73 bird

[joeljet]

anybody put 255-45-17 on 17x8 wheels with 4" backspace on the front of a second gen bird? how do they fit? rubbing? any photos? im trying to avoid the cost of custom backspacing. thanx joel

[USAZR1]

I think that backspacing is going to cause you problems,Joel. Better spend a little extra and get the right numbers.

[Zee]

I have 17X8's all around with 5" of backspace up front and 4" in the rear. I can't say that I am real happy with either. I tried switching them around and it didn't really help the way the car looks. I didn't drive it but it looks like the 4" offsets would rub on the fronts. I'm going to end up with a 1/2" spacer on the fronts and probably swapping the rears out for 17 X 9.5's.

[BEEBE]

ZEE - If your going to run a 17 x 8 for the front I would reccomend a 4.5" Back space .

If your running 17 X 9.5 rear Your going to have to run a 5" Backspace or the wheel will protrude past the wheelwell.

Check out- http://community.webshots.com/user/ponchoman69
I have some pictures of my old orange 72 bird with (17x8 front 4.5" BS w/ 245/45)
and (17x9 rear 4.5" BS w/ 275/50)

[Blue70]

I am running 255/40/17's in the front with a 17x8.5 wheel with no problems.

I'm not sure on the backspacing, I believe the wheels have a 56mm offset and I am running a 2" adapter......so if someone could do the math :geek:

OK
I just did the math, looks like I am running
an 8.5 with a 4.3" BS in the front (56mm offset with a 2" adapter) and
an 8.5 with a 3.8" BS in the rear (56mm offset with a 2.5" adapter)
I am running a smaller offset in the rear to bring the rear tires closer to the outside edge of the rear quarter so it don't look like someone pinched its butt with the rears tucked too far in :rolleyes5


Beebe,
Your old car sat so high its tough to get a feeling of how it sits.
Did you ever drop it any? Did you have issues or not then?

[Zee]

I haven't seen you much on the PY site lately. I was expecting to see you out at Cordova a couple of weeks back.

I already have the 17 X 8 set up front and rear. You are right, the 4.5" backspace is perfect for the front. That is why I am adding 1/2 spacers to change my 5" backspacing to 4.5. The 4" backspace in the rear is more of a concern to me as it only allows me to run a 255 50/17 (I like the look of a taller sidewall on muscle cars). I don't think the 255's are gonna' cut it with the 455, TKO600 and 3.73 gear from my 400. Looks good from the side tough.

[tripower]

Nice to see some fellow Ponchos on the touring board! :)

[Streetking]

Nice to see some fellow Ponchos on the touring board! :)

Got any pics of your ride, I love old goats!!

SW

[a73formula]

I am running the tt2's on the front in 17x8 and am using the 4.5" bs on 255'sand it works great. I believe 4.5" was the standard on the stock 8" rims and would stick with that. i am also running 17x11's in the back with an edelbrock headed 455 and the tkoII 5 speed and the 315 drag radials on the back still break loose really easy.

[79T/Aman]

17X9 4 1/2" back space front and 5" rear, 255-45-17 up front and 285-40-17 car is lowered about 1 1/2" in front

[tripower]

Got any pics of your ride, I love old goats!!

SW

Here you go!