72 camaro rear wheel question

[72camarors]

I have a 72 camaro and in the process of buying new wheels this next week. I had 20x9 and 18x8's before. I am running 20x10 and 19x8 this time. I have bee thinking about narrowing my rear end without using mini tubs or moving my leafs. I know I can still only run a 10" rear but I should be able to run a deeper dish. I was wondering if anyone has done this or if it can be done? Thanks

[aronhk_md]

Sure it can be done. It just involves measuring very carefully and I'd get someone else knowledgeable to come behind you and double check what you are doing if you can. I would if I were doing it myself. Keep in mind though that what you are doing is for looks alone. From a handling standpoint and relating to actual stress on the wheels/hubs the closer to the outside of the wheel that the mounting surface of the wheel/hub is the better. Or so Herb Adams says in his chassis engineering book. Its my belief thats why the more modern sportscars have such large offsets.....whether you are talking vette's, ferrari's, ricers or european sportscars.

[SLO_Z28]

Can be done, just has to sit a lil high. No tubbing or leaf relocation needed.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/05/LilMikes70camaroRSSS012-1.jpg

Youll probably need different back spacings on both sides, it will be that close. Personally id run 17's and get a 10.5 inch wheel.

[MuscleRodz]

If you narrow the rear end any you will have to move the leafs. We narrowed one 1" on each side and required us to move the leafs accordingly to clear rear brake hardware

[72camarors]

Mike, did you just have to modify the tank when you moved the leafs?

[MuscleRodz]

no, there is a little more room in a second gen back there and we made our own offset shackles and still got the exhaust out the back

[jjordan]

By placing the spindle/kingpin closer to the center of the front wheel, Herb Adams and others discovered that you cut down on the scrub radius in the front. By maximizing the rear track width you cut down on the roll rates. The strain on the wheel is about the same either way, the high positive offsets just leverage the wheel in the opposite direction as the very small backspace wheels.