G-body Malibu trying to fit 17x8.5 with 245/255 tire, need help with backspacing

[malibulvr]

My car started out as pretty much a purpose built drag strip/street car, and honestly is leaning a bit more towards the drag strip race car side. I'm contemplating making the switch to Pro-Touring but need a little help on my front wheels.Stock front suspension with the S-10 Blazer spindle and brake upgrade, still stock geometry and spacing. I'm wanting to run a 17 x 8.5 front wheel with a 245 or 255 series front tire, possibly even a 275/40 front tire in the end. What is the most backspacing I can get away with without contacting the tie rods etc in the 17" wheel?

This is how the car sits currently:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/10/GBODY_zpsdft1yrym-1.jpg (http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/andrewhawks/media/GBODY_zpsdft1yrym.jpg.html)

[mc84_zz4]

On my Monte I have 17x8, 4.5" bs, with a Nitto 555 Extreme 255/45/17 on the front, the car is dropped 2" inches more or less
The only contact I have was after swapping out the stock LCA for some SPC LCA, it's a mild tire rub against the rear portion of the LCA.
SSLance had 17x9.5, 5.0 backspace on the front with some 275/40/17, he has updated tires to 18", but I think the specs are mostly unchanged.

[200kss]

I believe the front end of a Malibu is narrower than a Monte Carlo. I own one of each but have never done the measurements and after some mock up, I believe it.

17x8, 4.5 BS will work great on a Malibu with a 245 tire, I'm currently running a 245/40/17 up front and think a 245/45 will fit just fine. The thread on Malibu racing about a 17x9 with a 275 on the front. I did mock up a 17x9.5 with 5 inch BS, didn't take any pics but it still appeared to be sticking out too far for my taste.

[malibulvr]

Thanks for the info.