or cost effective to have the wheels rechromed?

 

Too many unanswered questions. What is the actual tire size? 235R15 doesn't help. Are they 70 series? 60 series? 235/60-15 is not a particularly large tire for these cars. What is the wheel offset? That is more important than anything else. Where do the tire rub - inside or outside? What disc brake swap did you use?

 

The tires look like 60s.

If you used factory pieces, installing disc brakes shouldn't change the front track on the car (nor do many aftermarket brake upgrades). Did you do anything else when you installed them? Are your A arm bushings worn?

It looks like your car already sits high enough in the front, and too high in the rear. If you got the rear down to where it's supposed to be you may gain some front clearance (and it will handle better). I'm with JP on this one; those cars have decent size wheel wells (unlike the '65) and a 235-60-15 should fit fine. I have 225-60-15s on my '66 and they never rub. It is likely your wheel offset unless the're rubbing inside and out.

Sell the old rusting wheels for what you can get and have a tire store fit a new set for you with the correct offset. And, if your car has been sitting that long are those tires 10+ years old? Seven years old is the max recommendation.

 

Saggy springs can do it but from the look I would say you have drop spindles.

btw, really nice car.

 

I checked with the aftermarket brake manufacturer and they explained that it moved the tires out 5/8 of an inch. If I want to maintain the same look, I need to have custom wheels made at $386 each. I'm not sure what I'm going to do but thinking along the lines of simply going back to drum brakes. I thought disc would be a nice upgrade but now it is forcing me to either spend almost $800 or move to a smaller rim.

Thanks for the replies.

 

Welcome to the site. What is the aspect ratio of your tire and the offset and width of your wheels? Custom wheels are not necessary, there are wheels off the shelf that will fit your car if that's required.

 

I can't tell what brand or offset wheels you have, but I've converted lots of 64-72 Cutlii using factory disc brakes, and I can tell you that with zero offset wheels (which are what the stock wheels are), there is no problem using even 245/60-15 tires. 255/60-15s also fit, but I did get minor rubbing if I hit a bump with the wheels at full lock.

 

Have you considered smaller tires that don't rub with your disc brakes and rims? I'd rather run a smaller tire than go back to front drums.

 

235/60-15s are no issue if the wheels have zero offset.