68 Firebird - Build My Way - UnProEverything

[FireBeater]

Hey Pro-Touring,

Thanks for the notes. Not much advancement going on. I bleed the brakes and got them working. I have a soft pedal. I need to get that worked out soon.

I ran into a BIG problem. I went for a drive and the front passengers side is rubbing. I thought I had it worked out. Totally BUMMED about it.

I created some clearance by with a BFH. That helped some, but the out fender on the passenger side is now where the rubbing is mainly occuring. I tried a few other tricks and nothing.

Any body have any ideas?

I might have to swap out the 18x8 wheels to 17x7.

[68firebird]

Hey Pro-Touring,

Thanks for the notes. Not much advancement going on. I bleed the brakes and got them working. I have a soft pedal. I need to get that worked out soon.

I ran into a BIG problem. I went for a drive and the front passengers side is rubbing. I thought I had it worked out. Totally BUMMED about it.

I created some clearance by with a BFH. That helped some, but the out fender on the passenger side is now where the rubbing is mainly occuring. I tried a few other tricks and nothing.

Any body have any ideas?

I might have to swap out the 18x8 wheels to 17x7.

ah, that sucks! might be better off swapping to the 17x7 if you can afford it, but be sure that will definitely cure your problem.

[lucky13firebird]

Might be cause those wheels are a slight negative offset. I have 255 35 18 with a 18x8.5 wheel on the front of my 68 firebird and no rubbing issues. I have a 10mm positive offset...

[FireBeater]

I picked up one wheel, it is a 15x7 with 4 inch BS. for super cheap. Share you thoughts!

I am going to get a tire mounted on it with the approximate size height that I plan to run on 17x7. This should give me the best picture of what it would turn out to be with out spending all the money.

Plus, the 15x7 would then become my spare tire.

ah, that sucks! might be better off swapping to the 17x7 if you can afford it, but be sure that will definitely cure your problem.

[FireBeater]

Might be cause those wheels are a slight negative offset. I have 255 35 18 with a 18x8.5 wheel on the front of my 68 firebird and no rubbing issues. I have a 10mm positive offset...

I think if I had more backspacing / offset, I would be set. The stock wheel of 195/70 14 is about 24.4 inches, and the 225/40 18 I have on it is 25.1 inches tall. that is only .25 bigger radius. not much to rub, so it has to be the BS.

[FireBeater]

So it has been a LONG time since I posted some progress. I have been working on the Bird even though I have not posted.

I will try to get you updates.

Last time I had a wheel issue. I still have a wheel issue. I have a work around. I found a "spare" wheel on Craigslist and found a spare tire and got it mounted. So No more rubbing.

I know pretty lame of three wheels and on odd one. But at least I can drive it and work out the bugs, bumps and other noises when I drive. I just can not let go of the money for a wheel.

I am still hoping to "ALIGN" the subframe on the body to help remove some of the front tire rubbing. Also I hope to look at a few other options that people posted.

Here is my spare wheel.

[FireBeater]

So since I had 4 wheel discs. I had to show them off. I did the painting of the calipers. I had the paint from a while back, but just needed to perform the job.


I also cleaned the rear wheel housing and painted. I need to do a little more cleaning.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Love the garage build! How much are you rubbing? Whats the offset of the front wheels? You might be able to have like 5mm shaved off the back pad of the wheel(depending on thickness) to acomodate, or get/borrow a fender roller to assist with that side

[FireBeater]

Love the garage build! How much are you rubbing? Whats the offset of the front wheels? You might be able to have like 5mm shaved off the back pad of the wheel(depending on thickness) to acomodate, or get/borrow a fender roller to assist with that side

I rub when going over bumps with a turn or a dip in the road with a turn.

When I go straight I am good with no rub.

Rub only happens when turning right, that is when the front of the wheel is out and the back of the wheel is in, and the outer side rubs.


How much does shaving the wheel cost?

[FireBeater]

I took off the driver side door panel to clean it up and I found this junk in the door. It was just nasty to find years and years of leafs in the door.

I got it cleaned up and on to the next project.

[FireBeater]

When I took of the door panel I opted to change the color on it.

the rest of my interior is black and it was green. There is a story behind it but not for now.

I have never painted the interior, but it worked out well,

I have another picture with it back in the car which I will post later.

[FireBeater]

after the conversion to all disc I had a soft pedal. I checked the calipers and the lines for leaks. I bleed and bleed the brakes. I could not find the issue.

during the conversion I added in a new GM style brake valve.

I let the car sit for a few weeks and when I came back I found the leak. Out of the back of the brake valve was a very small leak. I simply tightened it up. no more leak. Now I have to deal with the paint that it screwed up.

[Gil]

Pedal feel is better now ? Brake setup looks nice
Did you change the broken lug stud in the rear ?
Gil

[Justin@EntropyRad]

I rub when going over bumps with a turn or a dip in the road with a turn.

When I go straight I am good with no rub.

Rub only happens when turning right, that is when the front of the wheel is out and the back of the wheel is in, and the outer side rubs.


How much does shaving the wheel cost?

Last time I had it done it was like $20-$25 per wheel

[FireBeater]

Pedal feel is better now ? Brake setup looks nice
Did you change the broken lug stud in the rear ?
Gil

pedal is much more solid now. I think I need to bleed one more time for any air bubbles trapped between my last bleed and finding the leak.

I recent pick up some new front rotors that I will be installing so I will do it all then.

[FireBeater]

that is not bad at all, and much less then destroying new tires. thanks

[expensivehobby22]

Your 68 reminds me of mine. Similar starting points, and similar aspirations. Keep up the good work.

[FireBeater]

I had time to clean up the rear axle housing. It looks so much better. I still need to clean up the rest of the floors.

I was really glad to have the axle cleaned so I could mount one of the last items form Hotchkis, The rear sway bar is now on. I am pumped and ready for a ride.

[Gil]

I was really glad to have the axle cleaned so I could mount one of the last items form Hotchkis, The rear sway bar is now on. I am pumped and ready for a ride.

Cool !
I want one too...
Let us know how the rear feels on the road when you go driving
Gil

[FireBeater]

I received this at my door step the other day....

I hope to make some more progress soon and post more pictures.