345s on a 2nd gen fbody in DSE mini tubs with 19s

[Schroeder]

This all goes on a 77 TA that will see some autocross and street driving.

Guys, I'm getting a new axle made at 53.625" from WMS to WMS (wheel mount surface to wheel mount surface). That has already been ordered and is set. I am also getting wheels. I really want the year one billet snowflakes. I love the look. I am also considering forgeline GW3R and their LS3 wheels. I'd get them in gold. I like that these wheels are 3 piece wheels, but I do not actually like the looks as well as the billet snowflake.

I was set on going with 18s all the way around when I saw this 2nd gen at speedtech's site :http://www.speedtechperformance.com/...rod/prd287.htm . Those are 19s all the way around and I love it, so I started considering the 19s.

The problem is that the 19s have almost no tire choice in 335/30-19. I have to go with 345/30-19. In the front I plan to go with 275 (285 if anyone has experience with this and says it'll work). I believe I'll have to modify my front inner fender wells to fit as fat of a tire on as I can, and that's fine with me. I realize the staggered setup will give me some understeer, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

I wanted to run as little backspacing as possible for a deep wheel look. My plan was to run 5" BS on the 53.625" axle. By my calculations and measurements on my car that will keep the outer wheel face 7/16" away from a non-rolled fender lip, BUT assuming that the DSE tubs add 2" of additional clearance my measurements show that the inner wall of the tire will be interfering if I go with a 345. If a 345 indeed does fit this would mean that my measurements are slightly off or the DSE tubs add more than 2". Either is possible.



The car will be street driven and autocrossed, so I need clearance. Will a 345 fit with my setup ( 53.625" axle, 4.875" BS, 19x10)? Can I extend the DSE mini tub or does normal installation already bring it right up to the frame rail? metal work doesn't scare me and if I have to cut into the frame rail a bit I could. I could also always extend the outer flare. I do not plan on doing the exterior body work for a number of years though, so that is something I would most likely avoid.

I have done searches here and on the internet in general. Some guys said the tires fit, but I would think it HAS to be tight from the measurements I'm taking. I would love to see what kind of numbers they had on BS, axle length, etc. Pics would be great too. I couldn't find a lot of stuff for pics of 2nd gens on 19s.

[dhutton]

I don't think you can run a 345 tire on a 10 inch wheel. I think 12 inch is the norm.

I think you will need 10 inch up front for a 275 or 285 tire.

Don

[Schroeder]

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. The rear will have 19x12s...18x12 if this all doesn't pan out with the 19s. The front will have 19x9s or 18x10s. I also considered a staggered setup of 18x10 up front with a 19x12 in the back. I like the look of the 19s all the way around. This is all purely cosmetic. i realize it will be costing me some performance.

By the way I plan on running 6" or 5.875" BS on the front

[Schroeder]

Ttt...anyone with experience? I did say this is on a car with dse quadralink right?

[Schwartz Performance]

We've had to modify the DSE tubs on all 2nd gens running 345's. Not a big deal at all.

What front suspension do you have though? We do 19's all around on all the 2nd gen Firebird/TA's. Google our 1981 Twin Turbo TA for some more reference.

-Dale

[Schroeder]

How much metal r u adding to make the 345 fit? 1"? ?more or less? I'm guessing u add the strip of added metal at the top of the tub where it meets the other wheel well. Are there other mods that need to be made?

I can add the metal, an important question tho is how much extension can I add to the mini tub before I'm hitting the frame rail? I thought the mini tub was darn close to the frame rail already.

I have a stock subframe with speedtech street fighter kit (ats spindles and their control arms).

[Schroeder]

Ttt

[g-machine]

You can fit 325-30-19 in the rear.

[Schroeder]

Did u mean 345 g machine?

[g-machine]

I mean 325 without having to modify the DSE tubs. That's the stock size on Vettes so they are available.

[Schroeder]

Thought guys stuff 335 under them all the time.

[Jerry ss 396]

[Jerry ss 396]

Modified DSE TUBS , modified front leaf spring pockets, narrowed 12 bolt rear with ride tech weld on tabs , it's a lot of work !

