Rear tubs, not mini, but regular tubs. Bad, good, indifferent?

[cactuss4]

Obviously this can fit into suspension category as well, but was not sure.

The discussion is centered around 66 Chevelles.

I've found a couple of prostreet cars that appear very clean, but those big tubs give me pause. Now for a pro-touring car, it gives me lots of room for wheel tire combo's, however, get too big I'm just going to make whatever I get push really bad (I guess if there is enough power and I can make it rotate with the go fast pedal, that may not be an issue), however I'm asking from a track type car is having tubs a bad thing, if I can work around it and get back seats and interior back in place, modify the cage to allow direct access to the backseat for non track days etc, is there a problem with having a full tub on a car?

Obviously things like geometry with the rear axle/diff is concerned, a wider track will be better (shortened diff with full tubs), but the wider track could be made up again with a wheel tire combo. So if one can figure out how to reinstall, recreate a rear seat etc. is there a true negative to having a full tub in a non prostreet car?

Is there a chassis concern, is there a true negative, other than having a cut up car (I know!). Appears one can fit a 295 already in the back of a 66/67 , a few have stated 315's, so more tire is maybe not a big concern.

So to recap, full tubs something that folks would not due if they had the choice, and why (other than cutting up the car). Just curious as to understand the pro's and con's, if there are either?

Thanks
Tory

[Schwartz Performance]

The idea behind mini tubs is that they look factory when you pop the trunk, and there is less work involved of the interior like you're talking about- not to mention that there's a lot of frame modification if you were to go well over the 335 mark and fully tub it.

If you wanted to run big tubs it's not a negative.. but there aren't any positives that I see. Most cars I see with full tubs are pro-street cars and the modification isn't that tasteful.. just a big aluminum tub riveted to the sheet metal and looks ugly IMO!

-Dale

[cactuss4]

That is one aspect I didn't note in my post, the trunk view. And I would tend to share your sentiment.




Guess that is what that extra steal is back there..

Ahh frame modifications, I didn't think about that. And again I would be buying not doing, just wondering if it's even something I would want to do, convert a clean pro-street to track duty.

Thanks, had not considered that.

Tory

[Schwartz Performance]

Yeah, that chassis there has been back-halved, which is typically what pro-street guys do. Most of the chassis i've seen look like they were welded together with an arc welder and eyes closed... so take a good look at the welds & attaching points before you buy. Most pro-street cars also have much different spring rates and suspension types (soft rates, parallel 4-link etc) that are not optimal for .. turning! So don't dive into something that requires more work to change, rather than modifying a car that has not been modified yet.

-Dale

[cluxford]

here's mine, cross between pro-street and pro-tour. It has custom sheet metal tubs. 390x40x17 rears that fill the guards (I like sidewall) and runs a rear seat.

I see no probs with what you want, but as others have said check quality of work, it can be tasteful and well done and deliver good track performance.