1970 OO Judge

[gtome]

Hey guys. I sold my Hurst Rambler today so I figured it would be a good time to start building the Judge. I plan to keep the body fairly stock since it is a real Orbit 70 Judge. I'd like to add coil overs , probably something like an LQ9 and a TKX. I like the look of stock style Rally 2 wheels and found a couple options. Unfortunately they don't come in anything over a 9.5" wide. I was thinking maybe 18" front and 20" rear. I'd love to stuff a 305 in the rear, but it won't happen on a 9.5" wheel, so unless I go for another style, a 295 is probably a big as I can go. I have to restore the car too but I'm hoping it won't take too long. Any recommendations on coil over kits? I'm trying not to break the bank on this one and will not be doing any sort of racing, I just want a good tight ride and I like the height adjustability of the coil overs. And if anyone has seen a nice reasonably priced wheel that might look good I'm open to others. I found a 295/30/20 at work and there is plenty of room. US Mag or Rev 9 is what I was looking at for wheels.
https://www.performanceplustire.com/app/buy-wheels-online/rev-wheels/109-classic-magnum-polished/ws:20x9-5

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[FORDvsCHEVY]

I had a 295/30/20 in 10” wide wheels and the were very squared…. No stretch at all. I think it might be 2 wide for a 9.5

[gtome]

I believe I saw they recommend a 285 max on a 9.5 wheel. I saw a video of a guy that had a 285, 295, and a 305 on a 9.5" wheel. The 285 and 295 looked fine, but the 305 looked weird. I suppose it also matters what tires they are. Surely they are not all the same. I am not married to those wheels, it's just a good looking affordable option. I even considered seeing about having them widened. They do make those in bigger sizes, but they are a 3 piece. $300each for the ones I'm looking at or $1700 each for the 3 piece. Big jump $$!

[thedugan]

Nice project.

You could have the wheels widened. One example of a company that does it. https://weldcraftwheels.com/

[gtome]

Yeah I looked into that. It's about $300 per wheel and they will only do the backside on those. That would end up having way too much backspacing (about 6.5") for a wide wheel for me. I'm in a situation for sure!

[gtome]

Anyone have any thoughts on a reasonable coil over kit? And are tubular A arms necessary?

[Way2qwk4u]

Umi performance suspension. I have really enjoyed mine over the last 10 years.

[gtome]

Nice, I've been looking at a bunch of them. Seems like they are all pretty similar except for the shocks.

[gtome]

I want to try to get my wheels picked out and in my hand soon, because I have to put outer wheelhouses in it, and I could modify them a bit if needed to clear a wider tire.
Up front (if I go with the wheel I linked) I would probably go with an 18x9 with maybe a 255/30 or 35.

[andrewb70]

In my opinion, 18" wheels on the front and 20" wheels on the rear make these cars look very awkward. I would do 18s or 19s all the way around.

Andrew

[thumper877]

To each his own but I agree with Andrew I think it throws the appearance of the car off

[gtome]

Ok. I will look at that option. The wheels I'm looking at don't come in 19's. Might be time to look at other options. Getting to be too many strikes against them.

[gtome]

Also I'm open to suggestions. Seen anything recently that looks good on a gto? Trying to stay under 2k for wheels.

[gtome]

Ok. I finally got the outer wheelhouses and quarters finished up. I've been looking at different options for the drivetrain. I had talked myself into a LT1 and a 10 speed, but last night a deal fell into my lap on a 2012 Corvette. Obviously I can't use the trans so I'd have to get that figured out. Probably go with a TKX. Does anyone know if I could make the Corvette brakes work on my car? I see some F and G body conversions, but I don't see anything for an A body.

[andrewb70]

Ok. I finally got the outer wheelhouses and quarters finished up. I've been looking at different options for the drivetrain. I had talked myself into a LT1 and a 10 speed, but last night a deal fell into my lap on a 2012 Corvette. Obviously I can't use the trans so I'd have to get that figured out. Probably go with a TKX. Does anyone know if I could make the Corvette brakes work on my car? I see some F and G body conversions, but I don't see anything for an A body.

Kore3 has brackets if you want to use stock spindles. A better option is to get the SpeedTech spindles and the appropriate control arms. Their spindles use modern C5/6 hubs and use the Corvette brakes as well.

Andrew

[Jk918]

Ridetech offers a kit for the A body that comes with corvette hub spindles(looks to be new designed spindles by Ridetech), not sure if it's compatible with the tru turn drive link. Might be a good option as your trying to run some larger front tires.

[gtome]

Thanks guys I will look into those. Just want to try and use as much of this car as possible to make buying it worthwhile.
This is a real orbit orange Judge so I also have to be careful I don't do anything I can't undo if I wanted/needed to.

[Joris69velle]

There is a template on the internet but now i cant find it. I used in on my chevelle. If you have access to a laser cutter. It also requires a small bushing and you need drum brake hubs. Ill dig for some pictures if i still have them

[Joris69velle]

207577
You can also machine down ur old discs brakes to hubs. Press in bigger studs and use the corvette rotors

[gtome]

Interesting! We do have a small machine shop at work. I bet my guy could machine them for me.
I'm not 100% sure what I'm doing for a rear end yet. I have a couple of 10 bolt rears but I'm not sure what kind of power they will hold. I will be running the LS3 with something like a stage 2 or 3 cam in it most likely(so less than 550 crank hp). I've kicked around putting a turbo on it, but I have some much work to do on the car still I doubt that would ever happen.

[GTO Jack]

I had 295/40/20 on 10" rims on my last Hellcat and still had a bit of bulge. On this one, I used 10.5" rims and same tire and they have perfect flat sides. If you go that route and need a pic let me know. I'm working on a 65 GTO and looking at rims and tires. I may do the 17" Rally 2 wheel running the 9" on front and have the back of the other 2 widened to 11". If you widen the tubs you need more back space anyway, if I can find tires that fill the wheelwell.

[gtome]

Yeah I am still unsure on the wheels and tires. I really wanted a rally 2 style wheel, but the ones with good sizes are just way out of my budget.
Also if you decide to go with the 17" Rally 2, hit me up, I think my buddy is going to sell the ones he bought in favor of something else. They are new but have been rolled around the garage a few times on them. I have a nice original 4 speed console too for a 65. I sold my 65 but still have a few nice parts.

[gtome]

I also looked long and hard at the wheel tubs on mine. I'd love to run a super fat tire in the back, but I just can't bring myself to cut up a real Judge for that. I considered selling the judge and using something else like a regular GTO or Lemans to build. Offered it up to a couple people I thought might be interested, but they just weren't willing to pay what I think it's worth. I've also had the car since like 1984, so it is a car I've been thinking about for 38 years.

[gtome]

Ok. I almost finished the outer wheelhouse and partial quarter panel replacement. Time to start moving forward. As I mentioned earlier, I picked up a 2012 Corvette with an LS3. I've been looking at motor mounts and swap kits. Anyone have any recommendations? Some of these (for example Sikky) can be pretty pricey. Others, like a Hooker headers kit, are not too bad priced. Anything special I should be looking out for or to be careful of? I'm still not 100% sure on the trans yet, but it's looking like a TKX is at the top of the list. I super don't want to modify the tunnel, but unless I run an old 4 speed I'm not sure I can avoid it.
207809

[Jk918]

Holley clamshell motor mounts and transmission crossmember, speed engineering headers

[gtome]

Thanks I will take a look.

[gtome]

Does anyone know if I will be able to use the oil pan that is on the LS3 I bought, in my 70 GTO? I don't have the engine out of the Corvette yet so I don't know what all I will need. It's a 2012 Vette if it makes a difference.