[Schroeder]

Awesome Jerry. Good to know someone has thrown them on. I am not afraid of the work. I have a narrowed rear- 53.625" WMS to WMS. How much did you extend the tubs and how much did it affect the rest of the cuts associated with the mini tub install? did it make the sheetmetal burnouts that came with the kit too small in any place?

What rear suspension are you running? is that a ridetech 4 link? Why did you have to modify the leaf spring pockets? Because of the mini tub widening? I am doing a DSE 4 link. I think their install require modification of the pocket anyway.

Who makes your tires? I'm wondering because if they're nittos they're probably more narrow than the michelin super sports I'll be running if I go the 345 route.

Also, what tire do you have up front?

I am also sending this as a PM to you because I know sometimes we forget to look back at the threads for the follow up. Please do respond here so everyone else can see your replies too. Thanks a lot for posting up.

[Jerry ss 396]

Awesome Jerry. Good to know someone has thrown them on. I am not afraid of the work. I have a narrowed rear- 53.625" WMS to WMS. How much did you extend the tubs and how much did it affect the rest of the cuts associated with the mini tub install? did it make the sheetmetal burnouts that came with the kit too small in any place?

What rear suspension are you running? is that a ridetech 4 link? Why did you have to modify the leaf spring pockets? Because of the mini tub widening? I am doing a DSE 4 link. I think their install require modification of the pocket anyway.

Who makes your tires? I'm wondering because if they're nittos they're probably more narrow than the michelin super sports I'll be running if I go the 345 route.

Also, what tire do you have up front?

I am also sending this as a PM to you because I know sometimes we forget to look back at the threads for the follow up. Please do respond here so everyone else can see your replies too. Thanks a lot for posting up.

Yes , ride tech 4 link.
I added a 1 inch strip to the DSE tubs . I wanted the tire to be tucked under the car and clear the inner wheelhouse at the top (outside of the tire)so it will be able to ride nice and low and not rub.
To achieve this the tire had to be pushed inward , with the stock DSE tub I thought it was too close to the tub & frame at the rear top of the tire , so I also notched the frame too.
The ride tech outer bar would have also hit the tire, I modified the front spring pocket so the outer ride tech outer bar is approx 7/8 inward on both sides of the car.

[Jerry ss 396]

Oh sorry , fronts : 18 x 9 with 275 /40 /18 nitto NT05
Rear. : 19 x 12 with 345 nitto NT05R

[Schroeder]

thanks man. i may have to pick your brain when I get into my build.

[tbal]

Im running 19x12 on 325/30 michelin super sports in the rear... they run wide as 335's... ride tech 4link/dse tubs

[Schroeder]

Im running 19x12 on 325/30 michelin super sports in the rear... they run wide as 335's... ride tech 4link/dse tubs

I have the dse 4 link but I JUST purchased the same tires in the last couple days for the rear. I'm gonna make my tubs wider than the stock dse deep tub I have so I can go to 345s if I wanna, but I'm going with 325 for now. Have not heard or read a bad thing about the super sports. And yes, they r wide. 325 in the MSS have a 13" section width on a 12" rim. 345s in the same series have a 13.8" section width but I don't know if that's on a 12" rim. I can't remember.

I'm having a really hard time finding used 285/35-19 super sports for the front. Are there any used tire peddlers on the forum? I'm gonna post in the classifieds section

Tbal, what car do u have these on. Do u think u could post pics? If u would just rather send them I can give u my email or phone number

[tbal]

L

I have the dse 4 link but I JUST purchased the same tires in the last couple days for the rear. I'm gonna make my tubs wider than the stock dse deep tub I have so I can go to 345s if I wanna, but I'm going with 325 for now. Have not heard or read a bad thing about the super sports. And yes, they r wide. 325 in the MSS have a 13" section width on a 12" rim. 345s in the same series have a 13.8" section width but I don't know if that's on a 12" rim. I can't remember.

I'm having a really hard time finding used 285/35-19 super sports for the front. Are there any used tire peddlers on the forum? I'm gonna post in the classifieds section

Tbal, what car do u have these on. Do u think u could post pics? If u would just rather send them I can give u my email or phone number

Hey, I don't get on here often shoot me an email. Tbal69 at hotmail dot com
Btw I have a 70 Camaro