1966 GTO Tire/Wheel combo.

[Droolguy]

Hey everyone, sorry for my first post being a question but no joke... I just bought a 66' GTO a day ago, my father drove it a hundred miles and one of the tires blew-out.

We have some standard econo-rubber on it right now so that we can get back to the house.

I want to put some Nittos on all four corners, but panicked forum searches lead to mixed reviews as to what will fit.

I want to go as wide as possible without rubbing or cutting, I have heard as small as 255 to as large as 305.

Help?

[Droolguy]

Here is some pics... sorry they are small.

Father took them with the cell phone, havent had a chance to get the car home yet.

If anyone is wondering why I am not driving the car its because I am in Germany right now.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[wmhjr]

Just my 2 cents here. But....

Do you have all stock suspension and body? If so, there's no way a 305 is going to fit IMHO. Definitely not on those wheels.

You're probably not going to be able to get a good answer without people knowing the wheel sizes and backspaces you have. But, just to let you know, I've done some fabrication on my back wheel wells to open them up and still I'm sticking with 275s on the back. I could maybe fit 295s at the most if I really wanted to take a chance. But that's with a total suspension rebuild using Currie Currectrac rear control arms, a Moser crate rear end, cutting out the inside and the outside of the wheelhouses and rewelding them to open them up. Along with the SPC springs and poly bushings as well as the large sway bar in the back, I'm going to have far less body roll. With a stock suspension I think you've got less room even with new wheels that optimize backspace. If the wheels themselves are not set with the best backspace you're going to have a bigger issue.

[Droolguy]

Thats what I figured you were going to say... also, I am looking to go lower-profile by a couple inches so that I can clear bigger brake rotors. Probably a 17"-18" wheel.

Car is 100% stock as far as suspension goes, that was actually the next thing on the list along with disc brakes on all four corners.

So I just need to re-order my priorities a little bit.

To change the question then, where might one find a good suspension kit?

[Droolguy]

Hotchkis has a kit that seems to get good reviews... once again, anyone ever use them?

*Starting to sound like a broken record*

[dmc69]

i have hotchkis TVS on a 69 camaro... i like the feel but may go with 3' DSE leafs in the rear for stance.

[wmhjr]

To change the question then, where might one find a good suspension kit?

Call one of our sponsors, Mark Savitske. Scandc.com. My '66 Pontiac has all his suspension stuff under it. front and rear upper and lower control arms, springs, ball joints.... Take a look at my restomod thread and you can see some of it. I've got the same car - except it's a convertible.

[DriverzInc]

Same as wmhjr said earlier, the best fit we've come to accept is the 10" rear wheel, and a 275 wide tire... for example, our 67 had 18x8 fronts, and 19x10 rears with a 275/35/19 rear tire.

If you need Nitto, let us know, we stock, and sell a grip load of them.

[Droolguy]

You wouldn't have pictures of the car would you?

I am a bit skeptical about 19" wheels...

[Droolguy]

Let me clarify...

This car *will* see occasional trackdays (blasphemous I know). Just because I am a firm believer in that a car should be driven, not stared at parked. People can see enough when I pass them.

My question would be can your wheels hold up under that kind of abuse. The larger the wheel the more stress it is going to have to absorb in hard cornering.

[JT_67Tempest]

Here's a picture of my 67 Pontiac Tempest that DriverzInc help me set up with wheels/tires and suspension. I'm running a 19/20 combo.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/StrutterTempest9-1.jpg

[Droolguy]

Wow, looks good.

Thanks for the picture, that helps me to see how big the wheels look in the wells... something I was having a hard time envisioning.

You wouldn't happen to have a straight side-profile shot of that car would you?

[ponchopwr70]

Johnny T what a beautiful car!

[JT_67Tempest]

Wow, looks good.

Thanks for the picture, that helps me to see how big the wheels look in the wells... something I was having a hard time envisioning.

You wouldn't happen to have a straight side-profile shot of that car would you?

Here's a couple from my gallery.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=4304
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=4303
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=4305

[gearheads78]

Another vote for SC&C. Marcus is the man

My personal opinion is 18/18 or 18/19 look best on these 66/67 A-body cars. I went with 18/18 on mine with 255-40 front and 285-40 rear.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[JT_67Tempest]

Another vote for SC&C. Marcus is the man

My personal opinion is 18/18 or 18/19 look best on these 66/67 A-body cars. I went with 18/18 on mine with 255-40 front and 285-40 rear.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

That's one sweet looking ride!!! I'd love to have that in my driveway!!

[gearheads78]

Thanks Johnny.......It would not be much arm twisting to get me to roll yours either. Ive been watching it since you joined. Everything has turned out great. :smoke:

[Droolguy]

Thanks everyone for the pictures...

Everyone has beautiful cars.

Still need the side shot if anyone has one... pref. of 18" I am just trying to get a feel for how much wheel there really is.

