Shelby stocker

[mike7570]

 I get a bit jealous reading about everyone's projects while mine sits idle. I just can't seem to find the time to get much done.
 Well my 10yr project made a little progress, I got the new 9" rear in the car. I had everything measured for a tight tire fit (I got good suggestions from Afret) but as fate would have it the axle housing came back 1" narrower than planned when the housing ends were changed. I think everything will work out with a 3/8" spacer. I haven't run spacers on a drag car before, anyone with a comment on running them or not?

[afret]

Looking good!  Glad you're making progress.   

You might consider sticking to billet wheel spacers instead of those cast aluminum ones.  Also it's probably a good idea to go to the bigger 5/8" studs.  I even use them on my street car. 



Hope your project keeps moving along.

[mike7570]

The cast spacer is 1/4" for test fit, still a little tight. I went with the offset on the rims like yours but I didn't plan on the axle width changing.
I plan on using the billet spacers when I get the fit right.  I bought the rims used and they only fit the 1/2" studs (they can be ordered for 5/8" but I would have to purchase new ones)
Crap, I hate it when it's not right the first time. Maybe I'll give them a try, I didn't have any problems with them on my '67 coupe. Have you broken them before? Do the spacers create more stress on the wheel studs?

[jayb]

The spacers can create more stress on the wheel studs, so that is really the issue.  Having said that I've run them before on a 9 second car and managed to get away with it.  I had stock size wheel studs but they were good ones from Mark Williams.  I don't think you'll have any problems, but I would pay attention to them, especially the first few times out at the track - Jay

[afret]

Hey Mike, don't those Centerline wheels use regular mag style lug nuts and not those acorn type?   If they use the mag type lug nuts, you can use the 5/8" studs.  Those studs have 11/16" shoulders that are the same as the outside diameter of the mag lug nuts.  The 5/8" studs just use a flange type nut and the stud shoulder fits closely to the holes in the wheels.   The studs come in a bunch of different shoulder lengths depending on the thickness of your wheels and spacers if used.

Here's Don's car using spacers.  His tires have done a good job polishing his leaf springs.  LOL

[TomP]

This is my theory on tire fit too. If they aren't rubbing somewhere you have room for bigger tires.

[mike7570]

Progress, well sort of, well not really.
Moved to a new house with a larger garage. Now I can see the car!
More room to work on it and no pesky CCR's saying you can't work on a car in your driveway.

[57 lima bean]

Spacers can be as helpful as a girdle when machined to close tolerances.Mine were made for that reason while still using 1/2 inch studs.The car looks awesome Mike..!!!

[cobracammer]

I second that!  It looks AWESOME!

[mike7570]

Well this project is going slowly (the last post was 6 pages back) I've got a big grin (It's like early Christmas) finally got a new iron 428 block to base the engine on and I finished bending up the new rear brake lines. Who knows maybe it will be running within a year!

[machoneman]

Spacers will work fine. Just be sure to be torque them down more than a few times when installed and then after driving it around a bit. Then, before your first strip run and perhaps a check after a few more runs. I've run them but they do then to loosen until things settle in. BTDT! 

[gt350hr]

   Think about using a shank lug nut that is longer so it protrudes past the wheel but not past the wheel AND spacer. If the holes in the spacer are too small , they could be enlarged to actually locate on the extra long lugs. This would get you back some strength. 5/8ths studs should be used ( IMHO) on a stick car or a heavy car  that runs in the 9's.

[Rory428]

Mike, not sure what wheels you are using, but on my Fairmont, I have been using the 5/8" Strange wheel studs since I switched to the Jerico 4 speed, 17 years ago. I have Centerline Autodrags, and the bigger studs fit my Centerlines with no modification required to the wheels. The studs have a thin sleeve that threads onto the stud, that fills up the space in the lug holes of the wheels, and the lug nuts are flat, flanged units, with flat aluminum spacers that go between the face of the wheel and the lug nut flange. No more of that hassle with shank style lug nuts galling up inside the holes of the wheel.

[mike7570]

Rory, I'm using Centerlines but the "qualifier" wheel looks like it won't accept a nut that large.
My super-gas car used 1" nuts on the studs what size nut are on the 5/8" studs?

[mike7570]

Looks like I make a little progress about once a year LOL
Well my wallet knows different, I'm still collecting parts and some day I'll turn the corner on dismantling and prep and I'll focus on assembly
My goal is to have it finished before I retire - I better get busy.

Got the car back from the welder the other day. Installed new upper & lower cowl and welded up all the holes in the fenders and body to make it a '67.