DSE mini-tub drop springs and rims/tires?

[pro68/540]

Need to order my DSE mini-tub kit for my 68 bone stock camaro i just got. Have a couple questions for you pro-t guys, im a drag racer building in street beast for topend speeds to play with vettes vipers ect.. Which drop springs should i use with a 17 in rims 2in or 3in? Should i use 315/40/17 on a 12 wide rim or 335/40/17s? Would an 18in rim look better with 315/35/18 or again a 335/35/18? Need as much help as possible,pictures of 67 and 68 camaros would rock.

[TexasKidd]

I have the DSE 2in drop springs on my 68. I put a 1 inch spacer to lower it a little more. It's still a little higher than I would like. If I did it all over again I would go with the 3in drop.

[baz67]

For your 68 I would go with the 3" drop. Do not forget to get some good shocks.

Now the tires, it depends on what your main focus for the car is. Fuction over form, I would go with the 315s. That width would give the car a better balance between the front and the rear tires. You can only get a max 275(with steering stops), but a 255 would be more realistic. If you get too wide of a rear tire you will push upon coner exit. Form over function, gets you some 335s. Also, 335s need damn near perfect backspacing to fit in a 67-8 chassis.

It has been said, but I have not seen the data, that 17s will slightly outperform 18s. The theory is that the taller sidewall of the 17s will accept more lateral movement and camber change before rolling the contact patch up. I would stick with a 11 wide wheel if you chose the 315s. The reasoning is to protect the wheel lip from the curbs. Good luck.

Brian

[pro68/540]

Awesome guys. Perfect explanation brian thank you. I will go ahead and get the 3 in drop with the 17x11 with 315/40/17s. You guys rock. Guess i wont be going straight line only for to much longer.:) Oh yes i will i also have a tubbed out 65 nova wagon with a 650hp 350 that runs in the 10's Thank You again guys

[pro68/540]

Ok ive decided to go with the 3 in drop springs from dse in there kit . What is the offset i need for the 17x11 rims with 315/40/17's. The perfect look, i know back spacing should be around center for better bearing wear. If you know the rearend length also with bear 12" brakes.
Thank You Guys

[galopin]

Last year, Lou Gigliotti's World Challenge Corvette used 275(f)/335(r). I don't know about the other cars.

[rockdogz]

I went with 315/35/17 for my '68 with tubs, 5.5" bs. I would have preferred 315/40/17 - please let me know where you can get these... I have some pics up on my site and can take more for you if you want to see some dimension, but it's still a work in progress. I have the 3" DSE springs, but it still rides high - it should settle down once I can start driving it...

edit: I mean it still LOOKS high, it doesnt 'ride' high if I haven't driven it! LOL

[68protouring454]

how much did you shorten the rear end?? to run the 5.5 bs 17x11's ?? car looks good, could you of pushed out the tire any towards the 1/4 lip?? did you roll the lip?
jake

[MrQuick]

With 315's on 17x11's and a 5.5bs I came up with axle flange to axle flange 55 11/16" running Baer rear disc. The disc thickness is 5/16". This gives a 3/4" tire to spring and 5/8" tire to outer quarter.Lip is rolled.

[streetk14]

If you are going to buy a new rear end, then I'd say follow mr. quick's advice. If you already have a stock width rear, you will probably be looking at a 17x11 with a 7" backspace. I run 17x9.5's w/ 5.5" backspace on the back of my '68 w/ 285/40/17's. This is the largest wheel/tire I can fit right now (going with mini-tubs and 315's soon!).
-Andy

[rockdogz]

Jake,
This was my first time attempting this, so I was pretty unsure of the process and didn't want to push my luck trying to run 335's and have my measurements be off. I didn't roll the lip. I sent in the measurements for my rear end a few times; I think this is the last one but could be wrong... it has the flange to flange measurement at 52.25"

[68protouring454]

tom thanks, i got some 335 mock up tires for my 68 and after tubbing i have more than enough at 14 1/14 before rolling lip, and a 335 on a 12 inch rim is 13 1/4, so to you guys what us the best way to measure and decide on a rearend width, i am thinking something in the 6.5 to 7 inch backspace, probaly lean towards 7, anyway let me know how you guys check for width and if you do your own rears, how where canj i find measurements for how far the axle stiks out of a ford 9 inch, and other measurements needed to determine width of rear
jake

[MrQuick]

hey Jake, I think that is going to be determined by the rear brakes you will be using and the type of housing end. Ifyour going with a stock chev style :ie LT1 or Baer 12"s the stock flange off set is 2 13/16".
Tom how much room are you leaving for inner and outer clearence?

[67ragtp]

Jake,

Im doing the DSE rear set up on my 67 and have talked with kyle in depth about tire sizes in the mini tubs. Although we all want the huge tires out back the 335s have a tendancy to over power the lower portion of the rear quarter. It seems the 335s fit the 69 quarter much nicer. Ive seen them from the back IMO a little to much, if the tub was another inch wider it would be perfect for 335s. I just got my g force KD tires and went with a 17x11 w/ a 5.25 backspace, fronts are 17x8 w/4.78 backspace. I plan on having the wheels and tires mounted up and set them under the car for a measurement from wheel flange to wheel flange. The rear will be a 12bolt moser utilizing the Torino in bearing(3.150) on the axle. Bear will do the brakes and set up the caliper bracket as done on a 9 inch ford torino, The housing ends are a symetrical 4 bolt pattern measuring 3-9/16" center to center horizontally and 2" center to center vertically(ford Torino ends).

Also think its a good idea to roll the lip especially if you side load the tire, you dont want to cut one down. What a pain that was i rolled mine and then extended it up and welded it to the ceiling of the outer wheel house. lots of hours, i figured this way no water can get trapped in there.

Good luck with your project - Rich

[68protouring454]

thanks for help, there are a few 68s with 335's onthem, stuart adams red one which dse did, and also rsk's 68, i am going both ways on what size i should use, i hear ya on over powering the lower 1/4 **** the bottom half of the tire is gonna hang out of the 1/4, the 335's are on the verge of 2 much.
i have a ford 9 inch with small ends on it, but when i shorten rear end i will install large bearing ends, also i was wondering the measurement from the housing flange to the axle flange, like what vince gve us.
vince i am gonna run c-4 12 inch rear brakes or maybe the ls-1 12 ich brakes, they may be the same, not sure.
i will roll lip and gain another 1/2 inch of clearence and will roll them up and over so no cutting will happen.
i really may end up going with 315's just not sure, had mind set on 335's who knows, looks like some serious mock up time
jake

[MrQuick]

It will take alot of mock up time to get it right, just make sure you get all the parts you need and take your time.
On a project im doing no we are running Moser housing ends pn 7900
They feature a 3.150 large ford bearing and a chevy bolt pattern backing plate mount.That way you can still use the Chevy Baer brake plates. The proper distances will go into the axle selection and measurement. Double check the measurement on your old axle.Also make sure you subtrack the rotor thinkness when doing your rim /space mock up, something I ran into recently.
Rich good point on the 335's they look out of place on the 67-67 cars, 315's are a good balance.

[68protouring454]

thanks for all your help.
as for clearenxes i thought kyle at dse said 1/2 in was enough either side of tire, i could not remember im saying more was needed for a leaf spring suspension, but by the sounds of it, more is needed.
i have collected most parts now its time to choose rear suspension and tires,
jake