This is what it looks like right now...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Oh, and just because I found this while grabbing that photo, here is our Comet...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[gearheads78]

here is the only straight side shot I have. Just imagine it with the back 1" lower. Thats how its sits now.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Roadbuster]

Before: with 245/45R17 on 17x7 and 17x8
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/CIMG1870_2-1.jpg

After: with 255/35R18 on 18x9 up front and 305/35R18 out back on 18x11s
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/CIMG2052-1.jpg

The new fronts are about 0.75 inches smaller in diameter than the old fronts and the rears are 0.75 inches larger than the old ones.

Is this what you were looking for?

Jon

[gearheads78]

Before: with 245/45R17 on 17x7 and 17x8
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/CIMG1870_2-1.jpg

After: with 255/35R18 on 18x9 up front and 305/35R18 out back on 18x11s
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/CIMG2052-1.jpg

The new fronts are about 0.75 inches smaller in diameter than the old fronts and the rears are 0.75 inches larger than the old ones.

Is this what you were looking for?

Jon

Jon.....:smoke:Looked good even with the Cragars but kicks ass now

[Droolguy]

Thanks guys, those last few pictures were exactly what I was looking for...

Jon, love your car.

One question though, why don't you tuck the front tire in the wheel well a bit w/ a 1" front drop? It would fill much better IMHO. You might get some rub (could move back to the 245s, the extra 10mm of contact patch gives you negligible performance gain).

Cars are 99% personal preference though, just curious.

[Roadbuster]

Jon.....:smoke:Looked good even with the Cragars but kicks ass now
Thanks for the compliments, gearheads78!


Thanks guys, those last few pictures were exactly what I was looking for...

Jon, love your car.

One question though, why don't you tuck the front tire in the wheel well a bit w/ a 1" front drop? It would fill much better IMHO. You might get some rub (could move back to the 245s, the extra 10mm of contact patch gives you negligible performance gain).

Cars are 99% personal preference though, just curious.

Droolguy,
That was literally an after shot. I just got the rims on the car. No suspension adjustment.

The front has been adjusted down a hair so that the top of the tires front and rear just tuck. And the addition of the front wheel trim makes it look lower.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/08153NK30626-1.jpg
Why not an inch lower? The frame center crossmember is a little short of 3 inches from the ground and the headers are lower. I need some clearance for suspension compression or if I get a flat.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/CIMG1964-1.jpg
That's a 2x4 under the car.
I do plan on driving it hard so I need to fix the headers, but the crossmember is the main limiting factor. If it were a show car I could go lower but for the street this is it for me.

[Droolguy]

Ahh, I was just wondering... thanks for humoring me.

Also as a side note... you have a *really* clean undercarriage from what I can see. Kudos.

Mine looks, well... not so clean. Its something I need to work on.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Roadbuster]

No problem! :)

That pic looks like what I started with! You even have the same headers!
BTW nobody makes an exhaust gasket for a 4 bolt collector flange! I had to make new ones out of sheet material. Any documentation that says who made them?

[gearheads78]

Ahh, I was just wondering... thanks for humoring me.

Also as a side note... you have a *really* clean undercarriage from what I can see. Kudos.

Mine looks, well... not so clean. Its something I need to work on.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif



Thats nothing an afternoon and little elbow grease can't fix :look: ...OK maybe a couple afternoons LOL

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Droolguy]

Sorry, no documentation on the gasket...

But normally I just cut my own... its fairly easy if you have a Dremel.

This is where I got my material, been a while since I used them though, you don't exactly go through the stuff very fast...
http://www.superiorseals.com/sheeting.asp

Hope that helps some.

[Roadbuster]

I made my own gaskets with material from summit. I was looking for who made the headers. I can't find anything on mine.

[gearheads78]

I made my own gaskets with material from summit. I was looking for who made the headers. I can't find anything on mine.

I used to see come of the old Cyclone headers that had 4 bolts

[Droolguy]

Ahhh, in that case no. I have no idea where the headers came from.

I will drop a line to the guy I bought the car from and see if he remembers.

[MonzaRacer]

I use DAP/Dow Corning 50 year Clear silicone in caulking tube and no gasket for header flanges and collectors and never have any leaks. Got that tip from Sam Jones of Jones Engineering,,, the builder of sprint car engine for Steve Kinser.

[2008fx4]

these are a 19/20 combo on a 66 chevelle - but the rears are too wide to run without a minitub.

19x10 285/35 and 20x12.5 335/30


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/07/DPassenger-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/07/IPassenger-1.jpg

[MIGOAT]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Roadbuster]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Nice looking car! :yum:

[RYU]

I think I saw this car for sale on CL. Nice car!

Anyway, my question is... why is there so much neg camber on the front? Is that to fit the 10" or is it owner's pref?

I know the bottom pic looks like it's on full droop but I can't imagine you would need to run that much camber on the top pic unless the front A-Arms are the non-adjustable type?




these are a 19/20 combo on a 66 chevelle - but the rears are too wide to run without a minitub.

19x10 285/30 and 20x12.5 335/30


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/07/DPassenger-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/07/IPassenger-1.jpg

[2008fx4]

at ride height the camber is gone. car handles like a dream the way its aligned now.

[RYU]

at ride height the camber is gone. car handles like a dream the way its aligned now.
Good to know. I plan to bag my 66 someday hope it looks as nice as yours.