mopar a-body wheel fitment

[dusterbd13]

ok, im really strating to get serious about upgrading the duster to 17's. looking still between the steelies and teh cragar SS. anyway, my question is about backspacing and tire fitment.
currently, the car has 15X7 wheels, 4.25 backspacing on all 4 corners. 275/60/15 rear, 235/60/15 front. the car has all the suspension and everything in the stock location, stock sheetmetal, etc. except for the big bolt conversion using the 73 duster parts and moser axles, its all stock (well, as far as tire and wheel fitment is cocerned). the rears barely rub when the car has 4 adults in it and you hit a big dip, and the fronts are a little too close for comfort. clear, but really close.
question is:
what size and backspacing can i run, and what is maximum size without rubbing? i was looking at 255/55/17 on the rear, and i have no idea on the front. just a tad bit shorter (like 1/2 inch) tahn what im running now would be great.

any suggestions, experience, etc?

thanks
Michael

[go-fish]

http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/sprinrelkit.html

You will need this and a mini-tub. It is easy, you just need a cut-off wheel and a welder.

[go-fish]

Step up to http://www.justsuspension.com/product/156 , and their tubular A-arms. Box you lower control arms and get bigger torsion bars and a fast ratio pitman arm for better cornering.
I have seen a-bodies pull nearly a g with a torsion bar front and leafs in the back. It can be done.
Try out www.reillymotorsports.com for tubular A's and tie-rod ends.
I know you're not the type to just want to put bligy bigger wheels on it so just go all out and do the suspension too and show people that a Cragar SS equiped Duster can pull a G.

BTW, you're not going to even get a 5" BS 17X8 on it w/o the spring relocation and you can't go out unless you jack it up like a Skyjacker car.

www.bigblockdart.com has great tech for a-bodies too.

[dusterbd13]

oh, trust me, the chassis is almost there already. i feel like the current limiting factor is the massive sidewall height. and after that, ill see just where i am with the spiing rates.

FFI stage 3 box
1 1/8 front sway bar, 7/8 rear,
poly bushings,
boxed lowers,
KYB shocks
subframe connectors
adjustable strut rods
11/16 tie rods
73 steering linkage (fast ratio wont clear the TTI's)
340 rear leaves
.89 front T-bars,


im looking for the style as well as the shorter, stiffer sidewalls.

im also hoping to NOT do any major surgery
Micahel

[go-fish]

If you did the spring relocation the biggest thing is welding new spring seats on the axle tube, the hardest part of that is pulling the axle tube.
The leaf is your limit.
You should be ablethen to do a 17X8.5 5" BS.

[rjsjea]

www.forabodiesonly.com (http://www.forabodiesonly.com) will have all your answers.....

My Demon is alterK'd and minitubbed so that wont be any help.

[go-fish]

My cuda has Alter-k and I'm goin with 17 or 18X9 on front (17X8.5 now), are you able to go theat big on yours, rjsjea?

[rjsjea]

My cuda has Alter-k and I'm goin with 17 or 18X9 on front (17X8.5 now), are you able to go theat big on yours, rjsjea?

I could go 275 on the front, but would have to section the front fender or so I am told.......so I am prob gonna go 18x8.5 or 18x8 and 245/40/18 on the front. Rear 335/30/18 on 18x12

[go-fish]

I could go 275 on the front, but would have to section the front fender or so I am told.......so I am prob gonna go 18x8.5 or 18x8 and 245/40/18 on the front. Rear 335/30/18 on 18x12

Nice. I am looking at the same but am back and forth about the 17/18 thing. VWW isn't doing my choice of wheel of theirs in 18 like they are with the other models (V48) and they only go to 17X11.

I have the 17X8.5 wrapped in 245/45, How would an 18" version look? same section width, just a shorter tire to make up for the gain in diameter?

[rjsjea]

Nice. I am looking at the same but am back and forth about the 17/18 thing. VWW isn't doing my choice of wheel of theirs in 18 like they are with the other models (V48) and they only go to 17X11.

I have the 17X8.5 wrapped in 245/45, How would an 18" version look? same section width, just a shorter tire to make up for the gain in diameter?

I have a 275/35/18 tire and it looks like I wont have any issues with the front fender, but the width may be an issue since I want the car to sit fairly low. Mopars look best with 18's unless you are going for the SuperStock look....IMHO.

Unless its an pre 67 cuda/barracuda, then 17's